"OUR FRIEND THE DOG."

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 395, 26 September 1884, Page 2

"OUR FRIEND THE DOG."

B'romßfcssia sj,e hear tl^atit is p:!pppsfi4 that every sentry be accompanied by a dog which is to be selected from a hreed known in Eussia which seldom give tongue, Jt has l/een found with their quick sense of hearing, that ifc is i»on* dered almost impossible for a sentry to be surprised when accompanied by such an animal. No Sunday congregation in Colorado can be considered complete "unless there ire a dozen dogs in attendance. Excellent lisfc^nfirg they ape apt to be too ; md, as a rule, they behave better than some of the bipeds in the audience! rhe following' story 'front Massachusetts would seem to show 'that our janine friends have their views about the quality of tlj.e preaching and lend a more Jordial support' to some ministers than to others. 4-ievJ g. Cushjug, F^ipg ia the ; Congregationalist,' says : — When pastor n Southbridge, Massachusetts, a gen-

tleman connected with the church frequently called at the parsonage, accompanied by a dog of rather small size, which became a pet at the house. H_ always went with his master on Sunday to church, and would lie down at the doorway of the pew, which was near the pulpit.' As soon as I commenced the service, the dog would invariably start and walk into the altar and to the top of the pulpit steps, and there lie down facing the congregation and remain a quiet and attenl tive listener through the service. As the congregation rose at the singing of the last hymn, the dog would: retrace his footsteps to his master's pew, respectfully wait there till the benediction was I pronounced, and then retire with his master The gentleman removed to an adjoining town. Six weeks after his removal, I exchanged pulpits with his pastor, and entered the church and pulpit, not having seen him or his dog since he left South'bridge. When I commenced service, the dog recognised my voice, and scratched at^the pew door to be let .out ; and, coming to the top of the pulpit stairs," he lay down as formerly till the closing hymn, when he arose and went back to the pew, as he did in Southbridge. This surprised the congregation, as the dog, though always at church, had remained iri the pew quietly till at this time, and never went to the pulpit afterwards.