The Lost Kitty Part 5

THE GRATEFUL DOG.

Many people wondered by what piece of good luck so young a boy as Fred Carleton was taken into the most prosperous store in town.

The mother and son did not fail to ascribe it to the over-ruling care of their heavenly Father.

They recognized in this event a new source of grat.i.tude; for they knew he put the kind thought into 'Squire Long's heart.

Fred entered into his new employment with all the energy of his character, and soon convinced the other partners that he meant to do his part faithfully.

Even here his quick appreciation of kindness and the heartiness with which he said "thank you" for the least favor, won him many friends.

The idea of his having gained his present situation, merely by showing his grat.i.tude, caused him to think much on the subject, both of his indebtedness to G.o.d and to his Christian parents.

One Sabbath day he and his mother pa.s.sed all their time out of church in looking up instances in the Bible where grat.i.tude for kindness was shown from man to man; as, for instance, David's friendship to Jonathan's family, on account of their former kindness to himself.

Also his kindness to Barzillai, in allowing him to live where he pleased, because the old man had provided him food when he lay hid at Mahanaim.

They read the account of Joseph in prison, and the ingrat.i.tude of the chief butler, who forgot his promise to plead for Joseph with Pharaoh.

Soon after this time, a packet of letters was received from Captain Carleton, by a schooner the Adolphus had met on her pa.s.sage out.

Curiously enough, Frederick's letter contained an incident on the very subject which of late had occupied so many of their thoughts.

As I have no doubt it will please my young readers, I shall copy it.

"MY DEAR SON,--You will remember that I told you I had engaged to take out several pa.s.sengers to India. There was one more than I expected. This was a n.o.ble dog, of the St. Bernard breed. He was the property of a lady who had formerly lived in India, and was returning there with her three children, after a visit to her home in America. Mrs. Lenox has two sons and one daughter, a little fairy, the pet of all on board. The sons are indolent, quarrelsome fellows, who not only make themselves unhappy, but also try to annoy their mother in every way.

"Inez, the little girl, never comes on deck without being accompanied by Caesar, the great dog. He is her companion, protector, and friend. He follows her gravely up and down the deck, lying by her side when she is quiet, or giving his body as a pillow for her to lie upon. I have often seen her soundly sleeping with her curly head resting on his s.h.a.ggy hair.

"Neither of the boys likes the dog. They shut him up, blind his eyes, and play all manner of tricks upon him.

One day Caesar came on deck limping badly. I examined his foot and found it deeply cut. I still suspect it was the work of Lawrence, the eldest boy. Inez was almost frantic with grief. She insisted on holding the bandages while the mate bound up the wound, all the time weeping over her pet.

"Caesar fully appreciated her affection. He looked mournfully in her face, wagging his tail, and, as soon as the dressing was completed, began to lick her hands and face in token of his grat.i.tude.

"Every day the wound was carefully dressed, Inez standing by and caressing the dog. At the end of a week the cut was almost entirely healed. The little girl could scarcely express her joy. She danced up and down the deck, or rode on Caesar's back, holding on to his s.h.a.ggy hair.

"One morning I went on deck and saw Inez playing near the bow of the ship. Next I heard a scream, and saw Caesar leap into the water. My heart gave one great bound, and then the loud cry, 'Child overboard!' made all hearts quail with fear.

"There was a stiff breeze, and the vessel making near ten knots an hour. My fear was that before the boats could be lowered we should be too far off; but I was mistaken. The grateful dog plunged down when he saw his mistress sink, and rose with her clothes firmly grasped in his teeth. Then he commenced swimming after the vessel, while the sailors in the boats were making toward him as fast as possible.

"It was a moment of silent rejoicing when our pretty Inez was safe on board again. Mrs. Lenox wept and strained the dripping child to her heart, after which she hugged faithful Caesar, drenched as he was, in her arms.

"If a dog can feel happiness,--of which I have no doubt,--Caesar did during the rest of that day. The sailors rubbed his coat dry, and fed him sumptuously.

Everybody praised him; but what he enjoyed more than all else was the sight of Inez brought on deck by her mother, and set down by his side. He walked round her, smelled her clothes, seeming to fear they were still damp, then licked her hands and face, wagging his tail, giving short, joyful barks, and trying, as well as he knew how, to show her his delight at having had it in his power to save her life as a return for all her care of him."

During the weeks which followed, Fred and his sister talked much of the n.o.ble dog and his grateful friend Inez. They thought Inez' mother could not be grateful enough to the affectionate creature, and made many plans respecting the way they would show their grat.i.tude if they were in her place.

Fred said, "I would build a beautiful dog-house with a top like one of the heathen temples, and have an account of Caesar's heroism printed in large letters on a signboard over the front." But Hatty thought that Caesar would better appreciate good care, plenty of meat, and Inez'

fond caresses.

"I am glad you feel so," remarked Mrs. Carleton. "It was a n.o.ble act in the dog, though I suppose he ran no great risk of losing his own life. Dogs, especially of the St. Bernard breed, are quite at home in the water. But, Fred, can you think of any man who not only risked his life, but freely gave it up for yours?"

Fred's eyes dropped to the floor as he answered,--

"Yes, mother, Jesus Christ."

"What is he sometimes called?"

"The G.o.d-man."

"Have you ever been grateful to him, my dear?"

"I think I do love him, mother, though I never can love him enough for all he has done."