A man's best friend may become his enemy. His children that he has brought up with loving care may show no
thanks. Those who are nearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness may turn against their faith. The
money that a man has, he may lose . It flies from him, perhaps when he needs it most . A man's reputation may be lost in a moment of ill-considered action . The people who would prefer to fall on their knees to do
us honour when success is with us may be first to throw the stone malice when failure settles upon our heads.
The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him is his dog . A man's dog stands by him whether he is rich or poor, healthy or sick. He will sleep on the
cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives hard, as long as he may be near his master's side. He
will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He guards the sleep of his poor master as if he were a prince. When
all other friends desert him, the dog remains. When reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love
as the sun in its journey through the heavens.
If the master becomes friendless and homeless, what the faithful dog asks for is to be with him. And when death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, there by the graveside will the dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in watchfulness, faithful and
true even in death.