THE RETURN OF THE EXILES 



Christian Soldiers,&quot; but I didn t know it, and I 

 fancy it ran into &quot; Listen to the Mocking-bird.&quot; 



&quot; Come on, Comrade,&quot; I said. &quot; Let us say 

 good-by to the country and get aboard.&quot; 



When we were seated in the car, Charlie pointed 

 through the window with his finger. Men and 

 boys were moving about in careless and animated 

 groups ; and at one corner of the platform, quite 

 alone, was the yellow dog, the most woebegone 

 picture of canine neglect and grief I ever saw. 

 Her head drooped, her tail hung limp, and she 

 was wrapped in her own desolation. Charlie 

 impulsively cried out, &quot; Good-by, Lilah,&quot; and the 

 sound striking against the depot made the dog 

 turn her head, cock her ears, and wag her tail as 

 she expectantly looked for the familiar owner of 

 the voice ; then realizing that it was an illusion, 

 she walked wearily away. 



This was a little too much for me. I went out, 

 called to her, and when she came gladly, I took 

 her by the back of the neck, put her into the 

 baggage-car, and gave the baggageman a dollar. 



And so my last act was to interfere with the 

 nature of things, for the yellow dog came to the 

 city with us. 



