The Wilmingtonian., 1823-11-20
THE SHEPHERDS DOG.

IA
valleys or glens which intersect the Gran.
plan mountains, in one of his excursions
to look after his flock. happened to carry
along with him one of his children, an in.
fant Of three years old. This is not an IN,
usual practice among the Highanders,
who accustom their children from Their
earliest infancy to endure the rigors of tho |
climate. After traversing his pastures for |
some time, attended by his dog, the shep.
herd found himself under the necessity Of +
ascending summit at some distance, to
have a more extensive view OF his range.
As the ascent was too fatiguing for the |
child, he left him on a small plain at tho |
bottom, with strict injunctions not to stir +
from it till his return. Scarcely, however.
had he gained the summit, when the hori.
zon was darkened by one of those impen.
|etrabp mists which frequently descend 50
rapidly amid these mountains, as in The
space of few minutes. almost to turn day
Ito night. The anxious father instantly
Ihastened back TO find his child: but owing
to the unusual darkness, and bis own tire.
lpidation, he unfortunately missed his way
lin the descent:-After fruitless search
of many hours, he discovered that he had
reached the bottom of the valley, and was
near his own cottage. To renew the
search that night was equally fruitless and
dangerous, he was therefore compelled to
20 home, although he had lost both his child
and his dog, who had attended him faith
fully for many years. Next morning, BY
break of day, the shepherd, accompanied
I by band of bis neighbours, set out tn
search of his child; but after day spent
| in fruitless fatigue, he was at last compel.
led by the approach Of night, to descend
.Ifrom the mountain. On returning to his
cottage, he found that the dog which he
had lost the day before, had been home
and on receiving piece OF cake, had ln'
!. stantly gone of again. For several sus
/ Icessive days the shepherd renewed the
: search of his child. and still, on returning
home disappointed in the evening, he
found that the dog had been home. and 90
Il, receiving his usual allowance Of cake, had
yinstantly disappeared. Struck with tOl'
elsingular circumstance, he remained al
+ 'lhOme one day; and when the dog, as usu-
: |al, departed with his piece of cake, he
i resolved to follow him, and find out the
t, cause Of this strange procedure. The dog
q led the way to cataract at some dlstan'
~ - from the spot where the shepherd left BIZ
e child. The banks of the cataract are al
most joined and yet separated by an abys
of immense depth, presented that appear
ance which so often astonishes and appal
'f the travellers that frequent the Gramplal
s. mountains. Down one of those ragged
of and almost perpendicular descents, th
t. dog began, without hesitation, to make hi
,eI way, and at last disappeared by enterin
as into cave; the mouth Of which was al
a most level with the torrent. The shep
;hI herd with difficulty followed: but, on en-
I'd tering the cave, what were his emotions
il when he beheid his infant eating wit
Il much satisfaction the cake which the 40
ID had just brought him; while the faithfu
id'animal stood by, eyeing his young charg
u. with the utmost complacency From tn
r situation in which the child was found,
ne appeared that he had wandered to III
lgIbrink of the precipice, and then either IA
he len or scrabbled down till he reached til
tn cave. The dog by means of his scent ha
he traced him to the spot; and afterward
lis prevented him from starving by giving
Vi to him his own daily allowance. He al
atIpears never to have quilted the child
he night or day, except when it was necessar
chit 20 for food and then was always see
lie running at full speed to and from the CO
"a age
SIR WALTER RALEIGH.
Tobacco was frat brou pht into repute