After his "Day of Battle," Lad lived for more than two years--still
gallant of spirit, loyally mighty of heart, uncanny of wisdom--still
the undisputed king of The Place's "Little People."
Then, on a warm September morning in 1918, he stretched himself to
sleep in the coolest and shadiest corner of the veranda. And, while he
slept, his great heart very quietly stopped beating. He had no pain,
no illness, none of the distressing features of extreme age. He had
lived out a full span of sixteen years--years rich in life and
happiness and love.
Surely, there was nothing in such a death to warrant the silly grief
that was ours, nor the heartsick gloom that overhung The Place! It
was wholly illogical, not to say maudlin. I admit that without
argument. The cleric-author of "The Mansion Yard" must have known the
same miserable sense of loss, I think, when he wrote:
"Stretched on the hearthrug in a deep content,
Fond of the fire as I.
Oh, there was something with the old dog went
I had not thought could die!"
We buried Lad in a sunlit nook that had been his favorite lounging
place, close to the house he had guarded so long and so gallantly.
With him we buried his honorary Red Cross and Blue Cross--awards
for money raised in his name. Above his head we set a low granite
block, with a carven line or two thereon.
The Mistress wanted the block inscribed: "The Dearest Dog!" I
suggested: "The Dog God Made." But we decided against both epitaphs.
We did not care to risk making our dear old friend's memory ridiculous
by words at which saner folk might one day sneer. So on the granite is
engraved:
LAD
THOROUGHBRED IN BODY AND SOUL
Some people are wise enough to know that a dog has no soul. These will
find ample theme for mirth in our foolish inscription. But no one, who
knew Lad, will laugh at it.
ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE.
"Sunnybank"
Pompton Lakes,
New Jersey.
[
Transcriber's Note:
The following is a list of changes made to the original.
The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.
_Nineteenth Printing March, 1922_
_Nineteenth Printing, March, 1922_
_Twentieth Printing August, 1922_
_Twentieth Printing, August, 1922_
_Twenty-first Printing Sept. 1922_
_Twenty-first Printing, Sept., 1922_
You're--your're more of a man than I am, old
You're--you're more of a man than I am, old
the inner wooden blinds in search the catch.
the inner wooden blinds in search of the catch.
formally entered for the Novice class, at the Westminister
formally entered for the Novice class, at the Westminster
white sign, was inscribed "COLLIES" Here his
white sign, was inscribed "COLLIES." Here his
was apparently no part of the law. And Lad felt
was apparently no part of the Law. And Lad felt
Lad was viewing the procedings from the top of
Lad was viewing the proceedings from the top of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account