s from town. He played and
frolicked about him till he had obtained one of his gloves, with which
he ran or rather flew home, entered the house, laid it down in the
middle of the room, and danced round it. When he had sufficiently
amused himself in this manner, out of the house he flew, returned to
meet his master, and ran before him, or gambolled by his side, till he
arrived with him at home. "I know not (says Mr. Dibdin, who relates
this anecdote), how frequently this was repeated; but it lasted till
the old gentleman grew infirm, and incapable of continuing his
journeys. The dog by this time was also grown old, and became at
length blind; but this misfortune did not hinder him from fondling his
master, whom he knew from every other person, and for whom his
affection and solicitude rather increased than diminished. The old
gentleman, after a short illness, died. The dog knew the
circumstance, watched the corpse, blind as he was, and did his utmost
to prevent the undertaker from screwing up the body in the coffin, and
most outrageously opposed its being taken out of the house. Being past
hope, he grew disconsolate, lost his flesh, and was evidently verging
towards his end. One day he heard a gentleman come into the house, and
he ran to meet him. His master being old and infirm, wore ribbed
stockings for warmth. The gentleman had stockings on of the same kind.
The dog perceived it, and thought it was his master, and began to
exhibit the most extravagant signs of pleasure; but upon further
examination finding his mistake, he retired into a corner, where in a
short time he expired."

Some dogs are so faithful that they will never quit a thing entrusted
to their charge, and will defend it to the utmost of their power. This
may be often observed in the case of a cur, lying on the coat of a
labourer while he is at work in the fields, and in those of carriers'
and bakers' dogs. An instance is on record of a chimney-sweeper having
placed his soot-bag in the street under the care of his dog, who
suffered a cart to drive over and crush him to death, sooner than
abandon his charge. Colonel Hamilton Smith, in the "Cyclopaedia of
Natural History," mentions a curious instance of fidelity and sagacity
in a dog. He informs us that "in the neighbourhood of Cupar, in the
county of Fife, there lived two dogs, mortal enemies to each other,
and who always fought desperately whenever they met. Capt. R---- was
the master of one of them, and