Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-03-06
The Shepherds Dog.


A shepherd who inhabited one Of those valleys
or giens which nterscct the Grampian mountains,
in one of his excursions look after his flock, hap
pcncd to carry along with him one of bis Children
an infant of three years old. This is not an unu-
sual practice amongst the Highlanders, WHO accus-
tom their children from the earliest infancy TO en-
dure the rieours of the climate. After traversing
bis pastures for time, attended by his dog the
shepherd found himself under the necessity of
ccnding summit at some distance, to have a more
extensive view of his range. AS the ascent was
too latiguing for the child he l,n him a small
plain at the bottom, with strict injunctons not to
stir from it till his return. Scarcely, however, had
he gained the sIimmit, when the horizon was dark
ened by one of those impenetrah!e mists which fie.
quontlv descend rapidly amidst these mountains,
as, in the space OF few minutes, almost to urn day
TO night. The anxious father instantly FASTENED
back to find his child; but owing to the unusual
darkness, and his own tepilaton, unfortunately
missed his way in the descent. Afer fruitless
search Of many hours, hc discovered that he had
reached the bottom of the valley, and was near his
cottage. TO renew the search that night was equa-
| y fruitless and dangerous, he therefore COM
! PEELED to go home, although he had lost both his
child and his dog, who had attended him faithfully
for many years. Mkt morning 10y break of day,
the shepherd accompanied by band OF his neigh
bors, set out in search Of the child but after day
spent in frutlcss fatigue, he was ut last compelled
by the approach of night to descend from the noun
tain. On his returning home to his cottage be
found that the dog which he lost the day before
had been home and on receiving piece Of cake
had instantly gone off again. For several success
sive days the shepherd renewed his search for hi:
child and still, on returning home disappointed il
the evening, he found that the dog had been home
and on receiving his usual allowance of cake, haC
instantly disappeared. Struck with this singular
circumstance, he remained one dly; and when the
dog as uGsal, departed with his piece of cake, he
resolved to follow him, and find out the cause o
this strange procedure. The dog led the way to q
cataract at some distance from the spot where the
shepherd had left his child. The banks of the cal.
aract almost joined at the top, yet separated by al
Cbyss ofimmeuse depth, presented that appearance
which so often us,onshcs and appas The travellers
| that rroono... - '-...r n'"Hntae' hO'" 0"e
Of those rugged, and almost perpendicular descents
the dog began without hesitation to make his way
and at last disappeared by entering into cave, the
mouth of which was almost level with the torrent
The shepherd, with difficulty, followed, but on en-
tcring the cave what his emotions when hf
behcld his infant eating with much satisfaction th'
cake which the dog had just brought him, whl'
the faithful animal stood by, eycng his youn:
charge with the utmost compIaIsance! From th'
situation in which the ,hill was found, it appeare,
that he had wandered 10 the pIecipice and ther
either fallen or scrambled down Till he reached III
cave. The dog by means Of his scent, had trace,
him to the spot; and afterwards prevented him from
starving, 10y giving up to Inn his own daily allow
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