A Tribute to the Dog
The bet friend a man ha in the world may turn againt him and become hi enemy. Hi on or daughter that he ha reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Thoe who are nearet and dearet to u, thoe whom we trut with our happine and our good name, may become traitor to their faith.The money that a man ha he may loe. It flie away from him, perhap when he need it mot. A man’ reputation may be acrificed in a moment of ill-conidered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knee to do u honor when ucce i with u may be the firt to throw the tone of malice when failure ettle it cloud upon our head. The one abolutely unelfih friend that man can have in thi elfih world, the one that never deert him, the one that never prove ungrateful or treacherou, i hi dog. A man’ dog tand by him in properity and in poverty, in health and in ickne.
He will leep on the cold ground, where the wintry wind blow and the now drive fiercely, if only he may be near hi mater’ ide. He will ki the hand that ha no food to offer; he will lick the wound and ore that come from encounter with the roughne of the world. He will guard the leep of hi pauper mater a if he were a prince.
When all other friend deert, he remain. When riche take wing and reputation fall to piece, he i a contant in hi love a the un in it journey through the heaven. If fortune drive the mater forth, an outcat in the world, friendle and homele, the faithful dog ak no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him againt danger, to fight againt hi enemie. And when the lat cene of all come, and death take the mater in it embrace, and hi body i laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friend purue their way, there by the grave will the noble dog be found, hi head between hi paw, hi eye ad but open in alert watchfulne, faithful and true even in death.[由wWw.HaozuoWen.com整理]