ng charge
with the utmost complacence.

The child had doubtless wandered from the place where he was left by
his father; had fallen over the precipice; had been caught by the
bushes near the cave, and scrambled into it. The dog had either
followed or found him by the scent, and had since prevented him from
starving by giving to him every day his own food.

The faithful, loving creature had never left the child day or night,
except to get the piece of oaten cake; and then the dog went at full
speed, neither stopping by the way, or apparently reserving any of
the cake for himself.

Shall we not, all of us, learn love, fidelity and self-forgetfulness
from such an affectionate and faithful creature?

"I don't believe I could be as good as that dog," said Frank.

"I know I could not," said Harry. "How the shepherd and his wife
must have loved him! If I had been in their place, I should have
treated him like the little boy's brother, and kept him always in
the parlor."

"I dare say they did," said Mrs. Chilton.

There is an anecdote I have lately read, which shows that dogs have
compassion for other dogs, and will help a fellow in distress.

When the ice suddenly melted on a river in Germany, a little dog was
seen on a small piece of ice in the middle of the river. It was not
known how he got into that situation. He set up the most piteous
cries. A large dog who saw him dashed into the river, soon reached
the poor spaniel, seized him by the neck, and brought him safe to
shore, amidst the shouts and praises of the spectators.

Animals, when treated kindly, attach themselves to human beings.
Birds build their nests near the habitations of men. In the wild,
distant woods all is still. One hears no song of birds. In England,
where the robin is courted and made much of, he comes into the house
and takes his food from the table.

In many parts of Europe storks build their nests on the roofs.
Swallows, martins, sparrows and wrens often make their nests under
our roofs. They confide in us, and trust in our friendship and care.
Let us never, my boys, betray or abuse their confidence.

There is a kind of birds who travel all over the United States. They
go from South to North, from North to South. They have not, like the
martins, the bob-o'-links, and some others, regular times for going
and coming; but travel more to obtain food than to escape the
winter, and, when once settled in a place with enough suitable food
and w