"And now, let us turn away from the history of bloodhounds to some pleasant thoughts before we finish our twilight talk."
"The poet Cowper was a great friend to animals. Many of his most beautiful letters to his friends have very pleasant passages about his pretty tortoise shell kitten, and his distress that she would grow up into a cat, do what he would."
"He was a lover of tame rabbits and hares, and speaks of all these animals as if they were his friends and fellow-creatures. In one of his little poems he tells a pretty story of his spaniel Beau. I was so pleased with it that I learned it by heart unconsciously, from reading it over so often."
"Do repeat it, Mother," cried both the boys.
Mrs. Chilton then repeated the poem; and, as some of my young readers may not be familiar with it, they shall have a copy, too.
"This, also, boys, is a true story," said their mother.
THE DOG AND THE WATER LILY.
NO FABLE.
The noon was shady, and soft airs
Swept Ouse's silent tide,
When, 'scaped from literary cares,
I wandered on his side.
My spaniel—prettiest of his race,
And high in pedigree—
(Two nymphs adorned with every grace,
That spaniel found for me—)