XXVIII. -THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOGS, CONCLUDED. 1. Ar length the boat began to draw near to the shore of a creek on one side, and Mr. Damrell said, "Come, Dolphin, I think we'll go about." 2. So Dolphin came to the stern again. Mr. Damrell put the helm hard down, and gave the tiller' to Dolphin to hold. 3. Keep her about so," said he. 4. Dolphin put her paws upon the tiller, and held it in the position in which her master had placed it, while Mr. Damrell himself went forward to attend to the sail. 66 5. As soon as the sail had filled, and the boat began to fall off on the other tack, Mr. Damrell called out, Steady!" when Dolphin immediately relaxed her pressure upon the tiller, and allowed it to swing back amidships again. 2 6 "A man-o'-war's-man could not have done it better,' said Lapstone. 7. The party sailed about in this way for some time, and the more Lapstone and the boys saw, the more they were pleased with the sagacity' and intelligence that Dolphin manifested. At length the boat returned to the wharf. 5 8. "Bear a hand, Dolphin," said Mr. Damrell, “to go ashore with the painter. ' 9. So Dolphin took her station on the bows of the boat with the end of the painter in her mouth. As soon as the bows were near enough to the wharf, she leaped ashore, and there held on firmly, while Mr. Damrell took in the sail and made ready to land. When all was ready, the whole party disembarked ; and Mr. Damrell, after locking the boat, gave Dolphin the keys, and they all proceeded towards the house. Dolphin ran before with the keys in her mouth. 10. "I have made up my mind," said Mr. Damrell, "that if you like my dogs when you see them, you may have either or both of them. The price is a dollar and a half apiece." 66 11. Very well," said Lapstone; "where are they? I want to see them." 12. They are in my barn," said Mr. Damrell. "They are getting big enough to go out by themselves, and I let them out sometimes, but they are shut up now." 6 13. So saying, Mr. Damrell led the way to a small barn which stood in the back part of his premises, and opened the door, which was fastened by a hasp' and a fid.8 On entering the barn, the two young dogs came running to meet their master, and they leaped and capered about him with many expressions of joy. 14. One of the dogs was perfectly black, except a white ring about his neck. The other had both forefeet white. 15. Are they named?" asked Orkney. 16. "No," replied Mr. Damrell, “ they are not regularly named. Our folks call them Whitefoot and Ring, just to distinguish them; but you can name them any thing you please. Which one do you like the best?" 17. "I think Whitefoot is rather the prettiest," said Top. 18. "They are both very pretty," said Orkney. 19. "Yes," added Lapstone, "there is very little choice between them. I think that instead of choosing one of them myself, I shall see which of them will prefer me." 20. "That's a good plan," said Orkney. 21. Accordingly, after playing with the dogs a little while, so as to get them both somewhat acquainted with him, Lapstone put them both down in one of the stalls, and went himself to a little distance from them across the floor. 22. The one Now, boys," said he, "do you go off to one side. I'm going to call the dogs to me. that gets to me first is the one that I will have." 23. So the boys went off to one side, and Lapstone called the dogs to come to him. They immediately came out of the stall, and began rambling about in a somewhat uncertain manner for a few minutes, gradually, however, approaching Lapstone. At length Whitefoot, catching a glimpse of the two boys at the door, ran off towards them, while Ring ran directly to Lapstone. 24. Lapstone caught him up in his arms saying, "This is my dog. It is all settled." 25. Top caught up Whitefoot also, saying at the same time," And this is my dog. Now, Uncle Lapstone, I wish you would buy this one too, for me, and I will work for you in your garden all summer, till you say I have done enough to pay for him." 26. "Ah! but how do I know that your father would be willing that you should have a dog!" said Lapstone. "Perhaps he would not like to have him at the house." 27. < Why, he said that he should like one very much,” replied Top, "only he could not afford to buy 28. "Well, but then there is another difficulty," continued Lapstone. “There's Orkney. If either of you is to have the dog, it ought to be Orkney, for he is the oldest." 29. "No, sir," said Orkney, "I don't care about having him myself, for I am thinking a little of going away to school. If you could buy him for Top, I should like it very much. I could have an interest in him, and Top lives so near our house that that will do just as well." 30. Very well," said Lapstone;" then it is all settled. We will take both the dogs.' 31. So Lapstone paid Mr. Damrell the three dollars, and they took both the dogs and carried them home in the wagon. Top sat behind and carried Whitefoot, while Lapstone took Ring in his arms in front. 32. After this, Lapstone continued to live in peace and prosperity a long time in his house in the village, and he told the boys a great many stories which there is not space for here. The dog grew fast, and in process of time he became very large. He grew to be a very beautiful dog too, and as he was very intelligent and sagacious, Lapstone taught him a great variety of curious things. Top's dog, too, grew up to be as fine an animal as Lapstone's. When they had got their growth, among other things, Lapstone taught them both to draw in harness. 33. He made a very handsome double harness for them of leather, and Orkney made a very neat and pretty wagon, in the carpenter's shop. The wagon was of good size too, and was very strong. The dogs could draw this wagon about the village, with two boys in it, very easily, and an excellent span they made. 1 TILL'ER. A piece of wood or a bar which turns the rudder by which a boat is steered. 2 PRESS'YRE. Act of pressing, force acting against any thing. 3 A-MID'SHIPS. In the middle of a ship, or so as to be in a line with 8 FID. The pin that goes into a staple. the stern and the centre of a ship. 9 AC-QUÃINT'ED. Knowing familiar 1. THE spearmen heard the bugle sound, And many a brach,' and many a hound, 2. And still he blew a louder blast, "Come, Gelert !* why art thou the last, 3. "O, where does faithful Gelert roam? So true, so brave a lamb at home, A lion in the chase!" *Gellert. |