Martinsburgh Gazette

From "L'Histoire des Chiens Celebres."

THE DOG OF PERA.

The house of a Greek interpreter at Pera,
in the suburbs of Constantinople being on fire,
he had saved nearly all his property by the assistance
of a few janissaries, but more anxious, without doubt
for his money than for his family, he had forgotten
an infant in its cradle. No one could enter the house,
for every thing was on fire. The father, reduced to
despair, believed that his child had perished; when,
of a sudden, a large dog, which he kept to guard his
dwelling, emerged from the flames, bearing the innocent
little creature suspended by its linen from his mouth.
They reached towards the dog to take the child, but he
would not abandon it, and eluding their efforts he ran
through a number of streets, until he had reached the
house of an intimate friend of his master, where he
deposited the precious burden, and remained till the door
was opened to receive it.

Can you imagine what was the reward of this faithful
and generous servant? The owner strove to recompense
him-But the mode that he devised was equally absurd,
atrocious, and incredible. With a barbarous gratitude
he killed the dog, and had him served up at his table at
a splendid feast which he gave on the occasion.

"My dog," said the Turk, "has behaved too well to be
the food of worms. Men only deserve to eat him. And as
for you," looking at his friends and relations, "you
cannot but gain by it; it will render you more benevolent."

There is in this attested fact, more of barbarism than
of feeling-it would have been infinitely better to have
caressed and taken care of this dog until extreme age,
than thus devour him like wolves. In India, a dog, after
such an act, would perhaps have obtained a temple. This
would have been, no doubt, ridiculous, but still it is
better to err by being over grateful than to sin by the
excess of ingratitude.