The Book of Stories for the Story-teller Part 42

"Let's cover him up," said the snowflakes, hurrying down; but before they had time to whiten his clothes a great big beautiful Saint Bernard dog came bounding down the road.

It was Prince. He had waked up from his nap behind the stove, and hastened after the soldier cousin as fast as his four feet could carry him. He was not afraid of the night or the snow, and he was as warm as toast in his s.h.a.ggy coat.

He was thinking of Hans as he hurried along--when, suddenly, he spied him lying there so still by the roadside.

In an instant the good dog sprang to the child's side, barking furiously, for every dog in Switzerland knows that those who sleep on snow pillows seldom wake up.

"Bow-wow! Bow-wow!" he barked, loud and long, "Bow-wow! Bow-wow!"

which meant in his language, "Little master, wake up!"

But Hans was dreaming of the mountains where the travellers went, and did not hear.

"Bow-wow! Bow-wow! Wake up! Wake up!" called the dog; and he licked Hans's face and tugged at his coat, pulling him along with his strong teeth.

"You can't wake him up," said the wind.

"Bow-wow! I can," barked Prince; and he ran down the road and called for help: "Bow-wow! Bow-wow! Come here! Come here!"

The sound of his voice reached the village, where everything was as quiet as the snow itself. The cows heard it first and mooed in their stalls. The soldier cousin heard it, on his way to Hans's house, where he was going to find out whether Prince had come back. Hans's uncle and aunt heard it as they searched through the house for their little boy. The neighbours heard it, and opened their doors to listen.

"Bow-wow! Bow-wow! Come here! Come here!"

"Something is wrong," said the people; and they all hurried out of their houses, away from their fires and their suppers, up the mountain-side, till they came to the spot where the faithful dog kept guard over his little master.

Hans's uncle never tired of telling how Prince saved Hans. He tells it on the long winter evenings when the winds whistle through the pines and he tells it in the summer to the travellers as they climb the mountains.

Hans thinks it is more beautiful than a fairy story, and so does his aunt; for ever since that snowy night she has been ready to agree that the dear dog is better than all the silver chains in the world.

The Story-Teller's Series

THE BOOK OF STORIES

Books for Story-Tellers

How to Tell Stories to Children

And Some Stories to Tell. By SARA CONE BRYANT. Thirteenth Impression.

Stories to Tell to Children

By S. C. BRYANT. Twelfth Impression.

The Book of Stories for the Story-Teller

By f.a.n.n.y E. COE. Seventh Impression.

Songs and Stories for the Little Ones

By E. GORDON BROWNE. Fourth Impression, Enlarged.

Stories for Character Training

By E. L. CABOT and E. EYLES. Sixth Impression.

Stories for the Story Hour

From January to December. By ADA M. MARZIALS. Fourth Impression.

Stories for the History Hour

From Augustus to Rolf. By NANNIE NIEMEYER. Third Impression.

Stories for the Bible Hour

By R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON. Third Impression.

Nature Stories to Tell to Children

By H. W. SEERS. Fourth Impression.

Everyday Stories to Tell to Children

By Mrs H. C. CRADOCK. Second Impression.

Stories for the Nature Hour

By A. and E. SKINNER. Second Impression.

Stories to Tell the Littlest Ones