ROVER would go into the water fast enough for a bathe or a swim, but he would not bring anything out. The children used to throw in sticks, and Rover and I used to bound in together; but I would bring the stick back, while he swam round and round, enjoying himself. I am not vain, but I could not help feeling how much superior I was to such a dog as Rover. He is a prize Newfoundland, and I am only a retriever of obscure family.
 
So one day I said to him—
 
"Why don't you fetch the sticks out when the children throw them in?"
 
"I don't care about sticks," he said.
 
"But it's so grand and clever to be able to fetch them out."
 
"Is it?" he answered.
 
"I know it is, for the children tell me so.
 
"Do they?" he said.
 
"I wonder you are not ashamed," I went on, a little by his , "never to do anything useful. I should be, if I were you."
 
"Ah," he said, "but you see you are not. Good night."
 
We used to spend a great deal of time by the river. The children loved to play there, and we dogs were always expected to go with them.
 
One day, as I was lying asleep on the warm grass ............