102 ANECDOTES. 



scious that the principal part of his duty was yet to be performed, anxiously led the 

 way, and conducted the agitated parents to the spot where their son laid, over- 

 whelmed with pain , increased by the awful uncertainty of his situation . By good hap 

 the search was successfully effected before the day was entirely spent, when the 

 young man, being removed to his home, his recovery ensued in the usual course, 

 and he was afterwards, and such pleasure may extend to the present moment, never 

 more pleasingly engaged, than when reciting the sagacity and affection of his 

 faithful follower and constant companion. 



In a late occurrence near Guildford in Surrey, the shepherd-dog 1 made an erro*- 

 neons and most unfortunate use of his peculiar instinctive faculty. A flock of 

 sheep in a field were driven -by a dog into a pit ; the dog it may be presumed, 

 instinctively feeling it his duty to keep and guard them as in a place of safety, 

 confined them, we believe, throughout the night. In the morning, between one 

 and two hundred of them were found smothered to death, from being wedged so 

 closely tog-ether. 



The following relation we had from the well known Running Shepherd, during 

 our former residence in Middlesex. A farmer who lived near Harrow-weald 

 Common, purchased a lot of sheep at Kingston Fair, of a jobber in that vicinity, 

 and one of the conditions was, that the Jobber's dog, to which the farmer took a 

 particular fancy, should be thrown into the bargain. The farmer took home his 

 sheep and dog, committing the flock, at evening tide, to the care of the latter. 

 On rising in the morning to inspect his new purchase, to his astonishment and 

 mortification, he could see neither sheep nor clog, but very plainly which way they 

 escaped, the gate of the field being wide open. The supposition that they were 

 stolen \vas heart-breaking to him, being a man in narrow circumstances. Having 

 searched the neighbourhood in vain, it very properly occurred to him, that his next 

 starch ought to be in the direction whence the sheep came, and he found them all 

 safe and sound within a few miles of Kingston, the faithful dog driving them so- 

 berly and carefully along, towards the residence of his old Master. 



