HECK, THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.
By E. Payson Hammond
I AM going to repeat to you a story, for the sake of leading you to think of Him who "loved us, and gave Himself for us." The large Newfoundland dog, Heck, belonging to the St. Elmo Hotel, in the oil town of Eldred, Pennsylvania, was known throughout the Northern oil field for his great strength and almost human intelligence. The porter of the hotel was a favorite with the dog. He slept in a room behind the office of the hotel. One night the porter was drunk when he went to bed, and soon fell into a heavy sleep. Sometime in the night he was awakened by the barking of Heck, who was jumping on the bed and seizing the pillow with his teeth. The still drowsy man tried to make the dog go away, but the animal persisted in his efforts; and it finally dawned on the mind of the porter that the house was on fire. His room was full of smoke, and he could hear the crackling of the flames. He sprang from his bed, but was still so drunk that he fell to the floor. At last the faithful dog seized him by the coat collar, the porter not having removed his clothing on going to bed, and dragged him out of the room and half way to the outer door of the office, when the man succeeded in getting to his feet, and, unlocking the door, staggered into the street. The dog no sooner saw that this helpless friend was safe than he dashed back into the house, and ran barking upstairs. He first stopped at the door of his master's room, where he howled until the inmate was made aware of the danger, and hurried out of the house. A lady with a child in her arms tripped on the stair while hurrying out, and fell to the bottom. The child was thrown to the floor of the hall, some distance away. The woman staggered out of the door, leaving the child in the midst of the smoke that was pouring from the office door. The brave dog jumped in through the smoke, and, seizing the child by its nightclothes, carried it safely out. The mother of the child being restored by the fresh air, cried out, "Anna is burning up in the house!" and made a dash for the building, as if to rush through the flames to seek her child. Heck had already brought the little one out, and he saw the frantic rush of the mother toward the burning building. He sprang forward, and disappeared with a bound over the burning threshold. The faithful animal never was seen again. His remains were found in the ruins. There is no doubt that but for Heck the fire in the hotel would not have been discovered in time for a single one to have escaped; and that the noble dog thought, from the half-crazed movements of the child's mother, that there was still another one in danger, and to rescue that one he gave his own life. As you have read this touching story, young friends, have you not thought of our dear Saviour's sufferings and death for us? He said, "I have power to lay down My life." He was led by His great love for us to suffer—ah, much more than poor Heck for his friends! This noble dog did not intend to die, even the last time he rushed into the burning building; but Jesus knew when He came into this world all that He would have to suffer in our stead. Yet He gave Himself up to bleed and die that we might be saved. Those whose lives were saved by him speak of Heck, this noble dog, with much tenderness, and very likely at times with tears in their eyes. What a hard heart yours must be if you do not feel it going out with warm love to Him who suffered, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God!