

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 189 



the tail of his coat, who was entering the window 

 of a conservatory on the first floor, and brought 

 down the flaps between his teeth. Nor did this 

 trophy content him; for utterly disdaining a bit of 

 poisoned meat thrown at him, he pointed and yelped 

 at the thief, till the alarm was given and the fellow 

 discovered. The same dog permitted a robin, through 

 a whole winter, to take shelter in his den. It was 

 a most singular spectacle to witness; for so much 

 familiarity, and, as it seemed, affection, grew up be- 

 tween them, that, while Robin hopped and chirped 

 about between his shaggy paws, or upon his head 

 and body, our Newfoundland would stand or lie per- 

 fectly still, his small, brown eyes winking and blink- 

 ing, and his well-clothed tail gently wagging to and 

 fro with satisfaction. A feat of this dog deserves com- 

 memoration. A boy, belonging to the house, had not 

 returned home at the usual hour, to the great alarm 

 of his mother. The dog above mentioned, seem- 

 ing to share in the general disturbance, followed the 

 servant, sent in one direction, to seek out the truant ; 

 but soon distanced and lost sight of him, and was the 

 first to discover the boy's apparel on the water's edge, 

 and, a few minutes after, the boy himself in the river, 

 who was then sinking. The noble animal plunged 

 in, and rescued the child, who, it appeared, had run 

 off with his elder brother's corks, and, being of a 

 determined and independent character, had ventured 

 to swim by himself. At the moment of time of the 

 dog's approach, he had got embarrassed and en- 



