Instances in illustration of this are familiar to the inhabitants of mountainous districts, and the following examples, related by Captain Brown, cannot fail to interest the reader : 66 A farmer, near Brechin, having gone, during a severe snow storm in 1798, to visit his sheep, while employed in driving them from the shelter which they had taken beneath some precipitous rocks, called Ugly-Face, was, with his dog, buried in an avalanche of snow, which fell from these rocks. He was unable to extricate himself, and fell asleep in his desolate situation; but his dog worked his way out, ran to his house, and by significant gestures, procured the assistance of some of the inmates, who, following the dog, were led to the spot where he was overwhelmed with snow. They began to dig, and by nightfall found the farmer in an erect position, quite benumbed, but life not extinguished, and being rolled in warm blankets, he soon recovered. "About the year 1796, a farmer, at Holling in Kent, was returning late from Maidstone market, in a state of intoxication. He went astray from the road, about half a mile from Willow-Walk, and, becoming completely benumbed, he fell among the snow, in one of the coldest nights ever known. Turning on his back, he was soon overpowered with sleep, in such circumstances the usual concomitant of cold. His dog, that had followed closely after him, now scratched away the snow from about him, so as to form a protecting wall round his person, and then lay down on its master's breast, for which its shaggy coat proved a seasonable protection from the inclemency of the night, and the snow which continued to fall. On the following morning, a person having gone out with the expectation of falling in with some wild fowl, had his notice attracted by the uncommon appearance, and, on coming up, the dog encouraged him, by the most significant gestures, to approach. He wiped the icy incrustations from the face of the farmer, whom he then re cognized, and had him conveyed to the nearest house in the village, where animation was soon restored." The last instance which I give of this kind of sagacity, is abridged from Captain Brown's Statement, and shows still more remarkable proofs of persevering attachment. Eric Runtson, an Iceland fisherman, left his home early on a December morning, to visit a friend, accompanied only by his faithful dog, Castor. When he had proceeded about five miles, he fell into a deep chasm, and alighted, unhurt, on a shelving part of the rock, about sixty feet below the surface. Castor ran about in all directions, howling piteously. He even several times made as if he would leap down, but was prevented by his master scolding him. He then whined, and looked from the brink into the chasm, as if anxious to receive his master's commands. After spending the whole day in fruitless endeavours to reach and extricate his master, a sudden thought seemed to seize him, and he darted off in the direction of home, which he reached about eleven o'clock. The inmates were asleep, but, by scratching violently at the door, he gained admittance. At first, the family apprehended nothing, but that he had left his master, and returned; but, by his refusing food, and constantly continuing to scratch Eric's younger brother, Jon, with his paw, and then run to the door, and look back with eager and anxious yells, he at last succeeded in exciting their alarm; and, when Jon and another man dressed and followed him, he began to bark and caper about with evident joy. At one time, the tempestuous weather led them to think of retracing their steps; but Castor, on their turning back, expressed the utmost dissatisfaction, and, by pulling them by the clothes, induced them to proceed. He conducted them to the chasm where poor Eric was entombed, and, beginning to scratch, signified, by the most expressive howl, that his master was below. Eric answered to Jon's call; and, a rope being procured, he was safely drawn up, when Castor rushed to his mas ter, and received his caresses with all the marks of extreme triumph and joy. Sir Walter Scott, in a poem written on a traveller who, some years ago, was killed by falling over a precipice on Helvellyn, and whose faithful dog watched many days by his lifeless corpse, thus feelingly describes the attachment of that interesting animal :— "Dark green was that spot 'mid the brown mountain heather, How long did'st thou think that his silence was slumber? When the wind waved his garments how oft did'st thou start? How many long days and long nights did'st thou number? The more we know of this wonderful species, the greater reason will we find to admire that beneficent Being, who gave the dog to man as his companion and friend, and the greater indignation will we feel against the worse than brutal human beings, who, abusing the devotion of this most affectionate and docile creature, give to their half human attendants no return of kindness; but treat them with cruelty, and recompense their good offices with blows. ELEVENTH WEEK-FRIDAY. IGNIS FATUUS. ONE of the curious phenomena of winter, the nature of which is not well understood, and still less its use in the economy of Providence, is that shining vapour which generally makes its appearance in moist weather, in marshy ground, known to the Romans by the name of ignis fatuus, and called by people in this country “ Will Jack with the lanthorn ;" and a variety of “۔ o' Wisp ;" other names, all of them indicating the superstitious feelings with which it is associated in the minds of the vulgar. Before noticing the views which men of science have taken of this phenomenon, I shall quote some accounts that have been published of the various appearances which it assumes. The first is that of a writer in a public journal, who subscribes himself " A Farmer," and expresses himself with such amusing naïveté in describing some of the ordinary vagaries of this reputed sprite, that the homeliness of the style seems to require no apology. “I was riding through a wet boggy part of the road, that lies between the house and the mill, when a little sleety shower, with a strong blast of wind, came suddenly upon me, and made it so very dark that I could scarcely see my old mare's white head. I began to consider with myself, whether it would be better to turn my back to the storm, and wait till it was past, or take my chance of letting my horse find its own way, when I saw something bright dancing in the air before me. You may be sure I was startled a little at this; for the rain was pouring so fast, and the wind was blowing so strong, that no ordinary fire could stand it; so I whipt up my horse to get out of the way as fast as I could; but to go fast was out of the question, with such an old mare, such a bad road, and so heavy a burden; and, besides, I soon found that it served me in no stead, for the light still kept waving before my eyes; so I thought it would be best to go slowly, and try if I could find out what it was. "You may think how surprised I was, when I discovered, that the top of my whip-lash was all in a flame. I had at first almost thrown it out of my hand, in my fright; but, on second thoughts, I did not like to do that, for fear of losing it, as it was nearly new. I therefore whisked it about in my hand, and whipped my horse with it, thinking to make the flame go out ; but, though it turned dim for a few minutes, it soon became brighter than ever. Just at this time, I heard the sound of a foot before me; and, when I looked, I saw very distinctly the marks of footsteps all on fire, close beside me ; but it was so dark, I could not see whether any person was there or not. Soon afterward, I got upon better road, and my poor mare, who was herself frightened, jogged faster on; so I saw no more of it. I am happy to tell you, that I got home without a broken neck, and found all well there, which was more than I expected; for I verily believed that it was a dead light, or an elf candle, or some other bad omen." common. M. Boccari mentions, that a light of this kind appeared to a gentleman of his acquaintance, as he was travelling in the neighbourhood of Bologna, where they are very It moved constantly before him, for about a mile, and gave a better light than a torch that was carried by his servant. Sometimes it rose and sometimes sunk, but hovered commonly about six feet from the ground. Sometimes it appeared like waves, and at other times, seemed to drop sparks of fire. It was little affected by the wind; but, during a shower of rain, it became brighter. A very remarkable account of a will o'wisp, is given by Dr Shaw, in his travels to the Holy Land. It appeared in one of the valleys of Mount Ephraim, and at * Dumfries Courier, 20th December 1809. |