The dog / by William Youatt.

  • Youatt, William, 1776-1847.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The dog / by William Youatt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Aftrr traversing' liis pastures for a wliile, attended by liis dog, he was compelled to ascend a summit at some distance. As the ascent was to*i great for the child, he left him at the bottom, with strict injunctic ns not to move from the place. Scarcely, however, had he gained the height, when one of the Scotch mists, of frequent occurrence, suddenly came on, and almost clianged the day to night. He returned to seek his child, but was unable to find him, and concluded a long and fruitless search by coming distracted to his cottage. His poor dog also was missing in the general confusion. On the next morning by daylight he renewed his search, but again he came back without his child. He found, however, that during his absence his dog had been home, and, on receiving his allowance of food, instantly departed. For four successive days the shepherd continued his search with the same bad fortune, the dog as readily coming for his meal and departing. Struck by this singular circumstance, he determined to follow the dog, who de- parted as usual with his piece of cake. U'he animal led the way to a ca- taract at some distance from the s})ot where the child had been left. It was a rugged and almost perpendicular descent which the dog took, and he disappeared in a cave, the mouth of which was almost on a level with (he torrent. The shepherd with difficulty followed j but, on entering the cavern, what were his emotions when he beheld the ijifant eating the cake which the dog had just brought to him, while the faithful animal stood by, eyeing his young charge with the utmost complacency. From ‘he situation in which the child was found, itap[)eared that he liad wandered to the brink of the precipice, and then either fallen or scrambled down, the torrent preventing his re-ascent. The dog by means of his scent had traced him to the spot, and afterwards prevented him from starving giving up a part, or, perhaps, the whole of his own daily allowance. He appears never to have quitted the child night or day, except for food, as he was seen running at full speed to and from the cottage.* Mr. Hogg says, and very truly, that a single shepherd and his dog will accomplish more in gathering a flock of sheep from a Highland farm than twenty shepherds could do without dogs ; in fact, that without this docile animal, the pastoral life would be a mere blank. It would require more hands to manage a flock of sheep, gather them from the hills, force them into houses and folds, and drive them to markets, than the profits of the whole flock would be capable of maintaining. Well may the shephenl feel an interest in his dog; he it is indeed that earns the family bread, of which he is himself content with the smallest morsel : always grateful, and always ready to exert his utmost abilities in his master’s interests. Neither hunger, fatigue, nor the worst of treatment will drive him from his side, and he will follow him through every hardship without murmur or repining. If one of them is obliged to change masters, it is sometimes Ions: before he will acknowledg'e the new owner, or condescend to work for him with the willingness that he did for his former lord ; but, if he once acknowledges him, he continues attached to him until death.'’ We will add another story of the colley, and proceed. It illustrates ihe memory of the dog. A shepherd was employed in bringing up some “ Annals of Sporting, vol. viii. p. 83. sup^M-hanian fidelity of this dog crowd .‘^o “ The Ettrick Shepherd has probably rapidly upon us that we are compelled to Kpoken somewhat too enth-asiastically of his admire and to love him.”—Hogg’s Shej>- dog; hut accounts of the sagacity and almost herd’s Calendar, vol. ii. p. 3U8.