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at daybreak, not a single sheep was to be found. All hands were put to work probing in the drifts with long poles, and here and there a few sheep were discovered and dug out. An untutored sheep-dog, not quite a year old, was of the party, with three or four older dogs of the same kind. The older dogs took little notice of what was going on, but the young one began to be very curious about the proceedings, and, amid his gambols in the snow, would every now and then return to the working party to peep into and snuff about the holes they made with their poles. In a little time he seemed to take greater interest in the work, and went from hole to hole smelling at the poles as they were drawn out. He was purposely unnoticed to avoid diverting his attention. He remained intently looking into one of the holes after the man had gone to some distance; and all at once a new light seemed to break in upon him, and he began to scratch in the snow with all his might. When he was seen to be in earnest, the men returned, and dug down for seven or eight feet, when they found a cluster of five or six sheep huddled close together. When these were released, the dog barked and howled with delight, and then proceeded in his search; at first he would insist on helping to scratch out the half-suffocated sheep; but as he got better to understand the matter, he merely indicated by a few scratches the locality of the buried sheep, no matter how deep they were, and on he went to others with all the importance of an old hand. The result of the day's labour was the releasing of 200 sheep living, and about a

score smothered. The following day, by the exertions of the same young dog, many more were dug out; few were passed over by the young creature without being marked, while the older dogs stood listlessly by, though more accustomed to sheep, and trained to almost perfection in their other duties. The last living sheep discovered was on New Year's day. It had taken shelter in a hollow under a furze bush, and had remained in the small space of a five feet cave from the 18th November, with nothing to eat but what it could nibble from the prickly bush; and when liberated, on a bright frosty day, it appeared nearly or quite blind.

Another instance of the sagacity of a dog deserves to be mentioned. The sheep were pastured on a low plot of ground covered twice a day by the tide, with a piece of higher ground to retire to on the rising of the water, but the stupid animals being fond of the salted grass, would often allow themselves to be surrounded by the water, when the dog's services were required to the rescue. In a little time he learnt to go and clear the marsh of his own accord, as constantly as the tide flowed during daylight, and thus was the means of preventing all loss as long as he was able to attend to his self-imposed duty.

Another dog daily attended to bring the cows home at milking time, and would leave other work and hasten home to be present when an unruly bull was let out to water. When the dog happened to be absent with his master it was not safe to let the bull out, but the dog had gained so perfect an ascendancy over him that he was never

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allowed to stray out of the direct road; while the bull was drinking the dog would sit on a particular stone within a yard of the bull's head, till he had drank enough, and if he lifted his head from the water, done, or not, he must go home.— Journal of the Agricultural Society-Farming in Cumberland.

THE LITTLE SISTER LEFT IN CHARGE.

"SLEEP, little Brother, you must not awaken,
Till mother comes back to her baby again :
Weary, and long is the way she has taken,
Over the common, and through the green glen.
Up the steep hill, by the path that is nearest,
Thinking of you, as she hurries along,

Sleep then, and dream that she's watching you,
dearest,

Rocking your cradle, and singing her song.

In the still room there's no sound of disquiet,
Only the clock ticking even, and low,
Only the bird in his cage hanging by it,
Chirping a note as he hops to and fro.
Out in the sunlight the woodbine is stirring,
Filling the air with its fragrance so sweet,
On the low window seat, pussy sits purring,
Washing her face with her little white feet.

Far down the lane merry voices are ringing,
Comrades have beckoned me out to their play.
Why did you start? it is I, that am singing:
Why did you frown? I'm not going away.
Could I forsake you for play, or for pleasure,
Lying alone in your helplessness here?
How could I leave you, my own little treasure,
No one to rock you, and no one to cheer?

In the room corners I watch the dark shadows,
Deepening, and lengthening, as evening comes

on:

Soon will the mowers return from the meadows;
Far to the westward the red sun is gone.
By the green hedge-row, I see her now coming,
Where the last sunbeam is just on her track.
Still I sit by you, love, drowsily humming,
Sleep, little baby, till mother comes back."

From "Moral Songs."

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MONUMENTS OF NINEVEH.

SOME of the readers of this Magazine will remember an account of the discovery of the ancient city of Nineveh, given some years ago. In 1848 Mr. Layard published a very interesting book, containing all that he had yet done, and the discoveries he had made, but declaring his intention to return there again, and pursue his researches still further. He has lately published a second account, quite as full of interest and wonder as the first. Many new things have come to light: a prodigious number of inscriptions, and palaces full of sculpture; and what

VOL. XII.

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JULY, 1853.

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