ATributeToTheDog

　　Thebestfriendamanhasintheworldmayturnagainsthimandbecomehisenemy.Hissonordaughterthathehasrearedwithlovingcaremayproveungrateful.Thosewhoarenearestanddearesttous,thosewhomwetrustwithourhappinessandourgoodnamemaybecometraitorstotheirfaith.Themoneythatamanhas,hemaylose.Itfliesawayfromhim,perhapswhenheneedsitmost.Aman'sreputationmaybesacrificedinamomentofill-consideredaction.Thepeoplewhoarepronetofallontheirkneestodoushonorwhensuccessiswithusmaybethefirsttothrowthestoneofmalicewhenfailuresettlesitsclouduponourheads.Theoneabsolutelyunselfishfriendthatmancanhaveinthisselfishworld,theonethatneverdesertshim,theonethatneverprovesungratefulortreacherousishisdog.

　　Aman'sdogstandsbyhiminprosperityandinpoverty,inhealthandinsickness.Hewillsleeponthecoldground,wherethewintrywindsblowandthesnowdrivesfiercely,ifonlyhemaybenearhismaster'sside.Hewillkissthehandthathasnofoodtooffer;hewilllickthewoundsandsoresthatcomeinanencounterwiththeroughnessoftheworld.Heguardsthesleepofhispaupermasterasifhewereaprince.Whenallotherfriendsdesert,heremains.Whenrichestakewings,andreputationfallstopieces,heisasconstantinhisloveasthesuninitsjourneythroughtheheavens.Iffortunedrivesthemasterforthanoutcastintheworld,friendlessandhomeless,thefaithfuldogasksnohigherprivilegethanthatofaccompanyinghim,toguardhimagainstdanger,tofightagainsthisenemies.

　　Andwhenthelastsceneofallcomes,anddeathtakeshismasterinitsembraceandhisbodyislaidawayinthecoldground,nomatterifallotherfriendspursuetheirway,therebythegravesidewillthenobledogbefound,hisheadbetweenhispaws,hiseyessad,butopeni6nalertwatchfulness,faithfulandtrueevenindeath.