A Faithful Dog - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

A FAITHFUL DOG

A number of years ago there was published in various papers a story which ran somewhat as follows: -

In an eastern city there lived a merchant of considerable wealth. His family consisted of his wife and daughter, the latter a young lady of about eighteen years of age. In those days the money of rich men was not, as now, so generally deposited in the banks for safe keeping. This merchant was unexpectedly called away from home on important business, and having in his possession quite a large sun of money which he did not wish to take with him, he left it at home, charging his wife to take good care of it.

During the day the man who kept the city meat-market called to see the merchant, but was informed that he was away on business, and would not return for several days. The wife of the merchant, believing the butcher to be an honest man, and feeling some uneasiness about the money in her keeping, mentioned to him her fears. He was, as usual, accompanied by his dog, a large, savage-looking mastiff. Appearing to sympathize with the lady, the butcher offered the services of his dog to guard the treasure. This offer was gladly accepted, and the butcher gave the dog a command to watch, and then left the house.

The mastiff took his position on the hearth in front of the fireplace, and lay so quiet, and took so little notice of what was transpiring around him, that the lady began to think him too stupid to perform the duty which his master had enjoined upon him. Night drew on, and the lady and her daughter retired. About midnight they were awakened by a fierce growl from the dog. Suddenly he made a spring, and caught firmly by the throat a man who was trying to make his entrance through the window of the room in which the money was deposited.

In the morning, the wife and daughter repaired to the window from which the noise was heard during the night, and there beheld the dead body of the butcher, with his throat badly mangled and torn. Without doubt, the man had decided to turn robber, thinking that the dog would recognize him and allow him to enter unharmed; but the faithful animal, intent only upon performing his duty, sprang suddenly upon the intruder, and did not perceive that he was his master until he had slain him.

The above incident furnishes a striking example of the retribution which even in this world is often visited upon the transgressor. And the dishonesty of the man appears even more glaring when contrasted with the faithfulness of his noble dog.

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