Unlike other creatures, he voluntarily abandons the companionship of his own species becomes a deserter from their camp-and, enlisting himself as a humble member of human society, is found a willing and loving servant, the companion and friend of his master. Unlearned in virtue, or any of the ordinary actions which command popular approbation, the dog, from the promptings of his own feelings alone practises the most perfect integrity. Uncalculating as regards his own comfort or convenience he is found adhering to his master through all shades of fortune, even unto disgrace, penury, and want. Nor will any temptation make him abandon the fond and stricken object of his undying affection. A long course of domestication and peculiar treatment have divided the canine race into nearly a hundred varieties, all less or more distinct as respects size, appearance, and special qualities and dispositions; yet no kind of cultivation has altered, nor can misusage obliterate, the leading features of the animal. The character of the dog for tractability, attachment, general docility to his master's interest, and benevolence, remains the same.

*

When wise Ulysses, from his native coast
Long kept by wars, and long by tempests tost,
Arrived at last, poor, old, disguised, alone,
To all his friends, and e'en his Queen unknown;
Chang'd as he was, with age, and toils, and cares,
Furrow'd his rev'rend face, and white his hairs,
In his own palace forc'd to ask his bread,
Scorn'd by those slaves his former bounty fed,
Forgot of all his own domestic crew,
The faithful dog alone his master knew.

From Chambers's Miscellany.

Unfed, unhoused, neglected on the clay,
Like an old servant now cashier'd he lay;
Touch'd with resentment of ungrateful man,
And longing to behold his ancient Lord again,
Him when he saw-he rose, and crawl'd to meet,
('Twas all he could) and fawn'd, and kiss'd his feet,
Seiz'd with dumb joy-then falling by his side,
Own'd his returning Lord, look'd up, and dy'd!

-POPE'S HOMER.

FAITHFUL DOG.

After the execution of Sabinus, his body was exposed upon a precipice, as a warning to all who would dare to act as he had done. No friend had courage to approach. the body; one friend only remained true-his faithful dog. For three days the animal continued to watch the body. His pathetic howlings awakened the sympathy of every heart. Food was brought him, which he was kindly encouraged to eat; but on taking the bread, instead of obeying the impulse of hunger, he fondly laid it on his master's mouth, and renewed his lamentations, but did not quit the body. The corpse was at length thrown into the river, and the faithful creature leaped into the water after it, and clasped it between his paws, vainly endeavouring to prevent it from sinking.

THE OLD SHEPHERD'S DOG.

The old shepherd's dog, like his master, was gray,
His teeth all departed, and feeble his tongue ;
Yet where'er Corin went, he was follow'd by Tray;
Thus happy through life did they hobble along.

When fatigued, on the grass the shepherd would lie, For a nap in the sun-'midst his slumbers so sweet, His faithful companion crawl'd constantly nigh,

Placed his head on his lap, or lay down at his feet. When Winter was heard on the hill and the plain, And torrents descended, and cold was the wind, If Corin went forth 'mid the tempests and rain, Tray scorn'd to be left in the chimney behind. At length, in the straw Tray made his last bedFor vain, against Death, is the stoutest endeavour; To lick Corin's hand he rear'd up his weak head, Then fell back, closed his eyes, and ah! closed them for ever.

Not long after Tray did the Shepherd remain, Who oft over his grave with true sorrow would bend;

And, when dying, thus feebly was heard the poor swain,

"O bury me, neighbours, beside my old friend !"* -PINDAR.

Trust not a horse's heel, nor a dog's tooth.

THE EAGLE AND THE ASSEMBLY
OF ANIMALS.

(A FABLE).

As Jupiter's all-seeing eye

Survey'd the worlds beneath the sky,
From this small speck of earth were sent
Murmurs and sounds of discontent;

For everything alive complain'd
That he the hardest life sustained.

From the Poetry of Nature by H. Weir.

Jove calls his Eagle. At the word
Before him stands the royal bird.
The bird, obedient, from heaven's height
Downward directs his rapid flight;
Then cited ev'ry living thing

To hear the mandates of his king.

Ungrateful creatures! whence arise
These murmurs which offend the skies?
Why this disorder? say the cause;
For just are Jove's eternal laws.
Let each his discontent reveal;
To you sour Dog I first appeal.

Hard is my lot the Hound replies;

On what fleet nerves the Greyhound flies;
While I, with weary step and slow,

O'er plains, and vales, and mountains go.
The morning sees my chase begun,
Nor ends it till the setting sun.

When (says the Greyhound) I pursue,
My game is lost, or caught in view;
Beyond my sight, the prey's secure ;
The Hound is slow, but always sure!
And had I his sagacious scent,
Jove ne'er had heard my discontent.

The Lion craved the Fox's art;
The Fox the Lion's force and heart;
The Cock implor'd the pigeon's flight,
Whose wings were rapid, strong and light;
The Pigeon strength of wing despis'd,
And the Cock's matchless valour prized;
The Fishes wished to graze the plain;
The beasts to skim beneath the main.

Thus, envious of another's state,
Each blamed the partial hand of Fate.
The bird of Heaven then cried aloud:
Jove bids disperse the murm'ring crowd;
The God rejects your idle prayers;
Would ye, rebellious mutineers,
Entirely change your name and nature,
And be the very envied creature?
What! silent all, and none consent?
Be happy then, and learn content :
Nor imitate the restless mind,
And proud ambition of mankind.

ANECDOTE OF AN ELEPHANT.

-GAY.

An officer in the Bengal army had a very fine and favourite elephant, which was supplied daily in his presence with a certain allowance of food, but being compelled to absent himself on a journey, the keeper of the beast diminished the ration of food, and the animal became daily thinner and weaker. When its master returned, the elephant exhibited the greatest signs of pleasure; the feeding time came and the keeper laid before it the former full allowance of food, which it divided into two parts, consuming one immediately and leaving the other untouched. The officer knowing the sagacity of his favourite, saw immediately the fraud that had been practised, and made the man confess his crime.*

An elephant in Ajmeer, which passed frequently through the market, as he went by a certain herb-woman, always received from her a mouthful of greens. At

From King's Wonderful Things.