Conversing thus as friend with friend,
At last they reach their journey's end.
Todd's heart with anxious fears beset,
Foreboding peril to his pet,
He turns to Tuffy: "You've been warned
[pg 12] In language clear and unadorned,
To stay by me and to beware
Of dangers lurking everywhere.
Although no prophet born or bred,
Though on my mind no light is shed,
I fear from knowledge of your race,
The day will end in your disgrace."
Out jumped brave Tuff and Farmer Todd,
But scarce had gone a single rod
Before they heard: "Bow-wow! Friend Tuff!
For that's your name I'm sure enough;
How glad I am to see your face
And give to you a friend's embrace;
Now while in town, stay thou with me,
And boon companions we will be."
Then Tuff, (poor "Innocent abroad,"
Who never dreamed of any fraud,)
Replied: "Perhaps we've met before,
I'll take your word and ask no more:
It would not seem polite, I know,
Should I refuse with you to go."
Away they marched, as large as life,
Their hearts with hope and pleasure rife,
[pg 13] And wandered in their heedless play,
Through many a dark and devious way.
Unchecked they raced and chased around,
A lawless cur and recreant hound;
They took no note of time, nor cared
How far they strayed nor how they fared;
For Tuff could not foresee his woes
Till darkness did around him close.
Oh, Tuffy, born and reared in ease,
With bread enough to eat and cheese,
Where now thy master's tender care?
Where now the bed thou erst didst share?
Thy new-made friend all false will be
In time of thy adversity!
Upon the cold, cold ground to-night
No sleep shall come ere morning light,
Nor morsel sweet for hungry maw,
Nor peace for nature's broken law!
The westering sun had low declined,
When homeward with an easy mind
Good Orrin turned his horses' feet,
Expecting there his dog to meet;
[pg 14] But drawing near, no Tuff was found
To greet him with accustomed sound.
Poor Orrin could not sleep a wink,
But lay awake all night to think
How sad the fate of Tuff might be,
Who late was in prosperity.
Back, in the early morning bright,
To Griffin's Orrin took his flight,
But thoughts of Tuff so filled his mind
No other thought a place could find,
And as he passed each neighbor's door
'Twas little known the load he bore.
The dogs ran out and barked so bold
They wakened echoes in the wold,
While ducks and geese joined in the strife
And quacked and screamed for their dear life.
Then proudly crowed vain chanticleer:
"I am, you see, without a peer,
Let none within my realm intrude
To scare my hens and little brood."
But patient kine in farmyard pent
Were mute with meek-eyed wonderment,
[pg 15] While grazing sheep on hillside near,
Heard all and said: "We need not fear;"
Each mother called her own dear lamb,
Who answered back: "Oh, here I am!"
The squirrel with his nimble feet
Now quickly found a safe retreat,
And from the wall, or limb on high,
Peeped slyly out as Todd went by.
The birds from out the leafy trees,
So gently swayed by morning breeze,
Poured forth their notes in merry lay
And sang: "Good speed and happy day!"
And insect world, on joyous wing,
In sunlight clear did sweetly sing,
Or hum in myriad tones so gay:
"We cheer the traveler on his way."
But ferns and flowers in wayside beds
With meek surprise did lift their heads
And whisper low: "Our friend's in haste
And has no time on us to waste.
In days gone by he'd stop awhile
To praise our charms and make us smile,
Or take us in his gentle hands
As if rare gifts from foreign lands."
[pg 16] And thus each loving, living thing
Had kindly thought or word to bring,
Which proved a balm to soothe Todd's soul
As he moved onward to his goal.
The livelong day through street and lane
He sought his dog, but sought in vain;
From house to house he asked each man,
"Where's Tuff? Pray tell me if you can."
"Why, Tuff has gone with Bruno Brown,
A dog," they said, "of poor renown."
It was enough to turn one's brain
To always hear this sad refrain.
Retracing now in twilight drear
His weary steps, Todd dropped a tear
And took with heavy heart the way
His feet had pressed at opening day,
And walked in doubt and gloom along
Where late he sang his cheerful song,—
Where frisked his faithful dog with glee
And kept him joyful company.
Poor Tuff, a wanderer forlorn,
Now loud bewailed that he was born!
[pg 17] For though in darkness and in grief,
There came no friend to his relief.
But being born he did not care
Just then to die. With reason rare,
He searched along the dusty ground
To see where footprints could be found,
When he with keen instinctive nose
Discerned the course of Orrin's toes!