DOG. 71 



miles, and beyond that at which the ringing 

 of the bells could be ordinarily heard. This was 

 probably an instance of the force of habit, assisted 

 by some association of recollections connected with 

 the movements of the household on that particular 

 day of the week. 



The same lady has communicated to me an anec- 

 dote, somewhat similar to the above, but more ex- 

 traordinary. This related to a poodle dog belonging 

 to a gentleman in Cheshire, which it appears was in 

 the habit of not only going to church, but remain- 

 ing quietly in the pew during service, whether his 

 master was there or not. One Sunday the dam at 

 the head of a lake in that neighbourhood gave way, 

 so that the whole road was inundated. The con- 

 gregation in consequence consisted of a very few, 

 who came from some cottages close by, but nobody 

 attended from the great house. The clergyman in- 

 formed the lady, that, whilst reading the Psalms, he 

 saw his friend, the poodle, come slowly up the aisle 

 dripping with wet, having swam above a quarter of a 

 mile to get to church. He went into the usual 

 pew, and remained quietly there to the end of the 

 service. 



The above lady has also given me the following 

 anecdote of a dog and cat. A little Blenheim spa- 

 niel of hers once accompanied her to the house of 

 a relative, where it was taken into the kitchen to 

 be fed ; on which occasion two large favourite cats 

 flew at it several times, and scratched it severely. 



