2. MARLOWE
Introduction
Guide dogs, also called Seeing Eye dogs, are trained to help blind people move about when they leave their homes. The blind person must know where he is at all times, and how to get to each destination. The dog is there only to help lead its handler around obstacles and protect from danger; therefore, it takes teamwork and practice for the relationship to be successful. Seeing Eye dogs are also a source of companionship and comfort, and help relieve feelings of loneliness.
Local governments allow guide dogs to ride public transportation along with their handlers. The dogs are specially trained to protect the handlers in dangerous situations. The dogs are placed with caring, responsible individuals when they are puppies. After their years of service, the dogs are put up for adoption by special agencies at the age of retirement. The new home must fully understand the dog and its needs.
Pre-reading. Answer these questions.
Read the first two paragraphs and place these verbs in order from 1-5.
1) approached, passed, shielded, showed, fainted
Mark each sentence T/F.
2) The story takes place at a bus station.
3) A man fell onto the train tracks.
4) The dog was hurt.
Lester Foyle made his way slowly down the subway stairs holding the handrail. Marlowe kept pace close by his side. Lester showed his card at the gate for people with disabilities and let Marlowe go ahead. As the two approached the platform, Lester felt a bit faint. Marlowe sensed something was wrong by the way Foyle held the harness.
Lester started swaying, then fainted just near the edge of the platform. Marlowe tried to block him from falling with his own body as he had practiced doing many times, but the weight of the man’s body was too much for him. Then Lester lost his grip on the harness, let go and fell onto the tracks. Marlowe jumped in after him and covering him with his body shielded the man from the approaching train. The pair landed in a trough between the tracks, Marlowe still protecting the man. Onlookers let out a gasp of horror as the train passed harmlessly over them.
Marlowe was now famous. He had thrown himself over the body of his handler in a glorious act of self-sacrifice. Public outpouring of praise for the dog’s heroism was enormous. The pair were written up by practically every news organization in the world. Sadly, Lester died a short time later of the disease, which had made him faint on the train platform. Marlowe was now left behind. They had been very close. The dog was heart broken; for they had lived together for almost six years.
At eight years old, Marlowe was still eligible for adoption. Coming from a good stock of pale Labradors, he recovered from the loss of his old handler with lots of loving care and attention. The organization that had trained and placed him with Lester now had to find him a new home.
They placed ads on line and with neighbors looking for a good family that could take good care of Marlowe now that he was retired. After reviewing dozens upon dozens of applications for adoption, the organization finally decided on a new home for the dog. The Boone family had a 2 yr. old, German Shepherd, Indy. The organization thought this might be ideal for Marlowe; since he would always have the company of a very friendly, younger dog. The family had property in the countryside and plenty of space for Marlowe to run. They had recently refurbished and remodeled an old, countryside farmhouse. They loved their four horses, which they kept in a paddock during the day connected to a barn. Marlowe, of course, could not sleep out doors, since he was accustomed to living in an apartment. The children, a boy 10 and a girl 16, seemed very well behaved and knew something about dogs. It seemed like an ideal home. A nicer environment you could not ask for.
Marlowe had a little trouble adjusting to his energetic companion that wanted to play all the time. He loved playing as his master had done this with him, but the new friend could be a burden at times running after him, and biting him playfully on the ears and legs. Marlowe had a playmate, so the family did not think to spend much time with him. The children would rather have played with a younger, livelier dog. Marlowe wasn’t a puppy anymore. Everyone knew of his fame and treated him more like a trophy than a member of the family.
Everything was fine for the first three month. But afterwards the novelty of having such a famous pet around wore off. Sometimes the family would be away all day coming home very late. They would take Indy with them on day trips, but not Marlowe because he was old. Marlowe was fed when they got home, but he was not used to eating so late. The hours he spent alone made him feel a bit sad; he had been used to having a human with him constantly. He eagerly awaited the families return each time; wagging his tail vigorously, but somehow he never felt truly loved.
There were rats about the property. They were in and out of the barn eating horse feed, sometimes nibbling their way into the bins, wherever it was kept. If Marlowe wanted to go out when the weather was good, he was let out of the house to do his ‘business.’ Sometimes he and Indy would chase a rat, but Marlowe never really caught one because of his age and his mouth was too soft to finish off any creature. Indy had tried chasing them, but once he got bit on the snout he was content with just barking. Marlowe could practice his hunting instincts that had been only suppressed in the service of humanity, but still alive in his being. This became quite an obsession with him, since being teamed up with another hunting dog. By the end of the first year, he had developed quite an appetite for the chase.
By the next year he was having much more difficulty seeing the rats as they ran about the fields and barn; he was losing his eyesight. Cataracts, the veterinarian said, can develop in older dogs. Marlowe now had to rely on smell and the familiar routes taken by the rats to chase them. But as time went by, he could only make out objects in the dark with great difficulty. While Indy could run about freely, Marlowe tried to follow by scent never venturing too far. The family kept him in the house most of the time.
On one moonless night, Marlowe was stirred by a noise coming from the paddock. Indy was already up; he had heard it too. Marlowe’s eyesight may have been failing, but his hearing was as good as ever. Growling became barking and soon the whole household was awake. The room filled with light and the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs worked them up into a frenzy.
“What is it guys?” said Boone holding an old cavalry sabre.
He peered out of a front window and saw the shadows of two men near the horses.
“Horse thieves,” he cried out. Turning to his wife at the head of the stairs he said,
“You stay back. Call the Sheriff. Me and Indy will handle this. Let’s go Indy.” Marlowe jumped up in excitement.
“No Marlowe, you stay here.” Boone said in a commanding voice, but to no avail. As soon as the door was open both dogs made a dash for the paddock. It was still pitch dark as Boone had forgotten to bring along a flashlight. boone followed the dogs. Marlowe couldn’t see a thing. He just stuck to the track. Using the scent of the trail and the touch of the dirt path, he got to the paddock just after Indy.
Suddenly he detected the odor of something dangerous coming from the front. Fear assailed him. He came to a halt. Realizing that Boone was in grave danger he threw his body sideways blocking Boone from going any further. Boone tripped over him and fell flat on his face on the ground. Then two shots rang. Indy ran yelping in pain.
Police and reporters were busy on the scene the next morning.
“How many shots did you say they fired?” asked the Sheriff in a somber voice.
“Two,” said Boone. “One hit the other dog in the foot. He’s been taken to the vet. He’ll be alright. This one here wasn’t so lucky.”
“What happen?”
“He took one for me,” he said sadly. Then added, “He couldn’t even see.”
Vocabulary
handrail – n. guides you hand on stairs
platform – n. a place to stand of while waiting for a train
harness – n. a strap or belt for holding an animal
swaying – v. bending from side to side
fainted – v. lost consciousness, passed out
grip – n. hold on tightly
shielded – v. protected
trough – n. a lower space under the train
gasp – n. intake of breath
sacrifice – n. worthy of fame and admiration
outpouring – n. a great rush of something
praise – n. to show gratitude and respect
heroism – n. bravery, courage
eligible – adj. qualified
adoption – n. the transference of ownership or parents
pale Labrador – n. a light colored type of dog
retired – v. no longer working because of age
German Shepherd – n. a type of dog
refurbished – adj. renew, fix up
paddock – n. a fenced area for a horse
barn – n. a place to house animals or a storehouse for supplies
adjusting – v. adapt to, get used to
trophy – n. a prize for a victory or achievement
constantly – adv. unending, not stopping
eagerly – adv. willing, enthusiastically
wagging – v. shake, wiggle
vigorously – adv. strong energy, active
finish off – end, kill
creature – n. any living thing
snout – n. the forward part of a dog’s head including the nose
instincts – n. an inner capability or attitude
humanity – n. all human beings
obsession – n. an strong unwanted feeling or desire sometimes causing anxiety
chase – to run after something with the intention of catching it
cataracts – n. cloudy eye lenses prevent good vision
veterinarian – n. a doctor for animals
routes – n. paths, roads, ways taken
scent – n. odor or smell
venturing – v. going into a new place
stirred – v. awaken, aroused from a state of calm
growling – v. a threatening sound make by a dog when angry
frenzy – n. wild excitement
cavalry – n. soldiers on horseback
sabre – n. a long sword
commanding – adj. giving orders
dash – n. to sudden quick movement
pitch black – n. the color of unrefined oil
halt – n. stop
grave – adj. serious
Comprehension
1) What did Marlow to help save Lester’s life?
2) Why did Marlow have to be placed into a new home?
3) What kind of property did the have?
4) Why could Marlowe not sleep outdoors?
5) How did Marlowe’s new family treat him?
6) What did Indy and Marlowe do for fun?
7) How was Marlowe able to find rats?
8) What happened to Marlowe at the end of the story?
Vocabulary. Fill in the blank space with the best word.
| outpouring | obsession | dash | adoption | growling |
| platform | veterinarian | sacrifice | trophy | wagging |
1) I did not catch the train; because I went to the wrong ____________
2) In order to be successful, you may have to ____________ your family life.
3) Children with no living parents may be put up for ____________.
4) Once I saw the dog ____________ its tail, I knew it was friendly.
5) Cleanliness is an ____________ with some people.
6) The ____________ said, my cat will be fine, if I give it medicine everyday.
7) My neighbor’s dog can be heard ____________ whenever someone passes by.
8) When the teacher said, “Dismissed”, we all made a ____________ for the door.
9) Our football team got a nice ____________ for winning the game.
10) Once the story of the accident was made public, there was a great ____________ of sympathy for the victim.
Discussion.
- What are animal rights?
- People used to talk about buying a pet. Now, we say ‘adopt a pet.’ What’s the difference?
- Some dogs are bred for work; others as pets. Can dogs be made too small?
- Is it good to take a dog or cat everywhere you go, i.e., food shopping, the department store, work, on an airplane?
Writing 1. Using the words below, write two sentences with at least two different words each time. Change the part of speech as necessary. Ex: noun–verb, etc.
vigorously, heroism, chase route
Writing2.
1) Write a police report from Boone’s point of view.
2) The adoption agency is seeking a new home for Marlowe as retired working dog. Write an advertisement.
Oral Practice.
Reporter: Interview Lester Foyle about the incident on the train tracks.
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