108 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



to the lady, and take care of her ; upon which he ran to 

 her, took her basket from her, and tried to express his 

 willingness to serve her. He remained with her for 

 some hours ; and when his master arrived to fetch him, 

 the lady was so pleased that she asked for his company 

 till the next day. Sam's owner petted and praised him, 

 told him to be a good dog, and stay with the lady until 

 she had given him his breakfast the next day. The dog 

 was contented to remain, ate his breakfast on the ensu- 

 ing morning, then looked up in the lady's face, wagged 

 his tail, left the house, and ran home. He was in the 

 habit of fetching his master's clothes, and of returning 

 them to their proper places ; and he knew their names. 

 He sat in a chair at dinner with the family, without 

 making any confusion ; or dined alone, alternately tak- 

 ing a piece of bread and meat, and then drinking a little 

 milk ; and if any one said, l Give me a piece, Sam,' he 

 instantly obeyed. When all was gone, he cleared away 

 the things. He would fetch his master's horse from 

 the inn, pay the ostler, and ride back upon the saddle. 

 In short, he seemed to comprehend everything that was 

 said to him, and was a model of good nature and obe- 

 dience. 



Wonderful as these stories are as matters of reason, 

 they are perhaps exceeded by some of the tricks per- 

 formed by the Poodle-dogs, who are easily distin- 

 guished by their crispy curling hair, their large round 

 head and long ears, and to whom water is as welcome 

 and familiar as land. Two of them, educated in Milan, 

 exhibited their powers in Paris ; and I can vouch for the 

 veracity of the following statement : ' The elder was 

 named Fido, and the younger Bianco. The former was 

 a serious, steady dog. who walked about with much 



