quietly
picking up the bag, proceeded peaceably on his wonted way. The man
followed, ineffectually attempting to coax the dog to give up the bag.
At the first house at which he arrived, the people comforted him by
telling him that the dog always carried the bag. Bass walked with the
man to all the houses at which he delivered letters, and along the road,
till he came to the gate of Saint Margaret's, where he dropped the bag
and returned home.

Accounts exist of the services rendered by these noble dogs of Saint
Bernard in saving life among the snowy regions of the Alps. It is
recounted that one of these dogs preserved twenty-two lives. He at
length lost his own in an avalanche, when those he was endeavouring to
assist also perished.

THE DOG AND THE NEWSPAPER.

Several dogs have been taught to go to the post-office for their
masters' newspapers, or to receive them from the newsman.

A neighbour of mine, who was fond of telling good stories--which he did
not always, perhaps, expect his guests to believe--used to give an
account of the cleverness of one of his dogs. The dog went regularly
every morning into the neighbouring town for the _Times_, and brought it
back before breakfast. This was a fact.

On one occasion the dog returned without a paper,--so my neighbour used
to tell the story. His master sent him back again, when he once more
appeared with no paper in his mouth. On this the owner ordered his cob,
and rode into the town to inquire of the postmaster why the paper had
not come. "Sir," answered the postmaster, "your _Times_ did not arrive
this morning; but when I offered the dog the _Morning Post_ he refused
to receive it."

THE STEADY POINTER.

It is wonderful how completely dogs can be trained to the performance of
their duties.

A well-practised pointer was about to leap over a rail, when she
perceived a nest of partridges close to her nose.

Had she moved an inch she would have frightened them away. There she
stood for more than two hours, with her legs on the upper bar, awaiting
the arrival of the sportsman. For some time she was not discovered, and
not till he appeared would she quit her post, when, the birds rising,
some of them were shot; but the steady pointer was so stiff when thus
relieved that she could scarcely move.

Here is an example which my young readers should endeavour to follow
when they have a duty, however irksome, to perform. Remain steadily at
your post; let noth