299 
A Life Preserver. 
A MARINE who had just joined the ship, and who was unac¬ 
quainted with the excellent qualities of the dog, endeavoured, 
while bathing, to entice him from his station into the water. 
The noble animal paid no attention to his invitation. One of 
the crew told the marine, that if he swam out of the sail, and 
would call out as if in distress, and suit the action to the word, 
Mr. Boatswain would certainly obey his summons. The marine 
took the hint, got out of the sail, and began to enact the part of 
a drowning man to perfection. The dog instantly sprang into 
the water, with his ears erect, and his eyes flashing fire from 
intense anxiety. Away he swam for the soldier, who, on the ap¬ 
proach of his canine friend, began to have some misgivings as to 
the wisdom of his proceedings. He became alarmed lest the 
dog should seize him, which manoeuvre Boatswain appeared re¬ 
solved to execute. His fears increased the dog’s endeavours to 
effect his purpose; and, finally, he roared outmost lustily for help 
from his shipmates. The louder the poor devil sung out, the 
more determined was the sagacious brute to seize him; and he 
very soon accomplished his purpose, and grasping him firmly by 
the hair at the back of the neck, and twisting his face towards 
the heavens, brought him alongside, amidst the convulsive roars of 
laughter of the whole of the ship’s company, and the piteous 
cries of the jolly marine. Boatswain would not resign his hold 
till the frightened man was assisted up the side: the bite of a 
rope being placed overboard for his conductor, he placed his fore 
legs in it up to his shoulders, and holding himself stiff out, was 
hauled up, and calmly resumed his watch, as if nothing had hap¬ 
pened.— Scott^s Recollections of a Naval Life. 
Parental Affection in a Hen. 
A GENTLEMAN in the Haugh had a hen with thirteen chickens, 
about three weeks old, which were occasionally indulged with a 
ramble in the garden. During the height of the flood, the hen¬ 
house was surrounded with water, and the brood were confined 
for two days. On Friday the hen was observed walking out of 
her prison-house with four of the chickens on her back, which 
she deposited on a dry spot in the garden. She returned, knee- 
deep in the water, fora second freight; and, having lowered her¬ 
self to enable the young ones to Uike their passage on her back. 
