ONE MAN’S SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO A DOG
The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish
world, the
one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or
treacherous, is his dog.

A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in
sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground where the wintry winds blow,
and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side.
He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the sores
and wounds that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He
guards the sleep of his Pauper master as if he were a prince.

More...When all other friends desert,
he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is
as constant in his love as the sun in it's journey through the heavens.
If misfortune drives the master forth
an outcast in the world, friendless
and homeless, the faithful dog asks
no higher privilege than that of
accompanying him to guard against
danger, to fight against his enemies.

And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in it's
embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all
other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble
dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert
watchfulness, faithful and true, even in death.

-From a speech given by
Former Senator George Graham Vest of Missouri. Delivered in 1870 when he
was acting as a lawyer in a suit against a man who had killed the dog of
his client. -- He won the case