The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-02-15
THE SHEPHERDS DOG-A LOST
CHILD.

the valleys or glens which intersects
the Grampian mountains, in one of
his excursions to lock after his flock,
happened to carry along with him
one of his children, boy of three
years old. This is not an unusual
practice among the Highlanders, who
accustom their children, from the
earliest infancy, to endure the rigors
of the climate. After traversing his
pastures for some time, attended by
his dog, the shepherd 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 the bottom, with strict in
functions not to stir from it till his
return. Scarcely, however, had he
gained the summit, when the horizon
was darkened by one of those i'm
penetrable mists which frequently
descend so rapidly amidst these
mountains, as, in the space of a few
minutes, almost to turn day to night.
The anxious father instantly fastened
back to find his child; but, owing to
the unusual darkness and his own
trepidation, unfortunately missed his
way in the descent. After fruitless
search Of many hours, he discovered
that he had reached the bottom of
the valley, and was near his own cot
tage To renew the search that
night was equally frultless and dan
gerous: he was therefore compelled
to 60 home, although he had lost
both his child and his dog, who had
attended him faithfully for many
years. Next morning by break Of
day, the shepherd, accompanied by
band of his neighbors, set out in
search Of his child; but after a day
spent in fruitless fatigue, he was at
last compelled, by the approach of
night, to descend from the mountain.
On his returning home 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
instantly gone off again. For several
successive days the shepherd renew
ed his search for his child, and still,
on returning home disappointed in
the evening, he found that the dog
had been home, and on receiving his
usual allowance of cake, had instant
ly disappeared. Struck with this sin
gular 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 this strange pro-
cedure. The dog led the way TO a
cataract at some distance from the
spot where the shepherd had left his
child. The banks Of the cataract al
most joined at the top, yet, separated
by an abyss of immense depth, pre-
sented that appearance which so
often astonishes and appals the ira
velers that frequent the Grampian
mountains. Down one of those rug
ged and almost perpendicular des-
cents the dog began, without hesita-
ton, to make his way, and at last
disappeared by entering into a cave,
the mouth of which was almost level
with the torrent. The. shepherd with
difficulty followed, but on entering
the cave, what were his emotions
when he beheld his boy eating with
much satisfaction the cake which the
dog had just brought him, while the
faithful animal stood by, eyeing his
young charge with the utmost COM
plaisance. From the situation tn
which the child was found, it appear
ed that he had wandered to the
brink of the precipice, and then
either fallen or scrambled down till
he reached the cave. 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.