Chapter VIII: 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 gratitude; 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 gratitude, caused him to think much on the subject, both of his indebtedness to God and to his Christian parents.

One Sabbath day he and his mother passed all their time out of church in looking up instances in the Bible where gratitude 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 ingratitude 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 passage 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 passengers to India. There
was one more than I expected. This was a noble 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 shaggy 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 gratitude.

"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
shaggy 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 noble 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 gratitude 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 noble 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 God-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."

Transcriber's Note

The author uses wont instead of the more usual won't; this has been retained as printed.

Minor puctuation errors have been fixed without note.

The following errors have been corrected:

Page 12--Hattie amended to Hatty (for consistency with
other occurrences)--"His sister Hatty took her hands
from the dish-water ..."

Page 12--its amended to it's--"Clara says it's a real
Maltese."

Page 13--whethe amended to whether--"... and see whether
she will drink it."

Page 23--Kent amended to Carleton--"Mrs. Carleton had
taken great pains with the new suit."

Illustrations have been moved so that they are not in the middle of a paragraph.