They left her to her grief and shame;
No more will little Nelly stay
Within her power to harm or kill—
She goes with her new friends away.
The surgeon’s mother heard the tale—
A very strange and touching one—
Of how the dog, with instinct strange,
Had sought the succour of her son.
And how poor Nelle he had brought
To ask for her the same kind aid;
And how a wicked woman’s sin
Had been by this same act betrayed.
And, dwelling in her home alone,
She asked her son the child to send
To dwell with her and cheer her age,
By being a merry little friend.
She wished, too, that the dog should come,
And in her house with Nelly dwell;
A trusty guardian for them both,
Certain to do his duty well.
[Please click on the image for a bigger image.]
And thus through Tray’s strange cleverness
The pair a country home have found,
Where all things dogs and children love
About them everywhere abound.
Meadows all golden in the sun,
With buttercups of golden sheen,
And daisies, with their silver eyes,
On every side by them are seen.
Tall trees that give a pleasant shade,
And birds that in the branches sing;
Sweet apple blossoms, pink and white,
The orchard trees around them fling.