256 METRICAL SUMMARY OF CANINE SERVICES. 



services of the dog so appropriately, that I shall in- 

 sert it. 



" The faithful dog, the natural friend of man, 

 The unequal federation first began ; 

 Aided the hunter in his savage toil, 

 And grateful took the refuse of the spoil ; 

 Watch'd round his bed at sleep's unguarded hour, 

 And drove the hungry tiger from his bow'r ; 

 In deeds of death and danger led the way, 

 And bled, unconquer'd, in the doubtful fray ; 

 Still fought, though wounded, by his master's side. 

 And, pleas'd to save him, grasp'd his prey, and died. 

 As more the bounds of social rights expand. 

 And peaceful herds submit to man's command, 

 Still, as a faithful minister, he shares 

 The shepherd's labours, and divides his cares ; 

 Prowls round the hill or to the allotted plains. 

 The climbing goat or wandering sheep restrains ; 

 With nice discriminating nose inhales 

 The passing odours in the tainted gales ; 

 The wolf's approach o'er distant mountains hears, 

 And clamorous barks, and points his list'ning ears. 

 And nearer still, as the fell savage howls. 

 Bristles his wavy back, and fierce defiance growls."* 



Rachel has a most faithful dog, of the Newfound- 

 land breed, that always guards us in our walks ; and 

 so courageous is he, that we fear no enemy when 

 he is with us. I see him now from the window, 

 wagging his tail, and showing other marks of joy, 



* Knight, on the Progress of Civil Society. 



