gling with his travelling companion. On being overpowered, the
stranger confessed that he had come for the purpose of stealing the
traveller's money, being aware that he had a considerable sum with him.

You have not the instinct which has been given to some dogs, and which
enables them, for their master's protection, to detect persons
harbouring evil intentions towards them; but when you meet with a boy or
man careless in his conversation, a swearer, or expressing irreligious
or immoral opinions, however courteous and agreeable he may otherwise
be, do not associate with him a moment longer than you can help, or he
will rob you of what is of far more value than a purse of gold.

THE DOG HOLDING THE THIEF.

A dog of the Highland breed, belonging to Lord Arbuthnot, treated a
thief in much the same way as my friend's dog did the robber of his
apple-orchard.

The servants, going out one morning, found a man lying on the ground, a
short way from the stable, with a number of bridles and other
horse-trappings near him, and the dog holding him by the trousers.
Directly the servants appeared the dog let go his hold, when the man
confessed that the dog had thus held him for five hours.

When a bad thought or desire steals into your heart, or, properly
speaking, rises in it, hold it down, as the dog did the thief, till you
are able to rid yourself of it.

THE FAITHLESS WATCH-DOG.

Faithful as dogs are in general, I am sorry to have to record an
instance to the contrary.

A watch-dog, whose special duty was to remain at his post during the
night, found that his collar was sufficiently loose to allow him to
withdraw his head from it whenever he pleased. He acted as some human
beings do whose right principles do not fit tightly to their necks--
slipping out of them at the very time they ought to keep them on. The
dog was, however, sagacious enough to know that if he did so during the
day he would be seen by his master, when to a certainty the collar would
be tightened. But no sooner did night arrive, and the lights began to
disappear from the windows, than he used to slip his head out of his
collar, and roam about the neighbouring fields, sometimes picking up a
hare or rabbit for his supper.

Knowing also that the blood on his mouth would betray him, he would,
after his banquet, go to a stream and wash it off. This done, he would
return before daybreak to his kennel, and slipping his head into his
collar, lie down in