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Washington, United States
loves: you win if you guessed "pets" and "museums". Also books, art history, travel, British punk, Korean kimchi, bindis, martinis, and other things TBD. I will always make it very clear if a post is sponsored in any way. Drop me a line at thepetmuseum AT gmail.com !

Friday, March 04, 2016

bishop doane learns from his dog, 1922

William Doane (1832-1913) was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany NY for over 40 years.  Before then, he spent a few years as Bishop of Hartford CT, where one of his parishioners was Mark Twain.  Though Doane was an outspoken voice against female suffrage, he seems to have been more tender toward his pets; here's his poem about his dog, published in Animals Magazine in 1922.

I AM quite sure he thinks that I am God—
Since he is God on whom each one depends
For life, and all things that his bounty sends—
My dear old dog, most constant of all friends;
Not quick to mind, but quicker far than I
To Him whom God I know and own: his eye,
Deep brown and liquid, watches for my nod;
He is more patient underneath the rod
Than I, when God His wise corrections sends.

He looks love at me, deep as words e'er spake:
And from me never crumb nor sup will take
But he wags thanks with his most vocal tail:
And when some crashing noise wakes all his fear,
He is content and quiet if I am near,
Secure that my protection will prevail.
So, faithful, mindful, thankful, trustful, he
Tells me what I unto my God should be.
- Animals. [Boston: Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]. v. 54 no. 9 (Feb. 1922). 139.

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