--- George Graham Vest in 1870 at the old courthouse in Warrensburg, MO during a trial about the shooting of a farmer’s dog named "Old Drum" by a neighbor.
Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a man has in this
world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or
daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful.
Those who are nearest and dearest to us---those who we trust with
our happiness and our good name---may become traitors to their
faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from
him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be
sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who
are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is
with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure
settles its clouds upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish
friend that man can have in this selfish world---the one that
never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or
treacherous---is his dog.
Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity
and in poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold
ground where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely,
if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand
that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that
come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the
sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other
friends deserted, he remains. When riches take wings and
reputation falls to pieces he is as constant in his love as the
sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the
master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the
faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying
him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And
when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in
its embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no
matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his
graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws,
his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true
even to death.
Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a man has in this
world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or
daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful.
Those who are nearest and dearest to us---those who we trust with
our happiness and our good name---may become traitors to their
faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from
him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be
sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who
are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is
with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure
settles its clouds upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish
friend that man can have in this selfish world---the one that
never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or
treacherous---is his dog.
Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity
and in poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold
ground where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely,
if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand
that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that
come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the
sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other
friends deserted, he remains. When riches take wings and
reputation falls to pieces he is as constant in his love as the
sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the
master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the
faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying
him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And
when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in
its embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no
matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his
graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws,
his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true
even to death.
