A SHEEP-DOG'S POWER OF REASONING.
[To rat Emma or no " &Terme."'
Sin—An Irish farmer owned a few years ago a large English black-and-tan sheep-dog who at times displayed a wonderful amount of intelligent reasoning-power. Adjoining the ferns steading was a genes-field devoted to the fowls, in one corner of which was the fowl-house—a large shed open at one end. The corn-stacks were also in this field, One day corn-threshing was being proceeded with, a load at a time being brought into the barn. The hens were of course very busy between loads about the stack, picking up the falling pickles, legitimately so, until the stack got so low that they could conveniently fly up and indulge without shot. It not being convenient to place any one to guard the stack, the farmer had a serious talk with his dog—a not unusual thing—pointing to the hens and telling him that they ought not to be on the stack, saying, "Now look here, Bruno, I want you to keep these hens oft that stack
[pointing to please attend." Bruno evidently took it all in, and with scrupulous care discharged the allotted task. The fol- lowing day this same duty was allotted to him. Ile discharged it while necessary between the loads with seemingly conscientious care, up till about two o'clock in the afternoon, at which time of day it was not an unusual thing for him to visit neighbouring doggies, sometimes bringing one of them home with him to supper. You see, he -was not only facially hut hospitably in- clined. On this second day, about the hour named, he evidently remembered that Ile had a social engagement, hut what about duty and conscienee? He evidently thought a way out. On the previous day and other days he had seen the hens voluntarily, and as was their wont, retiring about sundown to roost, giving no further trouble. Surely it would not matter much if they retired on this afternoon a little while earlier. Acting upon this conception, he deliberately, as if housing a flock of sheep, began to round up the hens, landing them inside their house, then giving a triumphant, joyous bark and a playful gambol, was off, duty thus diseharged—or evaded/—and conscience satisfied.—I am, Sir,
Previous page
