by Jacob Abbott
CHAPTER IV.
DOG LOST
About the middle of the winter, the farmer went to market with hisproduce. The vehicle on which he carried it was a kind of box uponrunners, with a pole in front, to which two horses were fastened. He wasgone three days.
When he came back, he said that he had bargained for another load of hisproduce, at the market town, and that he was going to send Jonas withit. Jonas was very glad when he heard this. He liked to take journeys.
"What day shall I go, sir?" said Jonas.
"Day after to-morrow," said the farmer, "as early as possible. We'll letthe horses rest one day."
About the middle of the afternoon, on the day following the one on whichthis conversation had taken place, Jonas and the farmer began to loadup the box sleigh, in order to have it ready for the morning. He hadabout forty miles to go, and he wanted to get to market, deliver hisload, and return five or ten miles that same evening.
It was quite cold that afternoon, and it seemed to be growing colder andcolder. Jonas got the box sleigh ready under a shed, first shoveling insome snow under the runners, in order that the horses might draw thesled out easily, when it was loaded. He put in the various articles ofproduce, which were contained in bags, and firkins, and boxes. Overthese he spread blankets and buffalo-skins, and put in a bag of oats forhis horses, and a box of bread and cheese for himself. He did not knowwhether Franco was to go with him, or not; but he arranged the bags insuch a way, that he could easily make a warm nest for him in one corner,if the farmer should allow him to go.
The farmer helped him about all the arrangements, and, when they werecompleted, he told Jonas to go in and get his supper, and go to bed, soas to get up and set off early in the morning.
"It will be a fine starlight night," said he, "and you'd better be tenmiles on your way by sunrise."
When Amos got up the next morning, and went out with his lantern, to goto the barn, as he passed by the shed on his way, he saw that the sleighwas gone. He proceeded to the barn, and, as he opened the door, he wasstartled at something which suddenly darted past him and rushed out.
"What's that?" said Oliver, who was behind him. "It is Franco," said he."Where is he going?"
Franco ran off to the shed where Jonas had harnesses his horses, andbegan smelling around upon the ground. He followed the scent along theyard, up to a post by the side of the house, where Jonas had stopped amoment ago to go in and get his great-coat, when all was ready; andthen, after pausing here a moment, he darted off towards the road.
"Here! Franco, Franco," said Amos, "come back here."
"Franco, Franco," repeated Oliver, "here--here--here--here."
Franco paid no attention to these calls, but ran off along the road atfull speed.
In the mean time, Jonas had traveled rapidly onward, by the light of thestars, over the glittering and frosty road.
The keen air made his ears tingle a little, but he rubbed them, and theysoon became warm. His feet were comfortably stowed away down in his box,among the bags and buffalo-skins, so that they were warm andcomfortable.
The horses trotted along at good speed, and soon brought Jonas and hisload to the village at the mill. The street was vacant, and the housesdark, excepting that a faint light shone behind a curtain in one chamberwindow. Jonas supposed that somebody was sick there. Even the millwas silent, and the gate shut down; and, instead of the ordinary roarof the water under the wheel, only a hissing sound was heard, wherethe imprisoned water spouted through the crevices of the flume. Vaststalactites of ice extended continuously along the whole face ofthe dam, like a frozen waterfall, behind which the water percolatedcuriously down into the foaming abyss, at the bottom of the fall. Jonasthought that all this, seen by starlight, looked very cold.
The horses trotted across the bridge with a loud sound, whichreverberated far and wide in the still night. He ascended the hillbeyond, and drove on. His woollen comforter, tied about his neck,became frosted over from his breath; and the breasts, and mane, andsides, of the horses were gradually sprinkled with white, in the sameway. They were both black horses,--the General having been left at home.They trotted down the hills and along the level portions of the road,and wheeled around the curves, with great speed. Jonas found that hehad no occasion for his whip, and so he put it away behind him, underthe buffaloes.
He went on in this way, without any special adventure, for a couple ofhours, and then began to see a gray light appearing in the eastern sky.About the same time, the windows of the farm-houses, which he passed onthe road, began to be illuminated by the fires, which they were kindlingwithin. Now and then, he could see a man hurrying out to a barn, to feedthe cattle. Jonas thought that they ought to be up earlier. The sun rosesoon after, and the fields on every side sparkled by the reflection ofhis rays, from the crystalline surface of the snow. Tall columns ofdense white smoke ascended from the chimneys, some erect, others leaninga little, some one way, some another. In a word, it was a cold, still,winter morning.
At length, as Jonas was walking his horses up a long hill, he heardlight footsteps behind him. He turned round to see what was coming, and,to his utter astonishment, he saw Franco, coming up, upon the full run,and close behind the sleigh. He came to the side of it, and looked up,with every appearance of exultation and joy.
"Why, Franco," said Jonas, "how came you here?"
He stopped his horses, and Franco leaped up before him. His ears, andthe glossy black hair which curled under his neck and upon his sides,were tipped with frost. Jonas patted him upon his head, saying,--
"Why, Franco, how did you get out of the barn? and how did you find outwhich way I came?"
Franco wagged his tail, and curled down around Jonas's feet, but he madeno reply.
Jonas was very much surprised, for, as he had no permission to takeFranco, he had concluded that it was his duty not to take him; and whenhe found that he was inclined to come with him, at the time that he washarnessing the horses, he conducted him back into the barn, and, to makeit secure, he fastened up the place where he had got in, the first nightthat he lodged there. He knew that the barn would be opened when Amoscame out in the morning, to take care of the old General and the oxen,but said he to himself, "I shall by that time be ten miles off, and itwill be too late for him to follow or find me." Jonas was therefore verymuch surprised, when he found that Franco had contrived to make hisescape, and to track his master so many miles.
Jonas drove on very prosperously, until it was about time for him tostop and give his horses some breakfast. As for himself, he ate hisbreakfast from his box, when they were coming up a long hill. Heaccordingly stopped at a tavern, and took his horses out of theirharness, and rubbed them down well, and gave them a good drink of water,and plenty of oats, which he bought of the tavern-keeper. He kept theoats in his bag to use in the town. By the time that he stopped, he wascomfortably warm, for he had taken some exercise walking up the hills.Franco always got out when Jonas did, at the bottom of the hills, andthen got in again at the top. He remained in the sleigh, however, at thetavern, keeping guard, while Jonas went into the house; and he wouldgrowl a little if any body came near the sleigh, and thus warn them notto touch any thing that was in it.
While the horses were eating, Jonas went into the tavern, and sat downby the kitchen fire. The fire was very large, and many persons were busygetting breakfast. Jonas wished that he was going to have a cup of thecoffee that they were making; but he thought it better that he shouldcontent himself with what the farmer had provided for him. There was ayoung woman in the back part of the room, at a window, sewing. She askedJonas how far he had come that morning, and he told her. Then she saidthat he must have set out very early; and she said that he had a pair ofvery handsome black horses. She had seen them as Jonas passed thewindow.
There was a small girl sitting near her, with a slate, ciphering. Sheseemed very busy for a few minutes, and then she looked up to the youngwoman, and said,--
"My sum does not come right, aunt Lucia.
"
"Doesn't it? I'm sorry, but I can't help you now, very well," repliedaunt Lucia. "I am very busy with my sewing."
The little girl then got up, and came towards the fire, with her slatehanging by a string from her finger, and her Arithmetic under her arm.
"Where are you ciphering?" asked Jonas.
"In fractions," said the girl.
"If you will let me look at your sum, perhaps I can tell you how to doit," replied Jonas.
The girl handed her book to him, and showed him the sum in it. Shealso let him see the work upon her slate. Jonas looked it over verycarefully, and then said,--
"You have done very well indeed, with such a hard sum. There is only onemistake."
And Jonas pointed out the mistake to her, and she corrected it, and thenthe answer was right. She then went and put away her slate and book,with an appearance of great satisfaction. As she passed by the window,aunt Lucia whispered to her, to say,--
"I think you had better thank that young man, and give him a mug ofcoffee."
"Well," said the little girl, "I will." So she went to a cupboard at theside of the room, and took down a tin mug. She poured out some coffeefrom a coffee-pot, and put in some milk and sugar, and then brought itto Jonas, and asked him if he wouldn't like a little coffee. Jonasthanked her, and took the coffee; and he liked it very much.
After this, Jonas harnessed his horses again, and went on. He traveleduntil nearly noon, and then he arrived at the town where he was to leavehis load. He had a letter to a merchant, who had bought the produce ofthe farmer, and, in a very short time, his load was taken out, and theother articles put in, which he was to carry back in exchange. He hadsome money given him by the merchant, in part payment for his load ofproduce. It was in bank-notes, and he put it into his waistcoat pocket,and pinned it in.
Then he set out on his return. His load was light, the road was smooth,and his horses, though they had traveled fast, had been drivencarefully, and they carried him rapidly over the ground. It was themiddle of the afternoon, however, before he set out, and the days werethen so short, that the sun soon began to go down. He had to ride quiteinto the evening, before he reached the place where he was to stop forthe night.
He put up his horses, and then went into the house. He called for somesupper, for his own provisions had long since been exhausted. Aftersupper, he carried out something for Franco, whom he had left in thesleigh in the barn, lying upon a good warm buffalo, to watch theproperty.
"Franco," said he, "here is your supper."
Franco jumped up when he heard Jonas's voice, and leaped out of thesleigh. He took his supper, and Jonas, after once more feeding hishorses, went out, and shut the door, leaving Franco to finish his boneby himself.
Jonas went back into the tavern, and took his seat by the fire. Therewas a table before the fire, with a lamp upon it; and there were oneor two books and an old newspaper lying upon another table, in theback part of the room. Jonas looked at the books, but they were notinteresting to read. One was a dictionary. He read the newspaper forsome time, and then he took the lamp up, and began to look at somepictures of the prodigal son, which were hung up upon the wall over themantel-piece.
Beyond the pictures were some advertisements. One was for a farm forsale. Jonas read the description, and he wished that he was old enoughto buy a farm, and then he would go and look at that.
The next advertisement was about some machinery, which a man hadinvented; and the next was headed, in large letters, _Dog Lost._ Thiscaught Jonas's attention immediately. It was in writing, and he couldnot read it very easily, it was so high. So he got a chair, and stood upin it, and read as follows:--
"'DOG LOST.
"'_Strayed or stolen from the subscriber, a valuable dog, of large sizeand black color_.'
"I wonder if it isn't Franco," said Jonas, interrupting himself in hisreading.
"'_He had on a brass collar marked with the owner's name_.'
"No," said Jonas, "there was no collar. But then the man that stole himmight have taken it off.
"'_Answers to the name of Ney_.'
"Ney, Ney," said Jonas,--"I never called him Ney. I wonder if he wouldanswer, if I should call him Ney.
"'_Is kind and docile, and quite intelligent_.'
"Yes," said Jonas, "I verily believe it is Franco.
"'_Any person who will return said dog to the subscriber, at hisresidence at Walton Plain, shall be suitably rewarded_.
"'JAMES EDWARDS.'
"I verily believe it is Franco," said Jonas, as he slowly got down fromthe chair,--"Walton Plain."
He stood a moment, looking thoughtfully into the fire.
"Yes," he repeated, "I verily believe it is Franco. I wonder whereWalton Plain is."
Jonas had learned from Mr. Holiday, that it was never wise tocommunicate important information relating to private business, unlessnecessary. So he said nothing about Franco to any of the people at thetavern, but quietly went to bed; and, after thinking some time what todo, he went to sleep, and slept finely until morning.
About daylight, he arose, and, as he had paid his bill the night before,he went to the barn, harnessed his horses, and set off. At the firstvillage that he came to after sunrise, he stopped at a store, andinquired whether there was any such town as Walton Plain, in thatneighborhood.
"Yes," said the boy, who stood with a broom in his hand, with which hewas sweeping out the store,--"yes, it is about five miles from here,right on the way you are going."
Jonas thanked the boy, got into his sleigh, and rode on.
"Poor Franco," said he, "I am afraid I must lose you."
He had hoped that Walton Plain would have proved to be off of his road,so that he could have had a good reason for not doing any thing aboutrestoring the dog, until after he had gone home, and reported the factsto the farmer. But now, as he found that it was on his way, and as hewould very probably go directly by Mr. Edwards's door, he concludedthat he ought, at any rate, to call and let him look at Franco, and seewhether it was his dog or not.
When he reached Walton Plain, he inquired whether Mr. James Edwardslived in the village. They told him that he lived about half a mile outof the village. They said it was a handsome white house, under thetrees, back from the road, with a portico over the door.
Jonas rode on, observing all the houses as he passed; and he at oncerecognized the one which had been described to him. He stopped beforethe great gate, and fastened his horses to a post. He then walked alonga road-way, which led in by the end of the house, and presently came toa door, where he stopped and knocked. A girl came and opened the door.
"Is Mr. Edwards at home?"
"Yes," said the girl.
"Will you ask him to come to the door a minute?"
"You'd better walk in, and I'll speak to him."
Jonas stopping at the house of Mr. Edwards.]
Jonas stepped into an entry, which was carpeted, and which had a largemap, hanging against the wall. The girl opened a door into a littleroom, which looked somewhat like Mr. Holiday's study. There was a greatdeal of handsome furniture in it, and book-shelves around the walls. Alarge table was in the middle of the room, covered with books andpapers.
The girl handed Jonas a seat.
"Who shall I say has called?" said she to Jonas, as she was about to goout of the room.
"Why--I--my name is Jonas," he replied; "but I don't suppose Mr. Edwardsknows me. I came to see him about his dog."
At this remark, the girl looked around towards the fire, and Jonasinvoluntarily turned his eyes in the same direction. He saw there alarge dog, very much like Franco in form and size, lying upon thecarpet. He was as handsome as Franco. Jonas was surprised to see him.The girl, too, looked surprised. She, however, said nothing, but wentout, and shut the door.
In a few minutes, the door opened, and an elderly gentleman, withgrayish hair, and a mild and pleasant expression of countenance, camein. He nodded to Jonas as he entered, and Jonas rose to receive him.The gentleman the
n took a seat by the fire, and asked Jonas to sit downagain.
"I came to see you, sir, about your dog," said Jonas.
"Well, my boy," replied the man, "and what about my dog?" and, as hesaid this, he looked down at the dog, which was lying upon the floor.
"I don't know but that I have got him."
"You have got him?" repeated Mr. Edwards.
"Yes, sir; a dog like that one came to me in the woods one day thiswinter."
"O," said Mr. Edwards, "you mean the dog that I lost.--Yes,--I hadforgotten that, it is so long ago. When did you find him?"
Jonas then told the whole story of the dog's coming to them, andof their attempt to drive him away; and also of his seeing theadvertisement in the tavern. Mr. Edwards asked him a great manyquestions, such as what his name was, where he lived, and how long hehad lived there, and how he happened to be journeying now. At last hesaid,--
"I think it very probable that it is my dog. I lost one of thatdescription six or eight months ago, and advertised him; but I couldn'thear any thing of him, and so I got another as much like him as I could.It is probable yours is the same dog; but I don't know that there is anyparticular proof of it. You haven't called him Ney, have you?"
"No, sir," said Jonas; "we call him Franco."
"If he should come at the call of Ney, that would be proof. Where is henow?"
"He is with me, sir; he is out in my sleigh."
"O, well, then," said the man, "we can tell in a moment. I'll step tothe door and call him."
So Mr. Edwards put on his hat, and stepped to the door. The dog wasstanding up in the sleigh, and looking wildly around. When he saw Mr.Edwards, he seemed more excited still.
"Here, Ney," said Mr. Edwards.
The dog leaped down from the sled, and came bounding up the road. Heleaped first about Mr. Edwards, and then about Jonas, as if at a losswhich was his master.
"Why, Ney," said Mr. Edwards,--"poor Ney,--have you got back at last?Come, walk in, Ney."
Ney slipped in through the door, and turned immediately into the littleroom, as if he was perfectly familiar with the localities. Jonas and Mr.Edwards followed. They shut the door, and took their seats again. Neyran around the room, and examined every thing. He looked at the strangedog lying so comfortably in his old place upon the warm carpet, and thencame and gazed up eagerly into his old master's face a moment. He cameto Jonas, and wagged his tail, and then he went to the door and whined,as if he wanted to go out.
"Won't you let him out?" said Mr. Edwards. "We will see what he willdo."
Jonas opened the door, and the dog ran out into the entry, and then madethe same signs to have the outer door opened. Jonas opened it, and lethim out. Jonas stepped out himself a moment, to see what he would do,and presently returned again to the room where he had left Mr. Edwards.
"Where did he go?" said Mr. Edwards.
"He has run to the sleigh," said Jonas, "and jumped up into it, and islying down on the buffalo."
"The dog seems to have become attached to you, Jonas," said Mr. Edwards,"and I presume that you have become somewhat attached to him."
"Yes, sir, very much indeed," replied Jonas.
Mr. Edwards was silent a few minutes, appearing lost in thought.
"I hardly know what to say about this dog," he continued, at length."You did very right to come and let me know about him. I am afraid thatsome boys would have kept him, without saying any thing about it. I amglad that you were honest. I valued the dog very much, and would havegiven a large sum to have recovered him, when he was first lost. But Ihave got another now, and don't really need two. Should you be disposedto buy him?"
"Yes, sir," said Jonas, "if I could. But I haven't got but a dollar atmy command, and I suppose he is worth more than that."
Jonas had a dollar of his own. Mr. Holiday had given it to him when heleft his house, thinking it probable that he would want to buy somethingfor himself. Jonas had taken this money with him when he left thefarmer's, intending to expend a part of it in the market town; but hedid not see any thing that he really wanted, and so the money was in hispocket now.
"Why, yes," said Mr. Edwards, "I gave a great deal more for him thanthat. Haven't you any more money with you?"
"Not of my own," said Jonas.
"I suppose you got some for your produce."
"Yes, sir," said Jonas; "but it belongs to the farmer that I work with."
"And don't you think that he would be willing to have you pay a part ofit for the dog?"
"I don't know, sir," said Jonas. "I know he likes the dog very much, butI have no authority to buy him with his money."
If Jonas had been willing to have used his employer's money withoutauthority, Mr. Edwards would not have taken it. He made the inquiry tosee whether Jonas was trustworthy.
After a few minutes' pause, Mr. Edwards resumed the conversation, asfollows:--
"Well, Jonas," said he, "I have been thinking of this a little, and haveconcluded to let you keep the dog for me a little while,--that is, if heis willing to go with you. But remember he is my property still, and Ishall have a right to call for him, whenever I choose, and you must givehim up to me."
"Yes, sir," said Jonas, "I will. And I wish that you would not agree tosell him to any body else, without letting me know."
"Well," replied Mr. Edwards, "I will not. So you may take him, and keephim till I send for him,--that is, provided he will go with you of hisown accord. I can't drive him away from his old home."
Jonas thanked Mr. Edwards, and rose to go. Mr. Edwards took his hat, andfollowed him to the door, to see whether the dog would go willingly.When he was upon the step, he called him.
"Ney," said he, "Ney."
Ney looked up, and, in a moment afterwards, jumped out of the sleigh,and came running up to the door.
"Now," continued Mr. Edwards, "if you can call him back, while I amstanding here, it is pretty good proof that you have been kind to him,and that he would like to go with you."
So Jonas walked down towards the gate, looking back, and calling,--
"Franco, Franco, Franco!"
The dog ran down towards him a little way, and then stopped, lookedback, and, after a moment's pause, he returned a few steps towards hisformer master. He seemed a little at a loss to know which to choose.
Jonas got into his sleigh.
"Franco!" said he.
Franco looked at him, then at Mr. Edwards, then at Jonas; and finally hewent back to the door, and began to lick his old master's hand.
Jonas turned his horses' heads a little towards the road, and moved themon a step.
"Come, Franco," said he; "Franco, come."
Franco, hearing these words, and seeing that Jonas was actually going,seemed to come to a final decision. He leaped off the steps, and boundeddown the road, through the gate, and jumped up into Jonas's sleigh. Mr.Edwards continued to call him, but he paid no attention to it. Hecurled down before Jonas a moment, then he raised himself up a little,so as to look back towards the house; but he showed no disposition toget out again. Jonas put his hand upon his head, and patted it gently ashe drove away; and, when he found that Franco was really going with him,he turned his head back, and said, with a look of great satisfaction,--
"Good-by, sir. I'm very much obliged to you."
"Good-by, Jonas. Take good care of Ney."
"Yes, sir," said he, "I certainly will."
"You're a good dog, Franco," he continued, patting his head, "to comewith me,--very good dog, Franco, to choose the coarse hay for a bedunder the old General's crib, rather than that good warm carpet, for thesake of coming with me. I'll make you a little house, Franco,--Icertainly will, and I'll put a carpet on the floor. I'll make it as soonas I get home."
And Jonas did, the next evening after he got home, make Franco a house,just big enough for him; and he found an old piece of carpet to putupon the floor. He put Franco in; but the next morning he found him inhis old place under the General's crib. Franco liked that place better.The t
ruth was, it was rather warmer; and then, besides, he liked the oldGeneral's company.
