﻿THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 



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thinking to get a pretty flower which seemed to shine upon the dark 

 waters, stretched out her hand, and, before any one could suspect 

 what she was about, overreached herself, and fell with a sudden 

 splash into the river. How shall I describe the agony of her 

 parents, when they heard the sound, and saw the current close over 

 their beloved child ! The mother, in her terror, and scarcely know- 

 ing what she did, would have thrown herself out of the boat, in the 

 vain hope of being able to save her little one, had not her husband 

 forcibly held her back ; while their friends tried to note the spot 

 where the child had sunk, in order to direct the boat towards it, in 

 the event of being able to check its rapid progress on the swift cur- 

 rent of the river. But Ellen did not rise as they had expected, and 

 faint hope was there of being able to find her in that deep, dark 

 water. 



Vain was the help of man at that dreadful moment. The Lord, 

 who had given the fair child to delight the eyes of her fond parents, 

 had permitted so heavy a calamity to befall them, and He could alone 

 restore her. Prayer was doubtless offered in the extremity of their 

 distress, and when no human means could avail, their child was 

 suddenly preserved. 



Nero had trotted contentedly along the eastern bank of the river, 

 which for some miles was free from the rocks that rose abruptly on 

 the opposite side. He could not have gone much further, because 

 the path terminated, being abruptly met by huge masses of broken 

 rocks, which did not admit of passing over. And this was after- 

 wards noticed with heartfelt gratitude by the parents, as a proof how 

 mercifully the Lord had watched over them. 



No one took any notice of the faithful creature; the river was 

 broad and ample, at least a quarter of a mile across, and the boat 

 kept rather to the western side, because the current, which ran to- 

 wards the sea; was strongest there, and carried the boat swiftly on its 

 way. But Nero, though not observed, kept his eye upon the boat, 

 and watched all that was going on. He saw his master's child fall 

 over the side ; and he heard the dreadful cry of his mistress, and 

 the loud voices of the gentlemen,, as they called one to the other to 

 put the boat about. Guided by the wonderful perception with which 

 his Maker had endowed him, the faithful creature plunged into 



