ThePricelessDog

　　AladywasgoingbysteamerfromacitytoanotherinAmerica.Onboardwithherwereherbabyboyandamaid.Themaidwascarryingthechildinherarms.

　　Asthesteamercameneartothelanding-place,itbegantoslackenspeed.Themaidwalkedtothesideofthevesseltolookover,whenallatoncethechildsprangoutofherarms,andfellintothewaterbelow.Theswiftstreamcarrieditquicklyaway.

　　Themotherwasnearlywildwithgriefandfear.Thesailorsbegantoloweraboat.Buteveryonecouldseethatthechildwouldbedrownedbeforetheboatcouldreachit.Whatwastobedone?

　　Amongthepeopleonboardwasagentlemanwhohadbeenquietlyreadinginanotherpartofthesteamer.Hearingthecriesofthemother,hecamequicklyforwardandsaid,"Canyougivemesomethingthechildhasworn?"

　　Themaidgavehimatinyapron,whichhadbeenleftinherhandsasshetriedtosavethechildfromfalling.ThegentlemanturnedtoafineNewfoundlanddogthatstoodnear,lookingupintohisface.Hepointedfirsttotheapron,andthentothespotwherethechildhadsunk.

　　Inaninstantthenobledogsprangintotheriver.Youcanthinkhoweveryoneonboardfelt!Wouldthedogreachthechildintimetosaveitslife?Soonthedogwasseenfarawaywithsomethinginhismouth.Bravelyheswamagainstthestrongstream,butitwasfearedthathisstrengthwouldsoongiveway.Morethanoneonboardcriedforjoyastheboatreachedhimandthesailorsdrewchildanddogfromthewater.

　　Whentheywerebroughtonboardthesteamer,themotherwentfirsttoherlittleboytoseethathewasalive.Thensherushedforward,andthrowingherarmsroundthedog'sneck,burstintotears.Shekissedhisshaggyhead,andsaidtohisowner,"Oh,sir;Imusthavethisdog!Iwillgiveanythingforthedogthathassavedmydarling'slife!"

　　Thegentlemansmiled,andpattedhisdog'shead,ashesaid:"Iamveryglad,madam,thatHectorhasbeenofservicetoyou;butIwouldnotpartwithhimforanythingintheworld."

　　Thedoglookedasifheknewthattheyweretalkingabouthimself.Hegavehissidesashake,andlaydownathismaster'sfeet,withalookinhisbigeyesthatseemedtosay,"No,master,nothingshallpartus!"