They did as he desired, and soon reached the oppo-
site bank in safety. Thej had scarcely done so,
when Agnes' attention was attracted by a little girl
who was standing on the high bank just beyond the
water, weeping bitterly. It was easy to guess the
cause of her grief, for in the water lay the body of a
little dog, which appeared to have been dashed by
the current against some large stones near which it
lay. They were all sorry for the poor little girl, and
Mrs. Merton, telling the driver to stop, asked the
little girl if it was her dog that she was crying
over,

" No, it was not mine," said the child, " it was



GLIMPSES OF NATURE. 185

master's ; but it loved me, and I have nothing to love
me now."

Mrs. Merton entered into conversation with the
girl, and learnt from her that she was an orphan,
and had been bound an apprentice by the parish to a
neighbouring fanner. The dog that lay dead before
them had been her playfellow and companion, and
the poor girl's sorrow at its loss was the greater a«
she had nothing to supply its place in her affections.
As, however, it was impossible to restore it to life,
Mrs. Merton thought the best thing that could be
done was to change the current of the child's ideas,
and accordingly gave her a shilling, which effectually
answered the purpose intended; for the little girl,
who had never been mistress of so much money be*
fore, instantly dried her tears, and ran off, leaving
Agnes very indignant at her, for suffering herself to
be so easily consoled.
