1-SE FIREMAN'S DOG.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 138, 2 March 1877, Page 2

1-SE FIREMAN'S DOG.

Shorty me where" poor " Bob" is buried i I should like to 1 see his grave/ O'er his lowly bed to ponder, On the actions of the brave. 1b there no 1 small mound above it, Nor a stone to mark the spot ? ■ Gome then, children, hear my story/ , " Bob" must neveT be forgot. "Why he chose this hard profession/ Ndne can say, as he wak ntilte ; But maybe he'd often noticed Man more selfish than the brute. Or mare likely, in the centre Of his great and kindly heart/ Boyal laws of truth were written", From which he eovdd not depart. At the Station is his dwelling, Where, by night and day,- there stand,Horses harnessed, engines ready, For the dauntless fireman's hand. "Bob" is sleeping, Hark! the firebelli ■ And the sound of hurrying feet :• Up he springs, and in' a moment Stands out waiting in the street. For he knows that something somewhere* Will demand his utmost powers, And that speed is pity's angel, When the moments count for hours. Wags his tail with frank approval, As the men come mustering in i All prepared/ like him, for action ; All resolved, like him, to win* Scarce contained his joyous spirit, As they bring the engines round/ And the great high-mettled horses Start away with eager bound. Yes, he loves those trampling horses/ Dashing on with steady power, Hasting to the place of danger, And he clears the way before. Glad the firemen hear him barking, With his fine inspiring call ; He and they are old companions* " Bob" is brother to them all. IE is night, and men are sleeping : " Fire" is cried —they sleep again j And they dream of men that perish ; " Bob" is gone to save those men. On through fire and through the smother^ Through the struggle and the strife, " Bob" and Braidwood work together/ Risking all for human life., And they conquer —life is resetted—« Now the brave brigade retire, Seizing just & moment's respite From their conflict with the fire.- --" Where is Bob?" They hear him barking With a call his comrades know ; And again the men rush forward Bravely through the scorching glow.By a narrow sielev/ay entry, He is waiting undismayed ; Something cries behind a doorway, And lie calls to them for aid. " Burst the door !" It splits asunder. There, alone, Avith terror wild, They behold a little maiden : " Bob" has saved that little child. Does he wait for praise or honour ? Cares he for the victor's crown t Noj he licks the little maiden — She is safe —he lies down* " Fire !" again. All hearts are failing; Booming thunders roar within ; Sulphurous smoke and tumbing houses Swell the danger and the din. Now the dauntless captain pauses : " All the lives are safe, they say ;— = Rislt not yours too rashly, comradea, For a moment stand away." Back they Ml; "BoVrUshea forward/ He has heard a frantic cry,And he knows it in a moment/ For his mortal enemy. Mewing, mewing, wild, distracted, In her fiery prison penned, All tiround the flames advancing, Puss has not a- single friend. " Shall she perish in the furnace 1" Does this noble dog inquire* No ; forgetting ancient malice, . He will seek her through the fire* Up the ladder in a moment, Through a window, out of sight, He pursues hi 3 flying captive, On from fiery flight to flight. .Sorely grieved, his comrades watch him,- : '' Ah, poor Bob, he'll conic no more ; . All are safe; why should he perish In a fruitless search for more V Still they linger ; then, despairing, They began to turn away i One more 100k —the dog is coming ! " Brave old Bob I hurrah ! hurrah l" In his mouth, with tenderest pity, A poor tabby cat he bore ; Conquering prejudice and passion, — What could man himself do more 1 Oh, good " Bob 1" he had his mission In our selfish world of crinle j Teaching virtue by example, Unto this and future time. Night and day, in summer, winter, Rain or tempest, hail or snow, Let there come a call for succour, " Bob" is always fit to go. Honest, faithful, brave, forgiving, — Oh, dear children, are you such 1 Cheerful, patient, unpresuming, ; Claiming little, giving much* ;. One kind word repays his service, '-, Speaking tail and ear confess £ Thoughts that need no written language/ g Joy no language can express« jgj But there came his day for dying, 1 That must surely come to all; p At his post the message met him, 11 Speeding forth at duty's call. g| Hasting to the field of battle, || Full of noble deeds he fell; || Deeds that mercy loves to blazon §•' As sho bids poor "Bob" " Farew,ell J" |