THE DEVOTION OF WHITEY
Whitey was only a mongrel, a cross between a spitz dog and an English bull.
We can imagine that Whitey had inherited from her gentle, affectionate spitz mother, the devotion which this occasion brought into play. This trait, coupled with the persistence and tenacity of her English bull father, enabled her to enact the part she did.
Whitey’s mistress, who was getting along in years, was alone in the world, having only her faithful dog for company. So the two became devoted to each other. When the little old lady went out on errands, Whitey guarded her most carefully.
One day the sun was very hot and the old lady seemed more unsteady than usual. Whitey, looking at her mistress, noticed that she was very pale. Then she saw her mistress sway and fall. The dog was frightened and barked furiously. Seeing a policeman down the street, she ran barking to him, and then back to her fainting mistress.
Understanding what had occurred, the officer called an ambulance and started with the little old lady to the hospital. Whitey, who was no longer young herself, gathered herself together. She was not invited to ride in the ambulance with her mistress. As a matter of fact, no one noticed the anxious, woe-begone little mongrel. So there was nothing for her to do but follow the ambulance.
As it threaded its way in and out, shrieking and making ear-splitting, frightful noises, Whitey followed. Dodging the traffic as best she could, and dreadfully tired, she followed her mistress to she knew not where.
Arriving shortly after her mistress was carried into the hospital, Whitey stood at the door, sniffing and barking. Finally she heard some one coming out of that door. This was her chance. In she sprang, nearly tripping up the big policeman, but getting in where her beloved mistress was. Yelping joyously, she wagged her tail with satisfaction. Her happiness was short-lived, however, for, in an instant a rough hand had her by the back of the neck and yanked her out to the street.
Then the English bull portion of Whitey manifested itself. Such scratching and clawing as she did at that door! She begged, she entreated to be admitted, until, finally, she was allowed to go in. All afternoon, she lay on the foot of her mistress’s cot, looking her sympathy and love, and hoping she would soon help to take the dear mistress back to their home, where they would again be happy. And indeed it was not long before this hope was fulfilled.