144

There was something so serious, not
to say solemn, in the face of Mrs. Long,
that the lad began to feel a little
strangely.

“ Where, mother 2”’ he asked.

But she did not answer, and he moved
along silently by her side.

From the sitting-room down stairs,

where the mother had met her boy,
they passed along the passage, and up
stairs into a chamber, where, to his sur-
prise, Harry saw his little sister Phoebe,
a sweet child in her second year, lying
asleep, and looking so pule and deadly,
that the sight caused a shudder to pass
through his frame.
Ave Oh, mother!” he exclaimed, turning
quickly, and grasping the garment of his
_parent. “ Dear mother, what is the
matter with Phoebe ?” |

‘Let us sit down here by the win-
dow,” said Mrs. Long, in a calm voice,
“and I will tell you all about what has
happened.”

‘Is she dead, mother?” eagerly asked
the boy, while the tears came into his
eyes,

“No, my child; she is not dead,
tuanks to our heavenly Father. But I
cannot tell how it would now be, if you
had taken Nero off to school with you
this morning.”

‘Why, mother, what did Nero do?”

“Listen, and I will tell you. After I
called the dog back, he came and laid
himself down on the mat before the door,
and placing his head between his fore
paws, shut his eyes, and seemed to be
sleeping. He remained lying thus for
nearly an hour, when, all at once, I saw
him start up, listen, and look about him.
Presently, he ran off, and went all
around the house. He seemed uneasy

THE YOUTH’S CABINET.’

 

about something. First he looked in
one direction, and then in another; snuff-
ed the air; put his nose to the ground,
and ran a little way fiom the house, and
then came back again.

“«What’s the matter, Nero? said I.

“He came and fixed his eyes upon
my face, with a look that to me seemed
anxious, stood for a few moments, and
then went to his mat again. But he did
not lie there more than an instant, before
he arose and started off up stairs. Ina
little while, he came down, and seemed
more uneasy than ever. I began now to
feel strangely.

“«Where is Phoebe?” I now called
out to Margaret, who was in the kitchen.

“«’m sure I don’t know,’ replied
Margaret; ‘I thought she was with
you.’

‘“ At this moment, with a short bark,
Nero sprang away toward the spring.
I saw this, and fearing that Phoebe
might have wandered off in that direc-
tion, followed quickly. But ere I had
gone half way, I beheld the noble dog
returning with your little sister in his
mouth, and the water dripping from her
hair and clothes. She appeared to be
quite dead, when I took her into my
arms, and did not show any signs of life
for nearly half an hour afterwards.
Then she began slowly to recover. Oh,
my son! think what might have been
the consequence, if our faithful Nero had
not been at home.”

Harry covered his face with his hands,
and burying them in his mother’s lap,
sobbed bitterly.

“ And will Phoebe get well, mother?”
he asked, looking up with tearful eyes,
after he had grown calmer.

' “Yes, my son,’ replied Mrs, Long ;