Carlo | Page 2

at play. At last they went further under the bridge; and Ida, leaning over, a little too far, in her eagerness to see them, lost her balance, and fell over the low rail into the creek, which, at that point, was deep enough to drown her! She had but just time to give one loud cry of fright, as she sunk beneath the cruel water. In a moment, she rose to the top, but only to sink again. Poor Ida! is there no one to help her? Yes, the good God who watches over the smallest of his creatures has not forgotten little Ida. A large dog, who lay lazily winking in the sunshine a little way off, has heard her cry. He pricks up his ears, and comes swiftly toward her, with great leaps--barking loudly as he jumps--in a moment he plunges into the creek, and catches Ida by her dress just as she is about to sink for the last time! Ida is heavy, and cannot help herself, but the dog is strong and brave, and, swimming and tugging with all his might, he soon brings her in safety to the shore. Then pulling her head out of the water, so that it rested on the soft grass, he raised his head in the air, opened his great mouth, and barked long and loudly for help. And help was near. The master of the dog, a tall, handsome boy, came running up, "Why, Carlo boy, what's the matter?" he said cheerily. But in a moment he saw Ida still partly in the water, with her eyes closed, as if dead! He at once drew her up on the bank, when she soon opened her eyes, and looked around as if she did not know where she was. But Eugene Morris, for it was he, said, "What! little Ida, nearly drowned. Why, how in the world did you get in the water?" Ida was now well enough to tell her story; and after she had finished, Eugene called her attention to the dog, at the same time wrapping Ida in his overcoat, and leading her toward her home. "Don't you know him?" he said, "it is your old friend Carlo; you saved his life, and now he has saved yours in return."
[Illustration: Eugene and Ida.]
How strange are the ways of God! The very dog which Ida saved from death, two years before, had now been able to pay his debt to the tender-hearted little girl, on the same spot! This surely is not chance, but seems to show that good deeds are rewarded even in this world. Carlo, who was a well-bred dog, had shaken himself dry by this time, and was rubbing his nose against Ida's dress, as if to say, "Don't you know your old friend?"
As she was still weak, from the shock of the fall and the fright, Eugene went home with her, and explained the thing to the alarmed Mrs. Mason, after which he took his leave, promising to come and see her the next day. Eugene was as good as his word; and early the next morning came down to the widow's cottage, accompanied by a gentleman and a little girl about four years old, whom Ida had never seen before. Carlo, of course, was in the party, and was made much of by everybody, receiving a great deal of attention, which he accepted with much dignity; sitting up on his hind legs, wagging his tail, and giving vent, now and then, to a short, amiable bark of thanks to his kind friends.
[Illustration: Carlo Saving Ida.]
The gentleman, who was Eugene's father, Mr. Morris, after kissing little Ida, said, "this little girl whom I have brought to see you, is my only daughter Lottie; and you were the means of her having been saved from drowning." Ida's look of surprise at this, was comical to see. "Not long since," went on Mr. Morris, "our good Carlo saved her life, just as he did yours, yesterday. Eugene tells me, that, but for your goodness of heart, Carlo would have been killed when he was a puppy; and in that case I should have had no little Lottie to-day; for there was no one near at the time but the nurse, who was too much frightened to be of any use. I desire then, Mrs. Mason, with your permission, to make Ida a little present." So saying, he kissed Ida again--put a small package into her hand, and bowing politely, to the surprised Mrs. Mason; left the cottage with his party, before she could find words to thank him. The package proved to be a bank-book in which Ida was credited with five thousand dollars in her own name! This was Mr. Morris's "little present." Mrs. Mason