82 LECTFKE VI. 



pened to be lying at the door of an apartment 

 into which his master was about to enter, imme- 

 diately recognised him, leaped upon his neck, 

 licked his face, and, in a few minutes, fell dead 

 at his feet. A favourite spaniel of a lady re- 

 cently died on seeing his beloved mistress after 

 a long absence. 



I have now given you some anecdotes of the 

 affection, sense, and strong attachment of ani- 

 mals either to man or to each other, especially 

 of the dog. I am convinced that, the more the 

 character of this animal is known, the better 

 treatment he will receive, and a stronger sym- 

 pathy will be excited for him. In fact, he is a 

 friend so faithful a protector so disinterested 

 and courageous that he deserves all the kind- 

 ness and affection which can be shown him. A 

 French writer has boldly affirmed that, with the 

 exception of women, there is nothing on earth- 

 so agreeable, or so necessary to the comfort of 

 man, as a dog. However this may be, it is cer- 

 tain that if we were deprived of the companion- 

 ship and the services of the dog, man would be 

 a solitary, and, in many respects, a helpless 

 being. The dog has died in defence of his 

 master saved him from drowning warned 



