,
as the clock of the minster struck eight, to take in his mouth a basket
containing a certain number of pence, and to carry it across the street
to the shop of a baker, who took out the money, and replaced it by its
value in rolls. With these Neptune hastened back to the kitchen, and
speedily deposited his trust.

It is remarkable that he never attempted to take the basket, nor even to
approach it, on Sunday mornings, when no rolls were to be obtained.

On one occasion, when returning with the rolls, another dog made an
attack upon the basket, for the purpose of stealing its contents. On
this the trusty fellow, placing it on the ground, severely punished his
assailant, and then bore off his charge in triumph.

He met his death--with many other dogs in the place--from poison, which
was scattered about the town by a semi-insane person, in revenge for
some fancied insult he had received from the inhabitants.

Like trusty Neptune, deserve the confidence placed in you, by battling
bravely against all temptations to act dishonestly. Your friends may
never know of your efforts to do so, but your own peace of mind will be
reward enough.

THE AFFECTIONATE POODLE.

A gentleman residing at Dresden possessed a poodle which he had always
treated kindly, and which was especially fond of him. He at length,
however, made a present of her to a friend living about nine miles off.
It being supposed that she would probably try to return to her former
master, she was tied up till she became the mother of three young
puppies; and so devoted to them did she appear, that her new owner no
longer feared she would quit him. He therefore gave her her liberty.

Shortly afterwards, however, she and the three puppies were missing.
Search was made for them in vain. At length her master's Dresden friend
paid him a visit, and told him that on the preceding evening the poodle
had arrived at his house with one of her puppies in her mouth, and that
another had been found dead on the road.

It appeared that she had started at night, carrying the pups--which were
still too young to walk--one at a time, a certain distance, intending to
go back for the others. She had hoped thus to transfer them all to her
former much-loved home. The third puppy was never found. The one that
died had perished by cold, it being the winter season.

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG AND THE HATS.

In sagacity, the Newfoundland surpasses dogs of all other breeds.

Two ge