The Amazing Adventures of Archibald Esq.

He always took his dog Trusty with him, for Trusty kept running and jumping about, barking at the quails and partridges, and hunting after squirrels and rabbits.

One day Henry had gone far from his home. It was the beautiful season of spring. The birds were singing on the trees; the flowers were blossoming in the meadows; the leaves were beginning to clothe the woods in green, and all around seemed lovely and pleasant.

Henry had set out early in the morning, and Trusty went barking and jumping by his side. He was already on the hill, when the sun was rising. It is delightful to be in the country in spring, when the sun comes up! Before the sun yet appears, the robin is on the top of the tree singing his song; the larks, and blackbirds, and chipping birds, and martins, are all awake, and seem to be talking to each other as fast as they can. The grass is sparkling with dew, the valleys are white with mist, and the air is sweet with the smell of flowers.

I recommend it to all my little readers, when they happen to be in the country in spring, to go upon the hills, and see the sun rise. But they should not go alone. They should get some person to go with them, and take care of them, lest they should meet with some bad accident.

Well, Henry went out early in the morning, as I said before. He went first to the top of a high hill, and looked down into a deep valley below it. The valley was covered with a white mist, which looked like a lake. It was exceedingly beautiful.

Henry paused and looked at it for a long time. Then he went along till he came to a river. It was a clear stream, and he could see the little fishes playing in it. Then he passed through a meadow, and thousands of flowers were opening their buds. And then he passed into the woods, and many birds were singing on the trees, and sailing in the air; and then he climbed up a steep mountain, and looked far and wide over the meadows, and woods, and waters.

He was standing on a high rock, from which he could see on one side many hills, and villages, and plains. On the other was a deep chasm, or valley, between the rocks, in which the eagles, crows, and owls, were flying about.

Henry was delighted with the scene. He could not be content till he had reached the top of the mountain, and he continued to climb higher and higher. At length he was on the very highest part of the mountain. His dog was by his side.

He stood on a rock that overhung the steep. Suddenly his foot slipped, and he fell far down to the bottom of the rock! Alas, poor Henry! The fall was nearly fatal to him. His dog ran to him, but Henry was insensible. Poor Trusty barked as if his heart would break, but no one came to his help.

The day passed away, and evening came. The wild fox and vultures came around the body of poor Henry, but his faithful dog drove them away.

All night Trusty lay watching by his master, often barking and howling, and thus endeavoring to call some one to his aid. In the morning, some persons, in search of Henry, heard the voice of the dog, and were thus able to find his master. He was carefully carried home, and after a long time he got well. Thus, you see, good faithful Trusty saved the life of his master.