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 CARLO 
 
 THE NOBLE 
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 Bn Bibibition of ^rue Mcroidin 
 
 y4 STORY IN RHYME 
 
 FOUNDED ON FACT 
 
 BY 
 
 L B. HARTMAN, D. D. 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 'Divine Penology," "The Republic of America,*' "Little Willie," etc. 
 
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 PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR 
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 1 ^^OV 25 19931 
 
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 COPYRIGHT 1903 
 L. B. HARTMAN 
 
 Published November, 1903 
 
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 ifrom tbc press of tbc 
 
 Bmerican baptist publication Societis 
 
To him whose mind can apprehend 
 In his dumb dog a faithful friend, 
 And loves his valor to commend, 
 
 In prowess justified ; 
 To him, and all that love romance 
 And all that talk of fate, or chance, 
 Or art of conquering circumstance. 
 
 This volume is inscribed, 
 
 AND 
 
 Hffectfonatels 2)e5fcate& 
 
 BY THE 
 AUTHOR 
 
^ living dog is better than a dead lion 
 
 —ECCLESIASTES 
 
 Let Hercules himself do what he may, 
 
 The cat will mew, and dog will have his day 
 
 -^-SHAKESPEARE 
 
Gnto I 
 
OWN where the Schuylkill waters 
 
 flow, 
 There lived Sam Brown long 
 
 years ago, 
 Who with his wife, a fair young 
 
 bride, 
 
 Adorned their cottage home with pride. 
 His neighbors all, both young and old. 
 Nicknamed him '' Brownie,'' we are told. 
 And said they 'Moved him all the same. 
 For his kind deeds, by any name." 
 A truer friend or one more kind 
 To rich and poor was hard to find, 
 And every beast upon his farm 
 Knew well it ne'er would suffer harm. 
 
 He loved all '' pets," and quite a host 
 He'd gathered round him, but the most 
 He loved his dog of peerless worth, 
 Of rarest strain and blooded birth. 
 He called him ''Carlo," and his name 
 
 II 
 
Adorned their cottage home with pride ' ' 
 
 12 
 
Had filled the township with his fame ; 
 No other could with him compare 
 In worth, nor half his honor share. 
 
 Brownie had taught him many ways 
 To be of service in his days : 
 He'd drive the pigs out of the yard, 
 Attend his wife as bodyguard, 
 And carry bundles from the store, 
 Then go to market after more ; 
 And every evening without fail 
 He'd bring from town his master's mail ; 
 He'd fetch the cows, and herd the sheep. 
 And when his day's work was complete 
 He'd take his station in the yard, 
 Which nightly he patrolled as guard. 
 As years passed on the household grew 
 And happy children, not a few, 
 A lively group of girls and boys, 
 Now multiplied their home-bred joys. 
 
 Among them Carlo was a pet. 
 Brave, true, majestic, huge, and yet 
 With all of them as kind and mild 
 And playful as a little child. 
 He had grown up in stature fine, 
 
 13 
 
14 
 
To a full giant in his line, 
 Become the warden of the ''ring," 
 In which he proved himself a king. 
 
 In all that happened there for years 
 He oft in^many scenes appears : 
 The children playing in the yard, 
 Or in the barn, he was their guard ; 
 And when they strayed o'er sunny hills, 
 Or lingered by the rippling rills. 
 Or fished the minnows from the brook. 
 Or shelter sought in shady nook. 
 Or playing in the rustic bowers. 
 Or in the meadows gathering flowers — 
 In orchard, garden, house or tent. 
 Wherever Brownie's children went, 
 There Carlo with majestic pride 
 Was ever found as guard and guide ; 
 And woe to any tramp, or boy. 
 Or savage cur that would annoy 
 The Brownie children when away 
 From parent-roof by night or day. 
 By them no play was much enjoyed 
 When he was otherwise employed, 
 '' For all of them " (the neighbors said) 
 '' Loved Carlo as they loved their bed." 
 
 15 
 
o 
 
 s 
 
 l6 
 
Oft in their happy childish glee 
 Amusing spectacles there'd be, 
 Which Carlo always seemed t' enjoy 
 As much as either girl or boy. 
 Sometimes Adele and Guy and Jack 
 Would ride in triumph on his back ; 
 While Jane and Ben again would hitch 
 Him to a cart, and with a switch 
 Would drive him through the open hall, 
 The dog the happiest of them all. 
 
 So full of sympathy was he, 
 With all his canine majesty. 
 That all the neighbors in the town 
 Confessed they'd ne'er his equal known. 
 Thus, if by chance it happened so 
 His little friends had come to woe 
 By falls or bruises in their play. 
 And childish tears would force their way, 
 'Mid cries of sorrow down the cheek. 
 Carlo would come and lick their feet 
 And faces too, to soothe their pain, 
 And never were his efforts vain. 
 
 The Brownies had no anxious care 
 Which Carlo did not seem to share ; 
 
 17 
 
Were they afflicted, he was sad ; 
 Were they delighted, he was glad ; 
 Whatever of duty he could see, 
 Of deeds of love or charity. 
 He never failed to do his part, 
 As if possessed of human heart. 
 
 At night he would patrol the yard 
 Around the house, like Roman guard, 
 And while the Brownies sweetly slept 
 The dog his safest vigils kept ; 
 And on the least approach of harm 
 Around that humble house and barn. 
 His bark would echo through the vale 
 Like lion's roar upon the trail, 
 And thrill with terrifying fear 
 All who th' appalling sound might hear. 
 
 i8 
 
(into II 
 
HUS years of joy and peace they 
 passed 
 Together — but these could not 
 
 last : 
 New cares were gathering in the 
 fold, 
 
 And Carlo now was growing old ; 
 And Brownie too by cruel fate 
 Had lately been unfortunate. 
 By some mishap he lost his farm, 
 And lightning struck and burned his barn, 
 His crops and all the year had earned. 
 His team and cows and all were burned, 
 And naught was left to call his own. 
 Save wife and children and the home. 
 
 His means of living now were gone, 
 And age was also creeping on ; 
 And broken-hearted, in despair 
 Poor Brownie sank into his chair 
 In reveries profound and deep 
 
 21 
 
With woes unutterable replete. 
 His wife and children came around 
 And tried to cheer him, but no sound 
 Escaped his lips — too sad to weep, 
 And much dejected, could not speak. 
 His neighbors too, to cheer his heart 
 Came to his side, and every art 
 They knew applied to bring relief 
 To Brownie's mind so full of grief; 
 But all their efforts proved in vain, 
 None could alleviate his pain. 
 
 'Twas not so much what he had lost. 
 Nor what his sacrifices cost. 
 That bore him down, but all the more 
 He worried lest his meagre store. 
 Could not supply his future need 
 And wife and children clothe and feed. 
 
 Thus for long hours he'd sit and brood 
 His losses o'er in pensive mood ; 
 All pitied him and what to do 
 Was more than any neighbor knew. 
 
 At last he fell into a doze, 
 
 And dreamed a dream, and when he 'rose 
 
 22 
 
Bright sunshine filled his cottage-room, 
 His heart was cheered and gone his gloom ; 
 At once his reverie he broke, 
 And standing up thus calmly spoke : 
 ''Since all our store has been consumed, 
 And all our hopes have been entombed, 
 We've naught but hardships now to view. 
 And toils and sacrifices too. 
 To save expenses in our fare 
 We all alike some loss must bear. 
 And all that we can sacrifice 
 Without much pain, I now advise. 
 
 With this at once we must proceed, 
 And as we now no longer need 
 Old Carlo — since his daily fare 
 Is really more than we can spare — 
 Although he served us well in stead, 
 'Twere better now that he were dead : 
 Poor, poor are we, too poor to keep 
 And feed him for another week ; 
 Though hard, I feel it must be done ; 
 I must dispatch him with my gun.'' 
 
 This unexpected declaration, 
 
 Filled every heart with consternation ; 
 
 23 
 
His children all with one accord 
 Now rushed to Brownie and implored 
 With love and smothered sighs and tears 
 '' Dear papa, all our lifelong years, 
 In joys and sorrows, night and day. 
 Carlo has been our hope and stay — 
 Oh, spare him ! we implore, we cry. 
 We cannot see poor Carlo die ! 
 And we will help you in some way 
 To keep and feed him, day by day/' 
 
 Adele declared : '*This day FU try 
 
 To find some help/' ''And so will I,'' 
 
 In one sweet voice, quoth Ben and Guy; 
 
 ''And I will sell my cart,'' said Jack, 
 
 "And Carlo shall no comfort lack/' 
 
 Jane said : " I'll keep a peanut stand, 
 
 Since nuts are always in demand ; " 
 
 And Sam resolved to do his part. 
 
 By selling papers in the park. 
 
 All felt assured, if they would try, 
 
 That God would help them by and by. 
 
 The father heard his children talk, 
 
 And for diversion took a walk. 
 
 And thus a painful hour beguiled ; 
 
 His wife looked on and never smiled, 
 
 24 
 
For much she feared that Brownie meant, 
 To carry out his dread intent. 
 
 Pressed with the fear of coming cares 
 He heeded not his children's prayers ; 
 *' Carlo is old/' they heard him say, 
 *'And like all dogs he's had his day." 
 In heart he pitied Carlo too, 
 And thus determined now to do : 
 He'd take him to the river-side, 
 And drown him in the flowing tide. 
 And thus he hoped his end to gain 
 Without inflicting needless pain. 
 
 No sooner was his plan conceived. 
 Than Brownie's mind was much relieved. 
 Which to them all in language plain 
 He told, in hope to ease their pain. 
 His good intentions here were kind. 
 But failed to change his children's mind, 
 Instead of comfort or relief. 
 He only multiplied their grief. 
 In sympathy and love profound 
 They wept anew, their arms around 
 Old Carlo's neck ; they kissed his face 
 In childish innocence and grace. 
 
 25 
 

 ** And with him to the river hied 
 
 26 
 
Their wild alarm, their sobs and sighs, 
 With saddest tears filled Carlo's eyes, 
 As in their midst serene he stood, 
 And knew such mourning meant no good. 
 
 The neighbors hastened to the scene. 
 In wonder what such cries could mean ; 
 With Brownie none would interfere, 
 But from their eyes the silent tear 
 Welled up in sympathy for those 
 Whose little broken hearts and woes 
 Filled all their souls with keenest smart 
 As they were now compelled to part 
 With their old friend, in. grief and pain. 
 And never, never meet again. 
 
 But Brownie, stern in his intent. 
 Still on his cruel mission bent. 
 Called Carlo gently to his side. 
 And with him to the river hied. 
 With cheerless heart of grief and pain 
 He led him down the grassy lane. 
 And when he reached the public way. 
 Carlo looked back, as if to say 
 Farewell old home and comrades dear, 
 We've lived together many a year ; 
 
 27 
 
I always kept you in my sight, 
 
 And sought your safety day and night ; 
 
 I trust no ills will you befall 
 
 Since Til not be within your call ; 
 
 I fain would longer stay with you, 
 
 But fate forbids — alas, adieu ! '' 
 
 28 
 
(into III 
 
HE children saw their pet depart, 
 And deepest anguish filled each 
 
 heart 
 As with emotion now they cried : 
 ''Farewell, dear Carlo, we have 
 tried 
 
 To save you from so sad an end. 
 For you have always been our fi'iend — 
 We've plead in tears, but all in vain, 
 Oh, shall we never meet again ? '' 
 
 Old Major Proctor who stood by 
 And heard the children's woful cry. 
 Now shouted out amidst their sobs : 
 ''Farewell, old chief, Tm sure the gods. 
 Will save thee yet from being slain, 
 And bring thee safely home again/' 
 As if the prophet's holy fire. 
 Had touched the strings of Proctor's lyre. 
 The spell of that prophetic strain, 
 Inspired a hope in all amain. 
 
 31 
 
Soon Brownie reached the river-bank, 
 Far down below the water tank : 
 While all the town and neighborhood 
 Had gathered there and round him stood ; 
 (For Carlo was renowned of all 
 As friend of children great and small, 
 Since he had won a glorious name 
 Which filled the village with his fame). 
 
 He now engaged a small canoe 
 (The only one that was in view). 
 Though old and frail, 'twas fully oared ; 
 In this, with Carlo now aboard. 
 He rowed far out into the flood, 
 Resolved to make his purpose good ; 
 He seized poor Carlo by the feet 
 And plunged him out into the deep. 
 
 But quite unlike a scene of yore 
 Of which we read in Bible lore. 
 When billows howled and tempest blew. 
 And terrorized the helpless crew 
 Who cast poor Jonah in the wave. 
 When some great fish rushed in to save 
 And rescue him from death's cold chill, 
 That he his mission might fulfill — 
 
 32 
 
Unlike it here, all was serene 
 And not a cloud was to be seen ; 
 The waves rolled calmly side by side 
 And fish were sporting in the tide, 
 But not a friend was here to save 
 Old Carlo from a watery grave. 
 
 I doubt when Brownie threw him in 
 He ever thought the dog could swim ; 
 And disappointed in his plan 
 He had to try his wits again. 
 The dog kept swimming round the boat, 
 Nor did he find it hard to float ; 
 But Brownie all determined more 
 Now meant to kill him with his oar. 
 He brought it down upon his head 
 With all his force and, almost dead, 
 Poor Carlo sank. Again he rose. 
 But only to receive more blows. 
 
 The dog looked in his master's face 
 In vain for pity, love, or grace, 
 Or sign, by which to comprehend 
 Such treatment from his lifelong friend : 
 He'd loved his master all his days. 
 And served him in a thousand ways ; 
 
 33 
 
34 
 
Why he should die thus by his hand 
 Poor Carlo could not understand. 
 The multitude which gathered there 
 And watched with pain the sad affair, 
 Looked on in silent, trembling fears. 
 While every eye was bathed in tears. 
 
 Now Brownie was himself amazed 
 To find the dog was only dazed — 
 That all the efforts of his blows 
 Had only multiplied his woes ; 
 This grieved his mind, as all men knew 
 That Brownie was kind-hearted too, 
 And would not give unneedful pain 
 To anything, his end f obtain. 
 
 On one more desperate effort bent 
 
 The old man now was more intent ; 
 
 But as he rose upon his feet, 
 
 And raised his oar with strength replete. 
 
 Determined with one final blow 
 
 To end poor Carlo's earthly woe, 
 
 He lost his balance and fell in ; 
 
 And lo ! Old Brownie could not swim. 
 
 35 
 
(ante IV 
 
! 
 
HE woes which Carlo had alone, 
 Had now in part become his own ; 
 He plunged and struggled in his 
 
 fright 
 And called for help with all his 
 might ; 
 
 By every art he knew he tried 
 To keep his head above the tide ; 
 He thought of wife and children dear, 
 And friends and neighbors far and near ; 
 And all the deeds he'd ever done, 
 Or good or ill, beneath the sun, 
 That moment flashed his conscience o'er ; 
 And yet he struggled all the more ; 
 But found at last all efforts vain. 
 And all his hopes now fled amain. 
 
 Carlo, who'd heard his mournful cries, 
 Looked at the scene with dimming eyes ; 
 Although more really dead than 'live 
 He felt again his love revive ; 
 
 39 
 
40 
 
And seeing Brownie's fearful plight, 
 He quickly seized him in his fright ; 
 Above the tide his head he bore, 
 And puird his master toward the shore. 
 
 The crowd who'd watched with eager eyes, 
 Their silence broke, and now their cries 
 And shouts of triumph rent the air 
 And rolled o'er hill and valley fair : 
 *' Hurrah — hurrah ! " each set agog. 
 Hurrah ! " they cried, ''for noble dog. 
 Who risking life for Brownie's aid. 
 Such magnanimity displayed." 
 
 Old Carlo now exhausted, weak. 
 Was almost gone, as in the deep 
 He toiled without a helping hand. 
 Yet stroke by stroke came nearer land : 
 When, lo ! All hushed in silence stood. 
 It now appeared that Carlo would. 
 Exhausted, with his treasure sink 
 And perish near the river's brink. 
 But see — he rallies once again 
 And with united might and main 
 Afresh applies his power to save 
 His master from the watery grave. 
 
 41 
 
Loud cheers again all tongues employ, 
 
 As to their unexpected joy 
 
 With one terrific struggle more 
 
 He drags his treasure to the shore. 
 
 Scarce in a crowd beneath the sun 
 
 Did e'er excitement higher run : 
 
 They shouted louder than before 
 
 And cheered till they could cheer no more. 
 
 They gathered round the dog and man 
 And felt that since the world began 
 To final doom, no dog they'll find 
 So merciful, majestic, brave, 
 As Carlo, who this day did save. 
 With wounded head and bated breath. 
 His master from untimely death. 
 
 With sympathy aloud expressed 
 The people now the dog caressed ; 
 They rubbed his face and aching head 
 (For he was weak and almost dead). 
 They dress'd his wounds and brought him 
 
 food ; 
 And as he there among them stood 
 They lauded his fidelity 
 
 And praised his intrepidity 
 
 42 
 
And hailed him chief and crowned his name 
 With glory and unequaled fame. 
 
 They gathered round his master next, 
 Who, although safe felt much perplexed 
 With mingling gratitude and shame 
 And grief and sorrow, for the pain 
 Inflicted on his lifelong friend 
 Who none of this could comprehend. 
 And as he spoke his tears like rain 
 Rushed down his pallid cheeks again. 
 
 Old Proctor who had all the while 
 Witnessed the scene without a smile, 
 Now turned to Brownie as he shed 
 Those bitter tears, and calmly said : 
 'T think that after all the gods 
 Have heard the children's prayers and sobs, 
 And saved the dog from being slain, 
 And shall return him home again ; 
 Now pray,' what answer do you give ? 
 Must Carlo die ? or may he live ? 
 Has he this day not won his life 
 By saving yours ? Did not his strife 
 And strain for yours more than repay 
 For worth of his by yours to-day ? " 
 
 43 
 
'* Ah, yes ! " said Brownie, seated low, 
 
 ''My life to Carlo all I owe ; 
 Carlo, who's always been my friend, 
 Shall live with me till life shall end. 
 Although Fm poor and full of care. 
 And met misfortunes hard to bear ; 
 'Twill prove a struggle great indeed. 
 My children all to clothe and feed. 
 Yet by the strength that in me lies 
 rU keep old Carlo till he dies ; 
 To feed him I will toil the more 
 And with him share my meagre store ; 
 I know my wife and children dear 
 Will join me too with greatest cheer ; 
 No sacrifice by them I know 
 Will be too great to undergo ; 
 And when I take him home I ween. 
 To-day their joy will be supreme/' 
 And as he spoke, down from his eyes 
 Tears flowed in pity, and his sighs 
 With mingled joy and modest grace 
 Alternate played upon his face. 
 
 Depressed he was, as all could see. 
 With unrelenting misery; 
 Conflicting feelings swayed his mind 
 
 44 
 
Of joy and sorrow both combined ; 
 He felt his life he'd nearly lost, 
 Then conned what his salvation cost. 
 His cruel and death-telling blows 
 On Carlo's head now caused his woes; 
 That he was safe on land again 
 Was joy — but joy which gave him pain 
 For all his joys he'd only paid 
 That which his cruelty displayed : 
 Thus all his joys were sorrows too, 
 And sorrows were his joys in lieu ; 
 His tears of laughter were the same 
 As those which from his sorrows came ; 
 And his demure self-crimination. 
 Eclipsed his doubtful consolation. 
 
 45 
 
(^nto V 
 
E now determined in his heart, 
 To take the dog and homeward 
 
 start : 
 In saddest plight, they walked 
 
 not ran — 
 A weary dog — but wiser man. 
 And ere they yet were out of sight 
 The multitude, in their delight, 
 In shouts e'en louder than before 
 Broke forth in happy cheers once more : 
 *' Hurrah ! for Brownie in his grief — 
 Hurrah ! for Carlo, hero, chief — 
 Hurrah ! for man and dog once more,'' 
 Swept o'er the hills with deaf'ning roar : 
 And as the distant echo ceased 
 They both their lagging pace increased, 
 And soon within their cottage door 
 Carlo and children met once more. 
 
 The scene which greeted now their eyes, 
 Was to them all a great surprise : 
 
 49 
 
"Their awful plight the wife amazed" 
 
 50 
 
Their awful plight the wife amazed, 
 
 And all the children nearly dazed. 
 
 Old Carlo there demurely stood, 
 
 With wounded head still stained with blood ; 
 
 And Brownie with disheveled hair, 
 
 And water-soaked, in dank despair, 
 
 Disconsolate, rested by his side, 
 
 Chagrined and deeply mortified. 
 
 So startling was the unwonted scene 
 
 They wondered what it all could mean : 
 
 Then Brownie in his pensive way, 
 
 Told them the story of the day. 
 
 The scene itself was ludicrous. 
 The tale he told so fatuous, 
 And such was their astonishment. 
 All stood in speechless wonderment ; 
 While tears were springing to their eyes. 
 Their heart overflowed with grave surprise. 
 The tale he told was very brief 
 And failed to bring their hearts relief. 
 Since they all feared that Carlo's day 
 Was doomed to end some other way. 
 Then Brownie to them plainly said — 
 ''This dear old dog with bleeding head. 
 Despite my cruelty, did save 
 
 51 
 
Your father from a watery grave ; 
 
 To his brave spirit now I owe 
 
 My own base Hfe. A real hero 
 
 He's proved himself to be to-day, 
 
 And I have brought him home to stay — 
 
 To share our comforts and our store 
 
 Until his days shall all be o'er/' 
 
 The children all in silence heard 
 What wondrous exploits had occurred ; 
 And when they fully understood 
 That **all together worked for good," 
 Their great astonishment and fright 
 Changed quick into supreme delight ; 
 They danced and shouted, leaped and rolled 
 In joy and rapture uncontrolled 
 With Carlo resting on the floor, 
 Conscious they'd part with him no more : 
 Just as their sorrows had been deep, 
 Their joy supreme was now complete. 
 
 Brownie and wife in highest glee 
 Joined in the general jubilee ; 
 And all the afternoon was spent 
 In richest feats of merriment, 
 As if the ^^ fatted calf were killed," 
 
 52 
 
And all had feasted and were filled 
 With joy for Carlo — all around, 
 **Who once was lost, but now is found/' 
 
 For many years, as we are told. 
 They lived together as one fold ; 
 Carlo, without a pain or grief. 
 Again the children's chum and chief, 
 Stood guard around the cottage door 
 By night and day, just as before. 
 Nor did poor Brownie e'er again 
 Of sad misfortunes more complain. 
 He never thought it hard, though poor, 
 To labor that he might procure 
 Of means sufficient to sustain 
 His wife and children, and maintain 
 In rich abundance Carlo too. 
 Who'd proved himself a friend so true. 
 
 Though often weary in his toil. 
 He ne'er from duty would recoil ; 
 And what sustained him day by day 
 Were memories of his sad affray. 
 Which ever prompted him anew 
 To pay his debt to Carlo due. 
 
 53 
 
The parents now, as once before, 
 Were bless'd ''in basket and in store," 
 And in their gratitude each day 
 They taught their children how to pray ; 
 In all things urged them to be wise 
 And live for ''mansions in the skies/' 
 Thus years of happy innocence 
 Emerged in mutual confidence ; 
 Their children now around them stood 
 In noble man- and womanhood, 
 To parents' hearts by love endeared. 
 By all their neighbors much revered. 
 
 54 
 
(anto l/I 
 
 THE MORAL 
 
 LofC. 
 
O doubt a scene of such display 
 Contains a ''moral" for our day, 
 Which rudely sketched in many 
 
 parts 
 Should yet withal enlist our 
 hearts. 
 
 Such scenes, more often felt than told. 
 Are sometimes worth their weight in gold. 
 Since through their very silence, more 
 Than speech flows through their hidden lore. 
 
 ■BBBMWgSMWaBfaiW! 
 
 Here grief and gratitude unite 
 And tears are mingled with delight. 
 And cruelty inflicting pain 
 Is generously put to shame ; 
 While in the outraged dog is seen 
 Fidelity and love supreme : 
 Strange paradoxes thus combine 
 To make the lesson more sublime — 
 A lesson which we all should learn 
 That we may *'good for ill return/' 
 
 57 
 
Nor is this all it would reveal 
 Of what to sight it doth conceal : 
 Here what we call magnanimous 
 In actions grand and glorious, 
 We see with true nobility 
 And valiant intrepidity, 
 Unite to teach the happy art 
 Of serving others from the heart. 
 
 Nor is the story fully told, 
 Since yet in beauty we behold 
 How perseverance conquering chance 
 Can rise above all circumstance 
 And win by courage undismayed 
 Rich trophies long by hope delayed : 
 And how an active pound of pluck 
 Is worth a hundred tons of luck 
 While battling with the force of fate 
 In weal or woe unfortunate. 
 
 And how a noble deed will rise 
 In th' estimation of the wise — 
 Commend itself by its own worth, 
 Although it had but humble birth ; 
 While acts of mean and low attempt 
 Provoke but their supreme contempt. 
 
 58 
 
How what is really great and true, 
 
 With pinions of the richest hue, 
 
 Ascends with an immortal fame 
 
 And lights its torch in heaven's flame, 
 
 And sweeps the golden arch sublime 
 
 Of rolling centuries of time, 
 
 To tell its story in the morn 
 
 Of generations yet unborn, 
 
 That all may know its precious lore 
 
 And greatness, truth, and love adore. 
 
 v< Ne v< N< 
 
 Thus he whose head is clear of fog 
 May learn a lesson from his dog. 
 So faithful, noble, brave and kind. 
 The truest friend of humankind. 
 Though oft ill-used he holds no spite. 
 His master's smiles are his delight ; 
 'Midst cruelties he yet would share 
 His master's hunger, want, and care ; 
 Though weal or woe may him betide, 
 He's happy by his master's side, 
 Or in a hovel, or a tent, 
 Or stately mansion, he's content ; 
 He keeps his secrets, tells no tales, 
 His loyalty in all prevails ; 
 
 59 
 
He warns him too, when danger's nigh, 
 And for his master dares to die. 
 
 O noble dog, thy nature true. 
 
 Thy friendship old, yet ever new, 
 
 Has won for thee an honored throne 
 
 Of loyalty in every home. 
 
 Couldst thou but speak and let them know 
 
 What sorrows thou dost undergo 
 
 When cruel boys, or men by name. 
 
 Distress and give thee useless pain, 
 
 And demon-like thy body flog 
 
 All just because thou art a dog — 
 
 Couldst thou thyself by words defend, 
 
 Methinks their hearts would comprehend 
 
 And realize how wicked they 
 
 Thus prove themselves in the affray. 
 
 Dear reader — to your dog be kind, 
 
 A truer friend is hard to find ; 
 
 And from him daily try to learn 
 
 How true nobility to earn. 
 
 How moral greatness to attain 
 
 And the rewards of virtue gain. 
 
 60 
 
Thrice happy he who in this school 
 Learns to obey the Golden Rule — 
 To 'Move his neighbor as himself" 
 In sickness, poverty, or wealth : 
 Who learns the love which lives to seek 
 And bears the burdens of the weak ; 
 That love which always wins the prize 
 And points the hopeless to the skies ; 
 That love which over all prevails 
 And never, never, never fails. 
 
 6i 
 
WOV 25 1903