Best Friend

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h3>THE BEST FRIEND</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">If I was sad, then he had grief, as well&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Seeking my hands with soft insistent paw,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Searching my face with anxious eyes that saw<br/></span> <span class="i0">More than my halting, human speech could tell;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Eyes wide with wisdom, fine, compassionate&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Dear, loyal one, that knew not wrong nor hate.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">If I made merry&mdash;then how he would strive<br/></span> <span class="i0">To show his joy; "Good master, let's to play,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The world is ours," that gladsome bark would say;<br/></span> <span class="i0">"Just yours and mine&mdash;'tis fun to be alive!"<br/></span> <span class="i0">Our world ... four walls above the city's din,<br/></span> <span class="i0">My crutch the bar that ever held us in.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Whate'er my mood&mdash;the fretful word, or sweet,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The swift command, the wheedling undertone,<br/></span> <span class="i0">His faith was fixed, his love was mine, alone,<br/></span> <span class="i0">His heaven was here at my slow crippled feet:<br/></span> <span class="i0">Oh, friend thrice-lost; oh, fond heart unassailed,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Ye taught me trust when man's dull logic failed.<br/></span></div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />