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THE LION AND THE SPANIEL.

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THE LION AND THE SPANIEL. In the afternoon the company went to the Tower to see as well as to hear the recent story of the great lion and the little dog. The great cage in front was occupied by a beast who, by way of pre-eminence, was called the king's lion and while he traversed the limits of his straightened dominions, he was attended by a very small and very beautiful black spaniel, who frisked and gamboled about him, and at times he would pretend to snarl and bite at him and again the noble animal, with an air of tond com- plaisance, would hold down his head, while the little crea- ture licked his formidable chaps. Their history, as the keeper related, was thus-- It was customary tor all who were unable or unwilling to pay their sixpence, to bring a dog or cat as an oblation to the beast in lieu of money to the keeper. Among others a fellow had caught up this little black spaniel in the streets, and he was accordingly thrown into the cage of the great lion. The little animal trembled, and shivered, and crouched, and threw itself on its hack, and held up its paws in supplicatory attitudes, as an acknowledgement of superior power, and praying for mercy. In the mean time the lordly bruit, instead of devouring it, beheld it with an air ot philosophic inspection. He turned it over with one paw, and then tu ned it with the other; and smelled to it, and seemed desirous of further acquaintance. The keeper, on seeing this brought a large mess of his own family dinner; but the lion kept aloof, and refused to eat, keeping his eye on the dog, and inviting him as it were to be his taster. At length this little animal's fears being somewhat abated, and his appetite quickened by the smell of the victuals, he approached slowly, and with trembling ventured to eat. The lion then advanced gently and began to partake, and they finished their meals very lovingly together. From this day the strictest friendship commenced between them, a friendship consisting of all possible af- fection and tenderness on the part of the lion, and of the ntmost confidence and boldness on the part of the dog; insomuch that he would lay himself down to sleep within the fangs, and under the jaws of his terrible patron. As Mr. Felton had the curiosity to see the two friends <at he went for twenty pounds of beef, which was cut into pieces, and given into the cage when immediately the little brute was desirous of making a monopoly of the whole, and putting his paw upon the meat, and grumbling and barking, he audaciously flew in the face of the lion. But the generous creature, instead of being offended with his impotent companion, started back, and seemed terrified vith the fury of his attack, neither attempted to eat a bit till his favourite had tacitly given permission. When they were both gorged, the lion stretched and turned himself, and lay down in an evident posture for repose, but this his sportive companion would not permit. He frisked and gambolled about him, barked at him, would now tear his head with his claws, and again sieze by the ear, and bite and pull away while the noble beast appeared affected by no other sentiment save that of plea- sure and complacency. But let us proceed to the tragic catartrophy of this ex- traordinary story. In about twelve months the little spaniel sickened and died, and left his loving patron one of the most disconsolate ot creatures. For a time the lion did not appear to concieve otherwise than that his favour- ite was asleep. He would continue to smell him, and then would stir him with his nose, and turn him over with his paw; but finding that all his efforts were vain, he would traverse his cage from end to end, at a swift and uneasy pace, then stop, and look down upon him with fixed and drooping regard and again lift his head on high, and open 4tia horrible throat, and prolong his roar, as of distant thunder, for several minutes together. They attempted, but in vain, to convey the carcass from 4ritiv, lie watched it perpetually, and would suffer nothing to touch it. The keeper then endeavoured to tempt him with a variety of victuals, but he turned from all that was offered with loathing. They then put several living dogs into his cage, and these he instantly tore peacemeal, but left their members on the floor. His passion being thus inflamed> he would dart his fangs into the boards, and pluck away large splinters, and again grapple at the bars of the cage, and seemed enraged at his restraint from tearing the world to pieces. Ag-iin, as quiet spent, he would stretch himself by the remains of his beloved associate, and gather him in with his paws. and put him to his bosom and then utter under roars of such terrible melancholy as seemed to threaten all around, for the loss of his little playfellow, the only friend the only companion he had had upon earth. For five days he thus languished, and gradually declined without taking "IIY sustenance, or admitting any comfort; tii. ntn- morning, or was 1(\111>11. dead, with his head loving- jj oil t e c.rcass ot his little friend.-—Brooke.

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