88 HILLS AND LAKES. 



things, save the dog alone, seems to regard man as 

 their nateral enemy. The little trout, even, that suns 

 himself in the ripple, darts away from his presence, 

 and. hides himself under the bank. Is it because he is 

 always warring against 'em? Killing 'em for his 

 pleasure, or enslaving 'em for his profit? I all'ers 

 tho't that the love of unrestrained freedom, was a 

 nateral element in all livin' things, strong as life it- 

 self. The moose scents a man afar off, and hides him* 

 self away in the deepest recesses of the forest, or the 

 darkest shadows of the swamps. The painter, unless 

 made bold by hunger, lays silent and still in his lair 

 to escape him. The bird takes to his wings, and flies 

 away from him. Among all the wild or tame ani- 

 mals, the dog alone seems to regard him as a friend 

 and protector, and stays willingly by him, as a con 

 fidin' and faithful servant, watchin' over his safety, 

 and lookin' to him for protection. By the way, Squire, 

 the dog is an animal that a man may take profitable 

 lessons of. He never deceives his friend and master. 

 He never ceases to love him ; when all other friends 

 forsake and flee from him, he stands by him. In 

 hunger and cokl, in sickness and distress, he never 

 leaves him. All he asks is food, and even that isn't 



