152 EVIL OF BAD COMPANIONS. 



back again with the sack to the bam ; but the dog, 

 as if conscious of his design, would neither let him do 

 that, nor yet carry the sack to the parsonage. In this 

 dilemma the man was obliged to remain all night, 

 standing with the sack of com and the dog, who held 

 him fast, though he did not bite or hurt him in the 

 least ; and in this strange situation he was found in 

 the morning. A circumstance so extraordinary led to 

 a discovery of his guilty intention ; for he could not 

 account how he came there with a sack of corn, pinned 

 down by the dog, but by throwing himself on Mr. 

 Palmer's mercy, and making an open confession of his 

 dishonesty. 



The sagacity of this faithful dog has not only saved 

 his master's corn, but is likely to be a means of re- 

 claiming the man, by an early exposure of his fault ; 

 for it seems he has been led away by some bad com- 

 panions, who persuaded him to this attempt. Mr. 

 Palmer has taken great pains to convince him of the 

 danger of such associates, and the enormity of his 

 offence ; and the more effectually to preserve him from 

 any further intercourse with them, and to remove him 

 from a place where his character is lost, has prevailed 

 with a friend of his in Shropshire to take him on 

 trial, having first informed him of his misconduct. 

 This last act of kindness entirely overcame him ; he 

 wept like a child, and made the most solemn promises 



