Dawg Huntin’

Dawg Huntin’

Today is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2

Pulitzer Prize–winning author and dramatist Booth Tarkington, while stopping at an inn in a little Indiana town, lost one of his dogs.

“Have you a newspaper in town?” he asked the landlord.

“Right across the way, there, back of the shoemaker’s shop,” the landlord told him. “The Daily News—best little paper of its size in town.”

The editor, the printer, and the printer’s devil were all busy doing justice to Mr. Tarkington with a paragraph about his being in town when the novelist arrived.

“I’ve just lost a dog,” Tarkington explained after he had introduced himself, “and I’d like to have you insert this ad for me: ‘Fifty dollars’ reward for the return of a pointer dog answering to the name of Rex. Disappeared from the yard of the Mansion House Monday night.’”

“Why, we were just going to press, sir,” the editor said, “but we’ll be only too glad to hold the edition for your ad.”

Mr. Tarkington returned to the hotel. After a few minutes he decided, however, that it might be well to add “No questions asked” to his advertisement, and he returned to the Daily News office.

The place was deserted, save for the skinny little freckle-faced devil, who sat perched on a high stool, gazing wistfully out of the window.

“Where is everybody?” Tarkington asked.

“Gawn to hunt th’ dawg, o’course,” replied the boy, without removing his gaze from the distant fields.

Silly question! When there’s a great prize to be had, don’t just sit around—get after it! And the greatest prize of all is salvation, which we must pursue with all our hearts.

Dear God, we know that salvation comes from you, and we offer you our praise and thanksgiving for your marvelous gift of love. Amen.