For the Children.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2145, 21 March 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

For the Children.

“ONLY A COMMON DOG.”

(By Eliza A. Manhirc.) “It is only a common dog; that anyone can sec; hut if it is good tempered with the children, it can stay.” And n.s if to put it at once to tho test, little Wally crawled out from under the table and commenced pulling the dog oloso up to him, and laid his baby head against his rough black coat, cooing lovoingly. Totty patted it, and Ben stroked its nose. The dog looked from tho children to the grown-ups with its largo, soft, kind eyes, humbling expressing satisfaction by the wagging of its talil. It, had followed Ted homo from Hncknoy to our houso in Dalston in such a persistent manner that ho had no heart to drivo it back. It at once seemed to choose hint lor its master, and soon attached itself to the liotiso as if it had been born in it. Tho children held a consultation as to what they should call it, which resulted in its name being Dash. It soon proved itself a cheap toy. It was tractable anil obedient, never known to snarl or bite; in fact, the mother said that for a common dog of no particular brood, it was the most mannerly she had ever come across. Poor Toil had merged into manhood with a tall, slim frame, a complexion like a girl’s, pink and white, his lien'd a mass ol black curls, and a constitution like a broken reed. Consumption was sapping his liie away daily, hourly. The dog seemed to recognise this from tho first, and would wait lor Ted at his bedroom door, follow him quietly down the stairs, and sit with him in tho summerhouse or under tlio elder tree when weather permitted. It would look up at Ted when a fit of coughing camo on with' as much sympathy in its eyes a,s a Christian, seeming quito relieved when it was over. The companionship of this newly found friend often helped him to while away many a weary hour. There were times whon heaviness seemed to hang over the poor fellow; ho failed to rouse himself or to bo roused. Dash would sit at his feet with its nose on his knee, blinking its eyes with contentment that its master’s poor, thin hand was laid on its head. . As the summer advanced the invalid longed for a change. An invitation caiino from iriendsiwha lived at Lavender Hill, Enfield, in a real country house, with a big orchard attached. So Dash had to be shut up while- its master-departed, anil every day during his absence of a week or two, it would go through the -regular routine of visiting his bedroom, summer-house etc., and then whine to be let out. It would take its stand at the gate for hours. The man left his meat every day, hut it often remained untouched. Tlie regular watch for its master had extended later than usual one day, when at length Dash scratched at* tho door to be let in, and then jmnpted on tlio sofa, curled itself up at one end, and soon went sound asleeip. , Ted’s sister had gone to spend tlio day with him at Enfield, and might possibly stay for the night. It was now suppertime, and those at the table remarked that it was past the time for tho last ’bus, so they supposed she had stayed. Just then footsteps camo slowly towards the door, which was quickly opened. Sister anil brother both stood in the lamplight; the latter pale with feeble steps and panting breath, was led across the- room to tlie sofa. She had to bring him homo, tlio change having wrought no benefit. The sleeping dog roused, sniped, yawned, turned his head, and saw his master. He stood up, whined and then ran up to to him, and placing his paws on his shoulder commenced licking his lace, whining all the time. Ho patted the dog, whoso joy was so sincere at seeing his master, again that the effect of so much fasting and so much excitement weakened him, and he roiled over, then scrambled up again, to lay his head against tho invalid’s cheek, showing as well as he was able how sincere a dumb animal can ho in giving a loving welcome to a human creature. Tho summer passed and the poor boy took to his bed. Dash lay on a mat at the door. In the early morn and night he would come to the bedside to lie'll his master’s hand and receive his welcome pat, but often through the day, a movement in the bed, and he would beat the floor with his tail until someone came, keeping up the watch with an anxious , human look. At length there came a time when the cold arms were clasped round the' sisters’ neck, and the dog stood up and looked on while the last few words* were spoken and the lifebreath passed away. Then the poor, four-footed friend became inconsolable. He seemed fully to understand his loss, and identified himself tho family bereavement. He whined piteously, and while the last- rites were being performed over the body his cry was so painful and acute that one could not help feeling pity for his sufferings, as well as one’s own. By-anil-by, when tlie coffin stood on the trestles in the front room, the faithful mourner kept watch on tho mat at the. door, and many a. visitor to that room stopped to give hint a friendly pat, and the sagacious animal would look up with eyes deluged with grief. Tho day came when tlio beloved master was to he carried out. The sister picked up poor Dash and carried him in her arms to an upper room and shut the door. The dog matched eyes with her as she put' him down, and seemed to know just what was going on. He whined at her knee, and then, as he heard the sound of many footsteps lie leaped to the door -and howled loud and long; he would not be pacified until he was let out. Ho did not return until next day, looking as if he had travelled miles. He ate a little of his meat and went to sleep. In the morning he went his round through the house, and then asked to be let out, returned that night, but ato no meat. As soon as the door was opened he was off again. One, two. three days passed, and the faithful old dog had not returned. Each day the man had left his meat, each day tho children had a drink of fresh water ready. - The quiet, unassuming presence of the dog was missed. Even the pitiful whine was missed. Tho great grief of the house was added to by the absence of the dead boy’s friend. Tlio fourth day since Dash left the house the meat man called to say that it would be no use leaving his moat any more. He had seen the poor dog, lying about a mile away. “I suppose.” lie said, “lie had crawled that far looking for his master, and, having had nothing to eat, had no strength to get back home. He looked just as if he ' had lain down and died. I made a hit of a hole- for him, miss, and buried him. That’s all I could do.”