You know what a pleasure it is to have a pretty pet Dog. I do not mean
those little lap dogs. They are of no use, and when I see a little girl
with a lap dog, I always say, "Well, well, that little girl is, and
always will be foolish." And why do I say so? Because I know she will
neglect her books and her other duties just to play with Flora. If you
want a good pet dog--get a large one. The best dogs are the St. Bernard
or Newfoundland. They are very large. They are jet black. They are very
intelligent, and after you have had them for some time, you can make
them perform many tricks for the amusement of your little friends. The
St. Bernard Dog is a native of the Alps. He is named after a convent on
Mount St. Bernard in Switzerland. The convent is 8,038 feet above the
foot of the mountain. It is a Benedictine monastery and hospital, and is
the highest inhabited spot in Europe. Travellers passing the Alps into
Italy have to pass over the mountains. They are covered with snow and
very dangerous. The good monks go out with their dogs and if they find
any traveller benighted or frozen in the snow, they lend him succour and
take him to the monastery. The dogs are very strong and can carry a man.
They are all good water dogs, and if you were to fall in the water, one
of them could hold you up until rescued by your friends. Growler is
waiting for his breakfast. He is Eva's pet. After she has eaten her
breakfast, she will give him his. See how quiet and submissive he looks.
He is a good dog.
[Illustration: Rescue of Eva.]