Foremost must stand the noble Rosswell, who belonged to some connections
of mine. He was of great size--a giant of the canine race--of a brown
and white colour, one of his parents having seen the light in the frozen
regions of Greenland, among the Esquimaux.
Rosswell, though a great favourite, being too large to be fed in the
house, had his breakfast, consisting of porridge, in a large wooden bowl
with a handle, sent out to him every morning, and placed close to a
circular shrubbery before the house. Directly it arrived, he would
cautiously put his nose to the bowl, and if, as was generally the case,
the contents were too hot for his taste, he would take it up by the
handle and walk with it round the shrubbery at a dignified pace, putting
it down again at the same spot. He would then try the porridge once
more, and if it were still too hot he would again take up the bowl and
walk round and round as before, till he was satisfied that the
superabundant caloric had been dissipated, when, putting it down, he
would leisurely partake of his meal.
Everything he did was in the same methodical, civilised fashion. One of
the ladies of the family had dropped a valuable bracelet during a walk.
In the evening Rosswell entered the house and proceeded straight up to
her with his mouth firmly closed. "What have you got there?" she asked,
when he at once opened his huge mouth and revealed the missing bracelet.
The same lady was fond of birds, and had several young ones brought to
her from time to time to tame. Rosswell must have observed this. One
day he appeared again with his mouth closed, and came up to her. On
opening his jaws, which he allowed her to do, what was her surprise to
see within them a little bird, perfectly unhurt! After this he very
frequently brought her birds in his mouth, which he had caught without
in any way injuring them.
He had another strange fancy. It was to catch hedgehogs; but, instead
of killing them, he invariably brought them into the house and placed
them before the kitchen fire--supposing, apparently, that they enjoyed
its warmth.
With two of the ladies of the family he was a great favourite, and used
to romp with them to his heart's content. The youngest, however, being
of a timid disposition, could never get over a certain amount of terror
with which his first appearance had inspired her.
At length Rosswell disappeared. Although inquiries were everywhere made
for him he could not be found. It was suspected that he had been
stolen, with the connivance of one of the domestics, who owed him a
grudge. Weeks passed away, and all hope of recovering Rosswell had been
abandoned, when one day he rushed into the house, looking lean and
gaunt, with a broken piece of rope hanging to his neck, showing that he
had been kept "in durance vile," and had only just broken his bonds.
The two elder sisters he greeted with the most exuberant marks of
affection, leaping up and trying to lick their faces; but directly the
youngest appeared he slowly crept forward, lay down at her feet, wagging
his tail, and glancing up at her countenance with an unmistakably gentle
look.
Rosswell, not without provocation, had taken a dislike to a little dog
belonging to Captain --; and at last, having been annoyed beyond
endurance, he gave the small cur a bite which sent it yelping away.
Captain--was passing at the time, and, angry at the treatment his dog
had received, declared that he would shoot Rosswell if it ever happened
again. Knowing that Captain--would certainly fulfil his threat, the
elder lady, who was of determined character, and instigated by regard
for Rosswell, called the dog to her, and began belabouring him with a
stout stick, pronouncing the name of the little dog all the time.
Rosswell received the castigation with the utmost humility; and from
that day forward avoided the little dog, never retaliating when annoyed,
and hanging down his head when its name was mentioned.
Rosswell had a remarkable liking for sugar-plums, and would at all times
prefer a handful to a piece of meat. If, however, a pile of them were
placed between his paws, and he was told that they were for baby, he
would not touch them, but watch with wagging tail while the little
fellow picked them up. He might probably have objected had any one else
attempted to take them away.
Gallant Rosswell!--he fell a victim at length to the wicked hatred of
his old enemy the cook, who mixed poison with his food, which destroyed
his life.
Rosswell's mistresses mourned for him, as I daresay you will; but they
did not seek to punish the wicked woman as she deserved.
What a noble fellow he was, how submissive under castigation, how gentle
when he saw that his boisterous behaviour frightened his youngest
mistress, how obedient to command, how strict in the performance of his
duty! And what self-restraint did he exercise! Think of him with
baby's sugar-plums between his paws--not one would he touch.
My reader, let me ask you one question: Are you as firm in resisting
temptation as was gallant Rosswell? He acted rightly through instinct;
but you have the power to discern between good and evil, aided by the
counsels of your kind friends. Do not shame the teaching of your
parents by acting in any manner unworthy of yourself.
Tyrol, the Dog which rang the Bell.
I have told you of several cats which rang bells. Another connection of
mine, living in the Highlands, had a dog called Tyrol. He had been
taught to do all sorts of things. Among others, to fetch his master's
slippers at bed-time; and when told that fresh peat was required for the
fire, away he would go to the peat-basket and bring piece after piece,
till a sufficient quantity had been piled up.
He had also learned to pull the bell-rope to summon the servant. This
he could easily accomplish at his own home, where the rope was
sufficiently long for him to reach; but on one occasion he accompanied
his master on a visit to a friend's house, where he was desired to
exhibit his various accomplishments. When told to ring the bell, he
made several attempts in vain. The end of the rope was too high up for
him to reach. At length, what was the surprise of all present to see
him seize a chair by the leg, and pull it up to the wall, when, jumping
up, he gave the rope a hearty tug, evidently very much to his own
satisfaction.
You will generally find that, difficult as a task may seem, if you seek
for the right means you may accomplish it. Drag the chair up to the
bell-rope which you cannot otherwise reach.