Further than this, between himself and the smith, the sheds and alleys of the little town were closely watched.
Several times in daylight, when Master knew that animals had stood for hours unfed and unwatered, he would send Bob to untie them and bring them to our barn. There they would be rubbed and cared for, then returned to their post; and as fast as our blankets grew shabby he found some poor, shivering beast whose back needed them.
One day while Bob was unhitching a sorry-looking horse that had stood unprotected and uncared for for eight hours in a cold wind, the owner rushed out of the saloon and began a tipsy tirade, threatening to have the youth arrested for horse-stealing if he dared take the creature a foot.
Bob came home to report. Dr. Fred bade him mind his own business and let other people's property alone.
Dr. Dick told him that so long as a man did not abuse his property, he proposed to let it alone; but that when a living creature was being imposed on and abused, that he had a right—a God-given right—to interfere, so long as he did not injure the man or make him poorer.
Fred had been drinking a little himself, and becoming furious, shook his fist in Master's face and called him hard names. The latter, without replying, turned away and bade Bob attend to the work at home. Supposing that he had won the day, Fred strutted off to the house. No sooner was he indoors than Dr. Dick was striding down street, and in ten minutes more the half-frozen subject of the trouble was being rubbed and fed in the stall to the right of mine.
When the animal was finishing her oats the owner came swearing in. Expecting something of the kind, Master was on hand. I can't begin to tell you all he said to that poor, drunken wretch, but it was a sermon, a temperance lecture, and a humane plea all in one. When the fellow went away he seemed pretty well sobered and ashamed, and even thanked Master for his kindness and promised to use the blanket given and go right straight home.
"Dr. Dick is a queer un," Bob remarked to a neighbor lad to whom he related the incident later. "Most folks let on they hain't no right to meddle with what they call other people's affairs, but I guess it's more 'cause they're too lazy and cowardly. He says he ain't afeard of devil nor man, but is afeard of doin' wrong. Now, ain't he queer?"
"I should snicker!" replied the other emphatically, not looking in the least inclined to do so, though. I suppose it was his way of saying yes.
What do you think?