<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</SPAN></span></p>
<h2><SPAN name="AFTERWORD" id="AFTERWORD"></SPAN>AFTERWORD</h2>
<p>The stories of Lad, in various magazines, found
unexpectedly kind welcome. Letters came to me
from soldiers and sailors in Europe, from hosts of
children; from men and women, everywhere.</p>
<p>Few of the letter-writers bothered to praise the
stories, themselves. But all of them praised Lad,
which pleased me far better. And more than a
hundred of them wanted to know if he were a real
dog: and if the tales of his exploits were true.</p>
<p>Perhaps those of you who have followed Lad's
adventures, through these pages, may also be a
little interested to know more about him.</p>
<p>Yes, Lad was a "real" dog—the greatest dog
by far, I have known or shall know. And the
chief happenings in nearly all of my Lad stories
are absolutely true. This accounts for such
measure of success as the stories may have won.</p>
<p>After his "Day of Battle," Lad lived for more
than two years—still gallant of spirit, loyally
mighty of heart, uncanny of wisdom—still the undisputed
king of The Place's "Little People."</p>
<p>Then, on a warm September morning in 1918,
he stretched himself to sleep in the coolest and
shadiest corner of the veranda. And, while he<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</SPAN></span>
slept, his great heart very quietly stopped beating.
He had no pain, no illness, none of the distressing
features of extreme age. He had lived out a full
span of sixteen years—years rich in life and happiness
and love.</p>
<p>Surely, there was nothing in such a death to warrant
the silly grief that was ours, nor the heartsick
gloom that overhung The Place! It was
wholly illogical, not to say maudlin. I admit that
without argument. The cleric-author of "The
Mansion Yard" must have known the same miserable
sense of loss, I think, when he wrote:</p>
<div class="poem">
<span class="i0">"Stretched on the hearthrug in a deep content,</span><br/>
<span class="i2">Fond of the fire as I.</span><br/>
<span class="i0">Oh, there was something with the old dog went</span><br/>
<span class="i2">I had not thought could die!"</span><br/></div>
<p>We buried Lad in a sunlit nook that had been
his favorite lounging place, close to the house he
had guarded so long and so gallantly. With him
we buried his honorary Red Cross and Blue Cross—awards
for money raised in his name. Above his
head we set a low granite block, with a carven
line or two thereon.</p>
<p>The Mistress wanted the block inscribed: "The
Dearest Dog!" I suggested: "The Dog God
Made." But we decided against both epitaphs.
We did not care to risk making our dear old friend's
memory ridiculous by words at which saner folk<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</SPAN></span>
might one day sneer. So on the granite is engraved:</p>
<table class="bbox" summary="Epitaph">
<tr><td class="center">
LAD<br/>
<span class="smcap lowercase">THOROUGHBRED IN BODY AND SOUL</span><br/>
</td></tr></table>
<p>Some people are wise enough to know that a
dog has no soul. These will find ample theme for
mirth in our foolish inscription. But no one, who
knew Lad, will laugh at it.</p>
<p class="right smcap">
Albert Payson Terhune.</p>
<div class="poem">
<span class="i0">"Sunnybank"</span><br/>
<span class="i2">Pompton Lakes,</span><br/>
<span class="i4">New Jersey.</span><br/></div>
<div class="transnote">
<p>The following is a list of changes made to the original.
The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.</p>
<p><i>Nineteenth <span class="u">Printing</span> March, 1922</i><br/>
<i>Nineteenth <span class="u">Printing,</span> March, 1922</i></p>
<p><i>Twentieth <span class="u">Printing</span> August, 1922</i><br/>
<i>Twentieth <span class="u">Printing,</span> August, 1922</i></p>
<p><i>Twenty-first <span class="u">Printing</span> Sept. 1922</i><br/>
<i>Twenty-first <span class="u">Printing,</span> Sept., 1922</i></p>
<p>You're--<span class="u">your're</span> more of a man than I am, old<br/>
You're--<span class="u">you're</span> more of a man than I am, old</p>
<p>the inner wooden blinds in search the catch.<br/>
the inner wooden blinds in search <span class="u">of</span> the catch.</p>
<p>formally entered for the Novice class, at the <span class="u">Westminister</span><br/>
formally entered for the Novice class, at the <span class="u">Westminster</span></p>
<p>white sign, was inscribed "<span class="u"><span class="smcap">Collies</span></span>" Here his<br/>
white sign, was inscribed "<span class="u"><span class="smcap">Collies</span>.</span>" Here his</p>
<p>was apparently no part of the <span class="u">law</span>. And Lad felt<br/>
was apparently no part of the <span class="u">Law</span>. And Lad felt</p>
<p>Lad was viewing the <span class="u">procedings</span> from the top of<br/>
Lad was viewing the <span class="u">proceedings</span> from the top of</p>
<p>a bushy tail hung <span class="u">limpy</span> between crooked hind legs;<br/>
a bushy tail hung <span class="u">limply</span> between crooked hind legs;</p>
<p><span class="u">Any body</span>, with price to buy a dog, can be an 'owner,'<br/>
<span class="u">Anybody</span>, with price to buy a dog, can be an 'owner,'</p>
<p><span class="u">"'<i>Third</i>,'</span> the Mistress read, her brows crinkling<br/>
<span class="u">"'<i>Third</i>,'"</span> the Mistress read, her brows crinkling</p>
<p>And Schwartz was an <span class="u">eye-witeness</span> to this--Schwartz,<br/>
And Schwartz was an <span class="u">eye-witness</span> to this--Schwartz,</p>
<p><span class="u">"A sight harder,</span> responded Schwartz. "My<br/>
<span class="u">"A sight harder,"</span> responded Schwartz. "My</p>
<p><span class="u">longily</span> at Schwartz's throat.<br/>
<span class="u">longingly</span> at Schwartz's throat.</p>
<p>and to accept <span class="u">it</span> He reached into his pocket and<br/>
and to accept <span class="u">it.</span> He reached into his pocket and</p>
<p>Now, this is no <span class="u"><i>Mowgili</i></span> tale, but a true narrative.<br/>
Now, this is no <span class="u"><i>Mowgli</i></span> tale, but a true narrative.</p>
<p><span class="u">underlying</span>, the primitive lust for mastery.<br/>
<span class="u">underling</span>, the primitive lust for mastery.</p>
<p>he laid out his <span class="u">plain</span> of campaign and put<br/>
he laid out his <span class="u">plan</span> of campaign and put</p>
<p>action." In the battle's <span class="u">wage</span> was an irregular but<br/>
action." In the battle's <span class="u">wake</span> was an irregular but</p>
</div>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />