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You know what a pleasure it is to have a pretty pet
Dog. I do not mean those
little lap dogs. They are of no use, and when I see a little girl with
a lap
dog, I always say, "Well, well, that little girl is, and always will be
foolish." And why do I say so? Because I know she will neglect her
books
and her other duties just to play with Flora. If you want a good pet
dog—get a large one. The best dogs are the St. Bernard or Newfoundland.
They are very large. They are jet black. They are very intelligent, and
after
you have had them for some time, you can make them perform many tricks
for the
amusement of your little friends. The St. Bernard Dog is a native of
the Alps.
He is named after a convent on Mount
St. Bernard in Switzerland.
The convent is 8,038 feet above the foot of the mountain. It is a
Benedictine
monastery and hospital, and is the highest inhabited spot in Europe.
Travellers passing the Alps into Italy
have to pass over the mountains. They are covered with snow and very
dangerous.
The good monks go out with their dogs and if they find any traveller
benighted
or frozen in the snow, they lend him succour and take him to the
monastery. The
dogs are very strong and can carry a man. They are all good water dogs,
and if
you were to fall in the water, one of them could hold you up until
rescued by
your friends. Growler is waiting for his breakfast. He is Eva's pet.
After she
has eaten her breakfast, she will give him his. See how quiet and
submissive he
looks. He is a good dog. |
