Produced by Irma Spehar, Markus Brenner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) NATURAL HISTORY SERIES DOG OF ST. BERNARD AND OTHER STORIES. [Illustration] PRINTED IN OIL COLORS McLOUGHLIN BROS. PUBLISHERS NEW YORK. [Illustration] THE DOG OF ST. BERNARD. St. Bernard is the name of one of the high mountains of the Alps. The deep snow hangs so loosely on the sides of these mountains, that great masses often fall into the plains below, with a noise like thunder. Wild snow storms also come on, and the passes in the mountains become so blocked up and covered over, that it is impossible to find them out. In this way many travelers have perished, and been buried in a deep snowy grave. Far, far up the mountain there is a building called the Convent of St. Bernard. Here is found that wonderful race of dogs called the Dogs of St. Bernard, famous all over the world for their noble deeds. These dogs are trained to go out on the mountains among the snow, and search for missing travelers. Suppose you are taking a journey across the Alps. A terrible snow storm comes on. Night is drawing near, while you are weary with your journey, and perishing with cold and hunger. Your whole body begins to feel numb, and soon you will be unable to go any farther. You think of home, and kind friends there, and you kneel down to pray that you may not be left to perish in the snow. At the very moment you are about to give up in despair, you hear the deep bark of a dog, coming nearer and nearer amid the darkness and the snow-drift! It is the sweetest sound you ever heard in your life. How thankful you are when you see two noble-looking dogs coming toward you, one with a flask of spirits tied to his neck, and the other carrying a cloak to wrap around you! How eagerly you untie the flask and drink, and how gratefully you cover yourself with the cloak! The dogs look on, and seem to understand all. They hasten back to fetch the monks, who soon come to the spot. You are carried to the Convent, and there rubbed and warmed, till at last you revive and know that you are saved. Such is the work the monks of St. Bernard and their famous dogs have often had to do. One dog saved the lives of twenty-two persons, who, but for his help, would have perished. For many years this dog wore a medal round his neck, which was given him in honor of his deeds! The following story tells how this noble creature at last met his death:— At the foot of the mountain there is a little village. Here dwelt a poor courier, who used to carry letters and messages across the mountain. This was the way he procured bread for his wife and children.