Then light and hope began to rise
And cheer the darkness of his skies,
While slow he kept the lonely road
Which led him safe to his abode.
Scarce twelve had struck the kitchen clock
When lo! was heard a scratch or knock.
"Oh!" said his wife: "Oh, Orrin dear!
The lost is found; our Tuff is here!"
Then up sprang Orrin with a bound,
And welcomed home his truant hound,
Whose downcast eye and trembling frame
Betrayed a sense of guilt and shame.
But Todd in sweet forgiving mood
Spread Tuff a couch and gave him food,
[pg 18] And bade him now find rest in sleep,
And thus forget his sorrows deep.
Then Tuff in silence ate his meal,
But made by looks this sad appeal:
"Oh friend, in sorrow and in cheer,
There's none on earth as you so dear;
For all the trouble I have brought
I am not worthy of your thought,
And would receive a just return
Should you my presence coldly spurn,
Or from me turn with angry frown
And let me in despair sink down.
I will not plead in self-defence
Nor try to prove my innocence,
But truth requires that I should say
How I was duped and led astray
By cunning dog, who boldly claimed
He'd seen my home ere I was named—
Had heard of Tuffy Todd before
When passing by our cottage door!
He led me captive at his will
And made me suffer direst ill,
Which was no more than I deserved,
Who from the path of duty swerved.
[pg 19] I have my sins and woes confessed,
And ask forgiveness, peace and rest.
Oh grant the mercy which I crave
Or I shall find an early grave!"
To such petition all unused,
With faltering words and eyes suffused,
Kind Orrin made this brief reply:
"The same true friends are you and I;
As we have ever been before
We will be now and evermore.
And since you mourn this first offence
With deep and humble penitence,
I grant forgiveness full and free,
And trust no lapse again to see."
To banish care and doubt and fear
And waken hope and faith and cheer,
Good Orrin, with a tact supreme,
From great to small then changed his theme.
"My dog," quoth he, "with morning sun
I'll see what can for you be done.
There comes just now this happy thought—
For you a collar shall be bought,
[pg 20] That if perchance you go astray
You will be known, though far away.
On it must be inscribed your name
And Latin words to give you fame!
Nil desperandum, they shall be,
And from despair may you be free!"
What more did pass between these friends,
The curtain now around descends;
Their mutual joys, their mutual woes,
The poet's pen may not disclose.
To dog and master, both so true,
Long life and peace, and our adieu.
Now turning from the gay or sad,
This moral we will simply add:
Ye maidens fair and comely youth,
Accept the words of love and truth:
Not all is gold with golden gleam,
Not all are friends who friendly seem;
The TRIED, the TRUSTED and the TRUE,
These are the friends we name for you.