[To TES EDITOR OF 181 . SPZCTATOR.'l SIR,—In illustration of the anecdotal
letters about dogs and their habits, in the Spectator of February 2nd, and Mr. Lang's paper in this month's Nineteenth Century, I send you the following story of a dog which I had in 18M and for three years afterwards. He was a handsome Newfoundland dog, and one of the most intelligent animals with which it was ever my good luck to meet. I was living in a village about three miles from Dover, where I did all my shopping and marketing, being generally my own "carrier." Sometimes Nep ' wotdd carry home a small parcel for me, and always most carefully. On one occasion Nep ' was with me when I chose a spade, and asked the ironmonger to send it by the village carrier. The spade was put by, labelled and duly
addressed. I went on to have a bathe, my dog going with me but on finishing my toilet in the machine, and calling and whistling for Nep,' he was nowhere to be seen. He was not to be found at the stable where I had left my horse, but on calling at the ironmonger's shop I found he had been there and had carried off the spade which I had bought, balancing it carefully in his mouth. When I reached home, there ' Nep ' was, lying near his kennel in the stable-yard looking very fagged, but wearing a countenance of the fullest self- satisfaction, and evidently wishing me to think he bad ful- filled his "dog-duty." My friend Mr. Wood, who was a thorough lover and admirer of dogs, was delighted to hear of his intelligent performance.—I am, Sir, ,tc.,
" CANOPHILIST."
P.S.—I may add Nep ' always guarded me when bathing, and always went into the water with me, too, often uttering a peculiar kind of "howl."
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