Loyalty

Anyone who reads my contributions with any degree of regularity knows that I don't particularly enjoy simply reciting back an article I found - at best, I'll quote a passage or segment (with the exception of the Aaron Sorkin speech from "An American President").

That being said, and similar to the aforementioned speech, there are times when you come across an entry, or a piece of writing, that asks to be shared. Recently, I was looking up some information and, as internet searches sometimes go, came across a passage that was dated from 129 years ago to the day. I was looking for some inspiration on the subject of "loyalty", and through a rather circuitous path came across this entry - and I found that it really resonated. Maybe because I'm a huge dog fan, and maybe because it's so well written - but either way, in honor of it's anniversary, I reprint it here to ensure it continues to be passed on.

A quarrel between two neighbors had culminated in a particularly vicious act on the part of one of them, when they killed the other's dog - a foxhound by the name of "Old Drum". Old Drum's owner sued the neighbor - something that was seen as somewhat frivolous... after all, it was just a dog. However, the lawyer representing Old Drum posthumously was George Graham Vest - a gentleman that went on to become a US senator later in life. What follows is his summation:

"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 wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. 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 its journey through the heavens.


If fortune 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 its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death."


If that's not a lesson in loyalty - I don't know what is.

~Guy