SUPERIOR INSTINCT OF CERTAIN ANIMALS. 185 



LETTER XXIIL 



FROM EMILY TO CAROLINE. 



DEAR CAROLINE, 



I WAS SO far from thinking your last letter too 

 serious, thatj I can assure you, it rather increased my 

 usual cheerfulness, by the consideration that the whole 

 universe is under the direction of a Being infinitely 

 wise and good. Amongst the multitudes of proofs of 

 his provision for the happiness of man in particular, 

 may be reckoned the superior instinct, or rather saga- 

 city of some animals, especially dogs, which frequently 

 renders them extremely valuable, and puts them on a 

 level with humble friends. I have lately heard two 

 or three stories that do honour to the canine race ; 

 and, though they are unconnected with each other, I 

 think they will gratify your taste for such anecdotes, 

 and shall therefore make no further apology for re- 

 lating them. 



A little boy, about two years old, the son of a cot- 

 tager, was accustomed to go with his parents when 

 they went to work. One day, when their attention 

 was engaged, he strayed to a rocky cliff at no great 

 distance, where, it is supposed, that, being wearied by 



