Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-10-20
THE HIGHLANDER'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 ofthree years old.
This is not an unusual practice among
the Highlanders, who accustom their
children from their earliest infancy, TO
endure the rigors Of the climate. Alter
traversing the pastures for some time
with his dog, the shepherd found himself
under the necessity of ascending sum
init Of some distance, to have more ex-
tensive view of his range. AS the as
cent was too fatiguing for the child, ne
left him on a small plain at the bottom,
eniOining him not TO stir from It, till his
return. Scarcely however, had he gam
ed the summit, when the horizon was
darkened by one Of those impenetrable
misls, which frequently descend SO ra-
pdly amidst the mountains, as almost IN
few minutes, to turn day into night.
The anxious father instantly hastened
back to find his child; but owing to the
great darkness, and his own trepIdaton'
he unfortunately missed his way in the
dark. After fruitless search for many
hours, he discovered that he had roached
the bottom Of the valley, and was near
his own cottage. To renew the search
that night was equally fruitless; he was,
therefore, compelled TO go home. Altho
he had lost both his child and his dog,
which had faithfully attended him Tor ma
years. Next morning by break oil DAY,
the shepherd, accompanied'by band OF
his neghbors, set out to seek the child,
but after day spent in fruitless fatigue
he was at last, compelled by tho approach
ofnight, 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 ol
oat cake, had instantly gone off again. =
struck with this singular circumstance, he
remained at home tho next day, and as
before, when the dog returned for hi'
piece Of cake, he resolved to follow hin
and find out the cause ofhis strange pro
ceduTe.
The dog made his way to the catarac
at some distance, where the shepherd ha'
left his child. The banks of the catarac
almost joined at the top; yet separated b.
an abyss Ofimpenetrable depth, presented
that appearance which so often astonish
es and appals the travellers who t!equen
Grampian Mountains.
Down ono Of those rugged, and al
most perpendicular descent-tht
faithful dog. without hesitation, be
gan 10 make his way, and at length dis
Sppeu,ed by enteringa cavc, the moutl
Of which was almost level with the tor
rent. The shepherd with difficulty fol
lowed, but on entering, what we're hi:
emotions, when he found the infant eating
with the utmost coolness, the very breaC
that the dog had conveyed to it,
while the faithful animal stood by, eyein
his young charge with the utmost compl'
cency.-From the situation in which. tn
child was found, it would have apPeore
that he had wandered to the brink OF tn
precipco, and had either fallen or scran
bleddown, TIL he had reached the cav
The dog by his scent had traced him
his retreat, and afterwards preserved hi
from starving, BY giving him his own dali
allowance. appears never to haV
leit the child dag or night, except whe
II was necessary TO seek iov food, an
then he was always going in full speet
10 and from the cottage. Such instance
rof canine fidelity are not unfrC
auent among those dogs Of the Grampa
Hills. who fall but little short Of the T
nowned saaacitysof the dogs ofst Be
Dard. go