The Story of Scotch — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Story of Scotch
John Stuart Mill · en
After going a short distance, the young woman realized that she had lost
her trail but it never occurred to her that she had only to let Scotch
have his way and he would lead her safely home. However, she had the
good sense to stop where she was. And there, among the crags, by the
stained remnants of winter's snow, thirteen thousand feet above
sea-level, she knew she must pass the night. The wind blew a gale and
the alpine brooklet turned to ice, while, in the lee of a crag,
shivering with cold and hugging Scotch tight, she lay down to wait for
daylight.
When darkness had come that evening and the young woman had not
returned, I sent a rescue party of four guides up the Peak. They
suffered much from cold as they vainly searched among the crags through
the dark hours of the windy night. Just at sunrise one of the guides
found her. She was almost exhausted, but was still hugging Scotch
tightly and only her fingers were frost-bitten. The guide gave her wraps
and food and drink, and started with her down the trail. And Scotch? Oh,
as soon as the guide appeared he left her and started home for
breakfast. Scotch saved this young woman's life by staying with her
through the long, cold night. She appreciated the fact, and was quick to
admit that if she had allowed the dog to have his own way about the
trail she would have had no trouble.
III
One summer a family lived in a cabin at the farther side of the big
yard. Scotch developed a marked fondness for the lady of the house and
called on her daily. He was so purposeful about this that from the
moment he rose to start there was no mistaking his plans. Along the
pathway toward the cabin he went, evidently with something definite in
his mind. He was going somewhere; there was no stopping, no hurrying,
and no turning aside. If the door was open, in he went; if it was
closed, he made a scraping stroke across it and with dignified pose
waited for it to be opened. Inside he was the gentleman. Generally he
made a quiet tour through all the rooms and then lay down before the
fireplace. If any one talked to him, he watched the speaker and
listened with pleased attention; if the speaker was animated, Scotch
now and then gave a low bark of appreciation. Usually he stayed about
half an hour and then went sedately out. Without looking back, he
returned deliberately to his own quarters.
What an unconscious dignity there was in his make-up! He would not "jump
for the gentlemen," nor leap over a stick, nor "roll over." No one ever
would have thought of asking him to speak, to say grace, or to sit up on
his hind legs for something to eat. All these tricks were foreign to his
nature and had no place in his philosophy!