MODERN P'ARRIER. ^ 605 



this time, had also grown old, and became at length 

 blind, but this misfortune did not hinder him from 

 fondling his master, whom he knew from every 

 other person, and for whom his affection and solici- 

 tude rather inci^'eased than diminished. The old 

 gentleman, after a short illness, died. The dog 

 knew the circumstance, watched the corpse, blind 

 as he was, and did his utmost to prevent the under- 

 taker from screwing up the body in the coffin, and 

 most outrageously opposed its being taken out of 

 the house. Being past hope, he grew disconsolate, 

 lost his Hesh, and was evidently vero-inff towards his 

 end. One day he heard a gentleman come into the 

 house, and rose to meet him. His master being old 

 and infirm, had worn ribbed stockings for warmth. 

 This gentleman had stockings on of the same kind. 

 The dog, from this information, thought it was his 

 master, and began to demonstrate the most extra- 

 vagant pleasure; but, upon further examination, 

 finding his mistake, he retired into a corner, where, 

 in a short time, he expired !' 



Dogs have been kept by the monks of the mo- 

 nasteries in the Swiss Alps for the express purpose 

 of hunting, during heavy snow storms, for travellers 

 who may have fallen into cavities or pits, in which 

 situations they would soon, if no timely assistance 

 were administered, be starved, or frozen to death. 

 These dogs were sent out in pairs, and, being per- 

 fectly conversant with their employ, traversed a 

 great extent of country round. By marks in the 

 snow, but principally by the scent formed from the 

 breath of persons so situated, exhaling through the 

 mass, they discovered the pits that contained the 

 buried travellers; in which case, they instantly re- 

 turned, and gave the alarm, and then led the bene- 

 volent monks to the relief of the distressed persons. 



A gentleman having brought from Newfoundland 

 a dog of the true breed, gave it to his brother, who 

 resided in the neighbourhood of Thames-street, 



