GREAT UTILITY OF SHEEP-DOGS. 89 ^^^ 



drew towards it, but he joined in it with all his vigour. 

 It was customary with the worthy old fanner with 

 whom I resided, to perform family worship evening 

 and morning ; and before he began, it was always 

 necessary to drive Sirrah to the fields and close the 

 door. If this was at any time forgotten or neglected, 

 the moment that the psalm was raised, he joined with 

 all his zeal, and at such a rate that he drowned the 

 voices of the family before three lines could be sung." 



A single shepherd and his dog will accomplish more 

 in gathering a flock of sheep from a Highland farm, 

 than twenty shepherds could do without dogs ; and it 

 is a fact that, without this docile animal, the pastoral 

 life would be a mere blank : without the shepherd's dog, 

 the whole of the mountainous land in Scotland would 

 not be worth sixpence. He may be classed with the 

 camel and the reindeer, who, in their respective 

 countries, may be said to be the chief riches and sup- 

 port of the inhabitants. 



The multitude of surprising stories, that are well 

 authenticated, of these intelligent animals, would fill 

 volumes, particularly of their attachment to their 

 masters. Rachel has a pretty little spaniel, that, had 

 he the faculty of speech, would have a better title 

 to the appellation of a rational being than some that 

 walk on two legs. He is accustomed to lie and in- 

 dulge himself on the lawn behind the house ; but the 



