Beggar and dog
Beggar and dog
Itis a sad thing to be blind; but when one is blind, it is pleasant to know that a little dog may lead one by a string, safely along the road. I will tell you a story of a poor blind man and his dog Snip.
The man was very poor; and he had no money, or children, or friends to take care of him. So he used to go from house to house, to beg his bread and his clothes. He could not see anything atall: it was always dark to him. He could not see the sun, nor the trees, nor the earth, nor the sky.
Snip was a little lively dog, with a full black eye, a nose turned up, and a tail curling over his back. He was so full of life that he used to go on three legs more than half the time, as if it was too easy to get along when he used all four.
The old man had a string tied around Snip’s neck; this he took in his left hand, while he held his cane in the right. The dog trotted forward, leading the way, and the old man followed. Snip knew the road that his master wished to travel; so on he trotted, taking care always to choose a smooth path.
Thus the dog and his master got along very well together. Sometimes Snip would play the old man a trick; for instance, seeing some dog in the path, and having a mind for a frolic, he would give a sudden jump, and jerking the string from his master’s hand, he would scamper off, racing and chasing with his fellow dog, as if he was mad.
In vain would the old man call and scold, threaten and flatter, till Snip’s sport was over. Then he would approach his master, but take pretty good care to keep out of reach of the cane. He would lie down on the ground and whine, and seem to ask to be forgiven.
At last, when the old man’s rage was over, and Snip saw that his kind feelings were apparent, he would run to his side, and jump up and lick his hand, and seem to say—“Pray forgive little Snip, he won’t do so again!” The old man would then pat him on the head, call him good dog—and, no doubt happier for a little bit of a breeze, they would both proceed on their journey.
But, at last, a sad accident befell the poor old man. In the spring, when the river was very high, he was crossing a bridge; one of the planks having been carried away, the old man fell into the stream and was carried down by the waves. Snip jumped in after him, took hold of his coat, and tried to pull him to the shore, but it was in vain.
The poor man was soon drowned, and his body was carried upon a little island. When it was found, Snip was sitting by its side, having an appearance of great sadness. The beggar was buried, but Snip would not leave the spot. The people observed the affection of the dog, and their hearts were touched by it; so they carried the poor creature food. He ate a little, but he wasted away, and in about two weeks, he was found dead upon the grave of his master!