Page:The Southern Literary Messenger - Minor.djvu/195

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Literary Messenger
173

Mr. Minor's chum at William and Mary presented him a fine pointer-puppy, which he had named Dew, after the revered president This pet had to be left to the nurture of a physician and farmer, in what were the future battle fields of Grant and Lee, around Spottsylvania C. H. The farmer used the physician's science in agricultural improvement and already had a fine flock of sheep. Some of these were found dead and Dew was suspected of being the cause; but was spared for further evidence. This was soon given by the death of several other valuable lambs and the dog was caught flagrante delicto. He was very properly lynched. The father's kindness to his son was stronger than his grief over his lost sheep and he actually wrote an apologetic letter on the fate of the pet. He was more than exonerated and the son sent to his younger sister the following

EPITAPH FOR A DEPARTED DOG:

Dew is fallen, but not from Heaven;
By loving hand the blow was given.
Dew falls on flowers while we sleep;
But this Dew fell upon the sheep.
His paws in blood he did imbrue
And met the fate that was his due.

Once again I invoked the Comic Muse. In Atlanta, Ga., I boarded at the same house with the express agent and his wife, who had a bright and