prey, crouch submissively at his feet; fawn upon him, as a faithful dog would do upon his master; and rejoice over him, as a mother that unexpectedly recovers her offspring.

The governor of the town, who was present, then called out with a loud voice, and ordered Androcles to explain to them this great mystery,-how a savage beast, of the fiercest and most unpitying nature, could thus in a moment have forgotten his innate disposition, and become a harmless and inoffensive animal.

Androcles then related to the assembly every circumstance of his adventures in the woods, and concluded by saying, that the very lion which now stood before them had been his friend and entertainer.

All the persons present were astonished and delighted with the story-to find that even the fiercest beasts. are capable of being softened by gratitude, and moved by compassion; and they unanimously joined to entreat for the pardon of the unhappy man from the governor of the place. This was immediately granted to him; and he was also presented with the lion, that had in this manner twice saved the life of Androcles.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE.

A FORWARD hare, of swiftness vain,
The genius of the neighbouring plain,
Would oft deride the drudging crowd,-
For geniuses are ever proud.

He'd boast his flight 'twere vain to follow,

For dog and horse he'd beat them hollow,

Nay, if he put forth all his strength,
Outstrip his brethren half a length!
A tortoise heard his vain oration,
And vented thus his indignation:
"O puss! it bodes thee dire disgrace
When I defy thee to the race.
Come, 'tis a match;-nay, no denial,
I lay my shell upon the trial."

'Twas 'done' and 'done,' 'all fair," a bet,' Judges prepared, and distance set.

The scampering hare outstripped the wind;
The creeping tortoise lagged behind,
And scarce had passed a single pole
When puss had almost reached the goal.
"Friend tortoise," quoth the jeering hare,
"Your burden's more than you can bear;
To help your speed it were as well
That I should ease you of your shell!
Jog on a little faster, prithee;

I'll take a nap and then be with thee."
The tortoise heard his taunting jeer,
But still resolved to persevere ;-
On to the goal securely crept,
While puss, unknowing, soundly slept.
The bets were won, the hare awoke,
When thus the victor tortoise spoke :
Puss, though I own thy quicker parts,
Things are not always done by starts;
You may deride my awkward pace;
But slow and steady wins the race."

LLOYD.

ANECDOTES OF DOGS.

PART I.

THERE is no period of time recorded by history in which we do not find the dog the friend and the servant of man; nor is there any literature which does not contain some tribute to his faithfulness and sagacity.

The savage, roaming over the pathless wilderness, and dependent upon the animals in the forest and the fish in the streams for his daily food, and the civilized man, dwelling in a comfortable house in a town or village, agree in the attachment they feel for their four-footed friends. Many men of great

eminence in literature and science have been remarkable for their fondness for dogs; and not a few poets have sung the praises of particular specimens of the race. Sir Walter Scott was strongly attached to them, and had one or more of them about him at all times during his life. In one of his works he thus speaks of them: "The Almighty, who gave the dog to be the companion of our pleasures and our toils, has invested him with a nature noble and incapable of deceit. He forgets neither friend nor foe; remembers, and with accuracy, both benefit and injury. He has a share of man's intelligence, but no share of man's falsehood. You may bribe a soldier to slay a man with his sword, or a witness to take life by false accusation, but you cannot make a dog tear his benefactor. He is the friend of man, save when man justly incurs his enmity."

A long course of domestication, and peculiar modes

of training and rearing, have divided the canine race into nearly a hundred varieties; many of which show marked difference in size and appearance. The savage bull-dog seems hardly to belong to the same race as the delicate lap-dog, that sleeps on the rug, and is washed and combed by its fair mistress almost as carefully as an infant. The swift and slim greyhound looks very little like the sturdy and squarebuilt mastiff. But there are certain traits of character which, in a greater or less degree, are common to all the kinds. Sagacity, docility, benevolence, a capacity to receive instruction, and attachment to his master's person, are qualities which belong to the whole race. Many anecdotes are to be found in books, illustrating the virtues and intelligence of the dog, from which we have made a selection for the entertainment of our young readers.

Many instances nave been recorded in which persons have been saved from drowning by dogs, especially by those of the Newfoundland breed, which have a natural love of the water. A vessel was once driven by a storm on the coast of Kent, in England. Eight men were calling for help, but not a boat could be got off to their assistance. At length a gentleman came on the beach accompanied by his Newfoundland dog. He directed the attention of the noble animal to the vessel, and put a short stick into his mouth. The intelligent and courageous dog at once understood his meaning, and sprang into the sea, fighting his way through the foaming waves. He could not, however, get close enough to the vessel to deliver that with which he was charged, but the crew joyfully made fast a rope to another piece of

The sagacious dog

wood, and threw it towards him. saw the whole business in an instant; he dropped his own piece, and immediately seized that which had been cast to him; and then, with a degree of strength and determination almost incredible, he dragged it through the surge, and delivered it to his master. By this means a line of communication was formed, and every man on board saved.

A person, while rowing a boat, pushed his Newfoundland dog into the stream. The animal followed the boat for some time, till, probably finding himself fatigued, he endeavoured to get into it by placing his feet on the side. His owner repeatedly pushed the dog away; and in one of his efforts to do so, he lost his balance and fell into the river, and would probably have been drowned, had not the affectionate and generous animal immediately seized and held him above water till assistance arrived from the shore.

A boatman once plunged into the water to swim with another man for a wager. His Newfoundland dog, mistaking the purpose, and supposing that his master was in danger, plunged in after him, and dragged him to the shore by his hair, to the great diversion of the spectators.

Nor are the good offices of dogs to man displayed only on the water. A young man in the north of England, while he was tending his father's sheep, had the misfortune to fall and break his leg. He was three miles from home, in an unfrequented spot, where no one was likely to come; evening was fast approaching, and he was in great pain from the fracture. In this sad condition, he folded one of his gloves in a pocket-handkerchief, fastened