The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-19
Dog supplyIng Food 70 . Lost Child

Dog supplying Food 10 q Lost Child.
One OF the most striking instances which
We have heard. say the Messrs. Chambers in
heir g Anecdotes OF Dogs," OF sagac:ty and
personal attachment in the shepherds dog,
occurred about q fali-century ago among
The Grampian mountains. In one OF bis
excursions to his distant fiocks shepherd
took with him one Of his children. After
the hills for some time, attended
by his dog, the shepherd found himself
under the necessity OF ascending sum-
nit some distance to have moce extern
siye view. OF his range. As the ascent
was too fatiguing for the child he lett
him on a small plain at the bottom,
with the strict injunction not to stir
from iE till his return. Scarcely, how.
ever, had he gained the summit when
the horizon was suddenly darkened by one
OF those impenetrable mists which frequent
ly descend so rapidly amid these mountains
as, in the space of few minutes. almost to
turn day into night. The anxious father
instantly fastened back to find his child,
but, owing to the unusual darkness and bis
own trepidation, he unfortunately missed
his wav in the descent. After frultless
search Of many hours among the dangerous
morasses and cataracts with when tnese
mountains abound be was at last oYertaken
by night. Still wandering on without
Knowing whittier, he at length came TO the
verge OF mist, and by the light OF the moon
discovered that he had reached the bottom
of the valley, and was within short dlstan &c
OF his cottage. TO renew the search thaG
night was equally fruitless and DANGER
Gus. He was therefore obliged TO return 70
his cottage, having lost both his child and
bis dou which had attended him faith
fully for wears. Next morning by day
hreak the Shepherd, accompanied by band
Of his negbbors, set out in search OF MS
child: but, after day spent in fruitless Ia
tisue, he was at last compelled by the ap-
nroach of night to descend from the noun.
iain. On returning to his cottase he 1ounu
that the dog which he had lost the DAY De-
fore had been home, and, on receiving a
niece OF cake, had instantly started on
again. For several successive days the
sheDherd renewed the search for his child,
and still on returning at evening dlsap-
nointed to his cottage he found that the dog
had been home, and on receiving his usual
allowance OF cake had instantly disappear
ed. Struck with this singular circumstance,
he remained at home one day, and when the
dog as usual departed with his piece OF cake
he resolved to follow him and find out the
cause of his 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 cataract almost Joined at the top, yet,
separated by an abyss of an immense depth,
presented that appearance which so often
astonishes and appals the travellers who
frequent the Grampian mountains, and
indicate that these stupendous chasms
were not the silent work OF time,
but the sudden effect OF some vio-
lent CONFUSION Of the earth. Down one
of those rugged and almost perpendicular
descents the dog began without hesitation
to make his way, an at last disappeared into
a cave, the mouth OF which was almost
upon a level with the torrent. The shepherd
with difficulty followed, but on entering the
cave what were his emotions when he be-
held his child eating with much satisfaction
the cake which the dog has Just brought him,
while the faithful animal stood by cycling his
Young charge with the utmost competence.
From,the situation in which the child was
found it appears that he had wandered to
the brink OF the precipice, and then either
fallen or scrambled down till he reached the
cave, which the dread OF the torrent bad
aiterward prevented him from quitting.
The dog, by means of his scent, had traced
him to the spot, and afterwards prevented
him from starving by giving up to him his
own daily allowance. He appeared never
to have quilted the child by night or day
except when it was necessary to go for bis
food. and then he was always seen running
at full speed to and from the cottage.