88 EEMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN, 



them to touch the handle. On their persisting and 

 attempting to use force he became furious, and in a 

 menacing manner drove them back into the kitchen, 

 where he kept them until the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. 

 Simpson, who were surprised to find the party at so late 

 an hour, and more to see the dog standing sentinel over 

 them. Being thus detected, the servant acknowledged 

 the whole circumstance, when her friends were allowed 

 to depart, after being admonished by the worthy divine 

 in regard to the proper use of the Sabbath. They 

 could not but consider the dog as an instrument in the 

 hands of Providence to point out the impropriety of 

 spending this holy day in feasting rather than in the duties 

 of religion. After the above circumstance it becanae 

 necessary for Mr. Simpson, on account of his children's 

 education, to leave his country residence, when he took 

 a house in Edinburgh in a common stair. Speaking of 

 this one day to a friend who had visited him, he con- 

 cluded that he would be obliged to part with his dog, 

 as he was too large an animal to be kept in a house. 

 The animal was present and heard him say so, and must 

 have understood what he meant, as he disappeared that 

 evening, and was never afterwards heard of. These cir- 

 cu.mstances have been related by an elder of Mr. Simp- 

 son's congregation, who had them from himself. 



Another anecdote which I shall relate will corroborate 

 the opinion that intelligent dogs frequently understand 

 what is said about them, and when, on these occasions, 

 threatened with any serious calamity, or something to 

 which they have a decided dislike, immediately act with 

 decision to avoid the impending danger or to frustrate 

 any other plan which would prove to them an annoy- 

 ance. " A captain of an English man-of-war, lying off 



