A Little Dog Saves the Day
Deep in the dark mountains of a very rugged region was lonely chalet. From the chimney came wreaths of smoke on the frosty morning air. I stopped on the winding track among the pastures green and beautiful, and looked down into the valley below.
A few cows and a horse were grazing quietly in a field near the house. A dog barked. As I watched I saw a young man come from the house and walk across to a barn. There was silence for a short time.
Then the sound of pails clanking told me he was doing the morning milking. From my lofty view point high above, I had an excellent view. Looking into the distance I saw a man approaching on horse back from the farther side of the lonely homestead. He was galloping at a great pace with the dust flying up in great clouds. I could hear the hoof beats as he came closer, and closer.
The man in the barn must have heard them to, because he came to the door and stood waiting for the newcomer to arrive. The horseman came at full gallop into the barnyard, and came right up to the man before reining in his horse so hard the animal was thrust down on its haunches.
"Young fellow!" the rider cried, "Are you Bert Moss?"
"Yes Sir," was the reply.
"That is good news indeed... I have been told to find you."
The young farmer looked at the stranger in surprise.
"Why me and by whom?" the lad asked.
The rider wiped his face with a red and white spotted handkerchief before replying.
“In the next town is a young woman... by the name of Mary Bloomberg... she has requested that I bring you to her. Don't delay. It is important that you come right away. Saddle your horse and come this instant."
The lad suddenly felt weak at the knees. Who was this woman who had asked for him, and why? There were so many questions and so few answers.
"Sir," the lad asked. "How did Mary hear about me?"
"Son, you might not believe me, but she knows you very well because of something you once did for her brother.
"Although you don't know her, she does know you and where you live... so she has asked for you to visit her so that she may know you in person. Now my lad, will you get that horse of yours saddled and come with me?"
"Why of course Sir, I will come gladly!"
t wasn't long before the pair was mounted and cantering along the road to the town where Mary lived.
I turned my own horse to follow at a respectable distance. Plodding along the country lanes was pleasant indeed. I kept the pair in front in sight. After some hours of travel I could see the church steeple in the blue haze far in the distance. I knew we were getting closer. Then I saw the pair in front cantering quietly down the village street.
They made directly for the Post Office where I could see a pretty girl with long brown hair sitting on the top step with a wee white dog in her arms.
As the horsemen approached, the lass rose to her feet and came down the steps to greet them. The lad looked at the man with him with hesitation.
"Sir," he asked, “is this the Mary you told me about?"
"Yes, Son, this is the maiden..." and he promptly turned his horse and rode off with a high speed gait.
The two young people stood and stared at each other. It was a tense situation.
Both were shy to make the first move, or speak the first word.
The lad licked his lips as though to speak. The girl flicked her hair back with a nervous gesture. They both stepped towards each other. Suddenly, the wee dog leapt from the girl’s arms and made straight for the lad who bent to pick him up with a smile.
"What a dear wee dog" he said.
The strain was broken. The nervous look vanished from the girls face. They were friends! They started talking, and they talked and they talked and they talked. From my spot beside the village Wishing Well I watched as they turned and made their way happily down the street and out of sight with the wee dog fussing round their heels.
Needless to say I went over to the well and sent a blessing and a prayer skyward for the future happiness of those friends!
Written: 5th July 2011
By Adam R. B. Reeve
A few cows and a horse were grazing quietly in a field near the house. A dog barked. As I watched I saw a young man come from the house and walk across to a barn. There was silence for a short time.
Then the sound of pails clanking told me he was doing the morning milking. From my lofty view point high above, I had an excellent view. Looking into the distance I saw a man approaching on horse back from the farther side of the lonely homestead. He was galloping at a great pace with the dust flying up in great clouds. I could hear the hoof beats as he came closer, and closer.
The man in the barn must have heard them to, because he came to the door and stood waiting for the newcomer to arrive. The horseman came at full gallop into the barnyard, and came right up to the man before reining in his horse so hard the animal was thrust down on its haunches.
"Young fellow!" the rider cried, "Are you Bert Moss?"
"Yes Sir," was the reply.
"That is good news indeed... I have been told to find you."
The young farmer looked at the stranger in surprise.
"Why me and by whom?" the lad asked.
The rider wiped his face with a red and white spotted handkerchief before replying.
“In the next town is a young woman... by the name of Mary Bloomberg... she has requested that I bring you to her. Don't delay. It is important that you come right away. Saddle your horse and come this instant."
The lad suddenly felt weak at the knees. Who was this woman who had asked for him, and why? There were so many questions and so few answers.
"Sir," the lad asked. "How did Mary hear about me?"
"Son, you might not believe me, but she knows you very well because of something you once did for her brother.
"Although you don't know her, she does know you and where you live... so she has asked for you to visit her so that she may know you in person. Now my lad, will you get that horse of yours saddled and come with me?"
"Why of course Sir, I will come gladly!"
t wasn't long before the pair was mounted and cantering along the road to the town where Mary lived.
I turned my own horse to follow at a respectable distance. Plodding along the country lanes was pleasant indeed. I kept the pair in front in sight. After some hours of travel I could see the church steeple in the blue haze far in the distance. I knew we were getting closer. Then I saw the pair in front cantering quietly down the village street.
They made directly for the Post Office where I could see a pretty girl with long brown hair sitting on the top step with a wee white dog in her arms.
As the horsemen approached, the lass rose to her feet and came down the steps to greet them. The lad looked at the man with him with hesitation.
"Sir," he asked, “is this the Mary you told me about?"
"Yes, Son, this is the maiden..." and he promptly turned his horse and rode off with a high speed gait.
The two young people stood and stared at each other. It was a tense situation.
Both were shy to make the first move, or speak the first word.
The lad licked his lips as though to speak. The girl flicked her hair back with a nervous gesture. They both stepped towards each other. Suddenly, the wee dog leapt from the girl’s arms and made straight for the lad who bent to pick him up with a smile.
"What a dear wee dog" he said.
The strain was broken. The nervous look vanished from the girls face. They were friends! They started talking, and they talked and they talked and they talked. From my spot beside the village Wishing Well I watched as they turned and made their way happily down the street and out of sight with the wee dog fussing round their heels.
Needless to say I went over to the well and sent a blessing and a prayer skyward for the future happiness of those friends!
Written: 5th July 2011
By Adam R. B. Reeve