Kartographer Vanity

[Kartographer]

Our hearts are aching as our dearest and sweetest four legged friend pasted away last night. Hope would have been 15 next month. She was grouchy in her old age, but there was a time the kids in the neighborhood thought of her like she was one of them and we actually had kids ring the door bell to see if Hope could come out to play. She is gone now, but her paw prints will remain tracked across our hears forever.

[Kartographer]

Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. 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 him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his 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 the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.

George Graham Vest - c. 1855

[Jet Jaguar]

Sorry to hear.

[PGalt]

GRRRRREAT post Kartographer. Condolences. I don’t know if you FReepers know each other, but...

http://www.freerepublic.com/~kanawa/

[map]

RIP Hope. That was a touching essay by Vest. Tearing up.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Sorry for your loss. I know the deep loss it is.

[gaijin]

What a cute dog..!

I LOVE DOGS..!

Sorry for your loss :( :(

[Sasparilla]

So sorry. Humans need their dog.

[Georgia Girl 2]

So sorry to hear it. Losing a dog is a hard thing.

[Inyo-Mono]

So sorry for your loss. Companionship and loyalty are just a few of the many attributes of man’s best friend.

[Sans-Culotte]

Sorry for your loss. As a dog-lover, I know what you’re going thru. Loved the post and the pic.

[ctdonath2]

Buried mine this morning.
I am sharing your pain.

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[Tennessee Nana]

Oh sweet doggie...

[Caipirabob]

Our regards and condolences for your loss. Honestly I got scared for a moment because I thought it was you that had passed on. Still sad about your dog, but really glad it is not you.

[lysie]

Sorry for your loss. Hold on to the better times you had with your sweet dog, Hope.

[PGalt]

Thanks for sharing your love.

Condolences.

[mumblypeg]

So sorry. :-(

[Duchess47]

I am so very sorry.

[Albion Wilde]

So sorry, Kartographer. Bless you, and her where she is.

[CARTOUCHE]

Our deepest condolences Karto. Our little Xena has brought us such joy as did your family member. May your loss be lightened as the days go by. Best.