Alexis, Lucy, Emilia, and Jacobus to affift him in a little experiment, which he thought would contribute to their instruction and amufement. He took four pieces of woollen cloth, equal in dimenfions, but of different colours; one being black, another blue, a third brown, and a fourth white: And having chofen a proper fituation, he laid them all, very near each other, on the furface of the fnow. In a few hours, the black piece of cloth had funk confiderably below the furface; the blue almoft as much; the brown a little; but the white remained precifely in its pofition.* Obferve, faid Euphronius, how varied is the influence of the fun's rays on different colours? They are abforbed, and retained by the black; and in the piece of cloth before us, they have produced fuch a strong and durable heat, as to melt the fnow underneath. Their effect on blue is nearly fimilar; but they seem not *See Franklin's Obfervations. to to penetrate the white: And the piece of that colour, by having no warmth communicated to it, ftill continues on the furface of the fnow. 1 This little experiment teaches you, Emilia, that white hats will afford the best defence to your complexion; but that they fhould have dark linings, to abforb the rays of light which are reflected from the earth. You may learn from it, Alexis, that cloaths of a light colour are best adapted to fummer, and to hot climates; that black fubftances acquire heat fooner, and retain it longer than any other; and that fruit walls, drying ftoves, &c. fhould be painted black. Other inferences I shall leave to you the pleasure of discovering. Allow me only to remind you, that knowledge and virtue may be juftly compared to rays of light; and that it is my warmeft wish, and highest ambition, that your heart and understanding may unite the qualities of the two oppofite colours you have been contemplating. May your mind be quick in the reception, and stea dy in the retention of every good impreffion! And may the luftre of your endowments be reflected on your brothers, fifters, and friends! A THE DOG. My dog, the truftieft of his kind, GAY'S FABLES. WATER fpaniel, belonging to a neighbour, was a frequent, and always a moft welcome gueft in the family of Euphronius. Her placid looks, gentle manners, and affiduity to please, rendered her equally the favourite of the fervants, and of the children. It happened that there was a general alarm concerning mad dogs in Manchester; and to guard against danger, Sylvia was closely confined to her kennel. A week elapfed, without a fingle vifit from her; no one knew the cause of her abfence, and all lamented it. She at length length returned; the children flocked with joy and eagernefs around her; but they beheld her trembling, feeble, and emaciated. She crawled over the kitchen floor; looked wiftfully at Emilia; then at Jacobus; then at Lucy: Advancing a step forwards, fhe licked the hand of Alexis, which was ftretched forth to ftroke her; and expired at his feet, without a groan. The children at first stood filent, and motionless; a gufh of tears fucceeded; and Euphronius, though pleased with the fenfibility they shewed, thought it necessary to foften the impreffion which this affecting incident produced. He endeavoured to withdraw their attention from Sylvia, by defcribing the qualities, and relating the history of the fpecies at large. I am not furprised, faid he, that you should lament the lofs of an animal, whom nature seems to have peculiarly formed, to be the favourite and friend of man. The beauty of his fhape, his ftrength, agility, swiftness, courage, generofity, fidelity, and gratitude, command our attachment, and give him the justest claim to our care and protection. In obedience and docility, he furpaffes every other quadruped; and fo perfectly is he domefticated, that Mr. Buffon obferves, he affimilates his character to that of the family in which he lives. Amongst the proud he is difdainful, and churlish amongst clowns. In Congo, Angola, and in South America, where dogs are found wild, they unite in packs, and attack the fierceft animals of the foreft. On the fouthern coast of Africa, it is faid, there are dogs that neither bark nor bite; and their flesh is highly valued by the Negroes. * The flesh of this animal is alfo confidered as a dainty by the Chinese, and public fhambles are èrected for the fale of it. In Canton particularly, there is a street appropriated to that purpose; and what is very extraordinary, whenever a dog butcher appears, all the dogs in the place pursue him in full cry. They know their enemy, and perfecute him as far as they are able.† *See Brookes's Natural History. The |