The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-25
The IIiyhlandCr's Dog.

A shepherd, who inhabited one of those
glens, which intersect the Grampian
Mountains of Scotland, in one of his ex-
cursions to look after his flock, carried
along with him, child of three years cid.
This is not an unusual practice among
the Highlanders, who accrstom their
children from their earliest infancy, to
endure the rigors of the climate. After
traversing the pastures for some time
with his dog, the shepherd found himself
under the necessity OF ascending sum-
nit of some distance, to have a more
extensive view of his range. As the as
cent was too iatiguing for the child, he
left him on small plain at the bottom,
enjonlng him not to stir from it, till his
return. Scarcely, however, had he gain
ed the summit, when the horizon was
darkcncd by one Of those impenetrabe
mists, which frequently descend so rapid
ly amidst the mountains, as almost in a
few minutes, TO turn day into night
The anxious father Instantly FASTENED
back to find his child but owing 10 the
great darkness, and his own trepidation,
he unfortunately missed his way in the
dark. After a iruitless search for 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 trui,lcss he was,
therefore, compelled 10 go home. Allho'
he had lost both his child and his dog.
which had faithfully attended him for ma
ny years. Next morning, by break OF
day, the shepherd, accompanied by a
band of his neighbors, set out TO secl, the
child, but after day spent in frulless
fatigue, he was at last compelled by the
approach Of night, to descend from the
mountain.-On returning to his cottage,
he found that the dog he had lost two
days before, had been home, and on
receiving piece of oat cake, had Instant
ly gone of gain.-Struck with tins sin
gular circumstance, he remained al home
the next day, and as before, when the dog
returned for his piece of cake. he resolved
to follow him and find out the cause OF
his strange procedure.
The dog made his way to the cataract
at some distance, whore the shepherd had
left his child. The banks of the cataract
almost joined at the top; yet separated
by an abyss of impenc,rablc depth, pre-.
scented that appearance which so often
astonishes and appals the travellers who
frequent the Grampian Mountains.
Down one Of those rugged, and almost
perpendicular descents, the dog, without
hesitation, began to make his way, and at
length disappeared by entering cave;
the mouth of which was almost level with
the torrent. The shepherd with difficulty
followed but on entering, what were his
emotions, when he found the infan, eating
with the utmost GOODNESS, the very bread
that the dog had conveyed to it-whiIe
the faithful animal stood by, cycling his
young charge with the utmost ccuIplacen.
cy.-From the situation IN which the
child was found, it would have appeared
that he had wandered to the brink of the
prccipiee, and had either fallen or scramb-
led down, till he had reached the cave.
The dog by his scent had traced him tn
his retreat, and afterwards preserved him
from starving, by giving him his own
daily allowance.--He appears never to
have left the child day or night, except
when IT was necessary to seek for food,
and then he was always going in full
speed, to and from the cottage. Such
instances Of canine fidelity are NOT unfre'