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LESSON 13
A FRENCH merchant, having some money due to him, set out on horseback to receive it, accompanied by his dog. Having settled the business, he tied the bag of money before him, and began to return home.
The merchant, after riding some miles, alighted
to rest himself under a tree; and taking the bag of money in his hand, laid it down by his side. But on remounting he forgot it. The dog observing this, ran to fetch the bag; but it was too heavy for it to drag along.
It then ran after its master, and, by barking and howling, tried to tell him of his mistake. The merchant did not understand these signs; but the dog went on with its efforts, and after trying in vain to stop the horse, it at last began to bite its heels.
The thought now struck the merchant that the dog had gone mad; and so, in crossing a brook, he looked back to see whether it would drink. The animal was too intent on its object to think of stopping for this purpose; and it continued to bark and bite with greater violence than before.
The merchant, feeling now certain that the dog was mad, drew a pistol from his pocket, and took aim. In a moment the poor dog lay weltering
in its blood; and its master, unable to bear the sight, spurred on his horse.
“I am most unfortunate,” said he to himself; “I had almost rather have lost my money than my dog.” Thereupon he stretched out his hand for his treasure; but no bag was to be found! In a moment, he discovered his mistake, and upbraided
himself for disregarding the signs which his dog had made to him.
He turned his horse, and rode back to the place where he had stopped. He saw the marks of blood as he proceeded; but nowhere was his dog to be seen on the road.
At last he reached the spot where he had rested, and there lay the forgotten bag, with the poor dog, in the agonies of death, watching beside it!
When he saw his master, he showed his joy by feebly wagging his tail. He tried to rise, but his strength was gone; and after stretching out his tongue to lick the hand that was now fondling him in deep sorrow, he closed his eyes in death.
What was the object of the Frenchman’s journey? Why did he alight on his way home? What did he forget when he remounted? Who perceived this? What did it try to do? Why did it fail? How did it try to remind its master of his mistake? What thought now struck the merchant? How did he put it to the test? With what effect? What did he then do? What made him feel for his money? What did he now see? What did he do? What did he notice on the ground as he proceeded? What did he find at the place where he had rested? What did the dog do before it died?
mer´-chant re-mount´-ing con-tin´-ued treas´-ure
re-ceive´ ob-serv´-ing vi´-o-lence dis-re-gard´-ing
ac-com´-pan-ie dun-der-stand´ cer´-tain for-got´-ten
bus´-iness try´-ing un-for´-tu-nate stretch´-ing
A merchant left his treasure under a tree. His dog tried to remind him of his mistake. He thought the animal had gone mad, drew his pistol, and shot it.