In the hallway of the boys' school, a little German Spitz runs up and down in front of the 5b class
door. "Well, you're probably waiting for your master," says a teacher who is just passing by and gives Spitz a little scratch behind his
ear. To thank him, he runs a little after the person who is walking away, but then returns to the class. He is becoming more and more restless. His master Rolf should have come out long ago. He jumps up at the door and grabs the handle. Finally, after unsuccessful attempts, he
succeeds. Spitz pushes his way through the doorway. But what is
that? His master, his comrades, even the teacher are lying on the ground. The Spitz tugs
sharply on Rolf's jacket sleeve and licks his hand. But he doesn't move. He runs out the
door to the principal's room. He sometimes got something from him, and that's why he knew exactly where his room was. By chance, the door is a little open. Spitz rushes towards the man, barking loudly, and grabs him by the trouser
leg. “Are you willing to let me go!” he shouts. But Spitz is out of control. He runs to the door, comes back and drags the director with
him. He suddenly remembers that Spitz always picks up his master. Then why does he come to
him? Should something have happened? “It’s okay, I’m coming,” he reassures the whining
dog. But he is shocked when he sees the whole class lying on the floor. He immediately calls
the doctor and the ambulance. In the meantime, other teachers also came over. They look at
the misfortune in dismay. It smells awfully like coal gas. How could this
happen?
Honk honk honk. The ambulance stops in front of the
school. The doctor also comes rushing up the stairs. "Well, coal gas poisoning, another half
hour, and they would all be dead," he states. The director points to the Spitz. "It was this
dog who brought it to my attention." Then he leans over him. "Come with me, Spitz. You
deserve a piece of sausage. A piece? No, you get a whole one."
And the little white Spitz then ate his sausage with great pleasure, even though he didn't know how much he had done.
Published in no. 17 of German magazine "Hören und Sehen" from 24.04.1955
