FAITHFUL BASIL

New Zealand Tablet, 20 February 1913, Page 62

FAITHFUL BASIL

Avis is a little girl whose home is in the great city of London (says Our Animal Friends Every morning she goes to school in charge of her great St. Bernard dog, Basil, who walks proudly at her side, waving his bushy tail majestically, and never deigning to glance at the little street curs, who express their opinion of his state by short harks of derision. A crowded thoroughfare has to be crossed each day, and Avis has taught Basil to run ahead a few steps and bark loudly at the policeman, whose duty it is to stop all traffic until the foot passengers are safely over.

One morning Avis awoke with a sore throat, and her mother would not' allow her to go to school. But Basil, whose throat was not sore, saw no reason why he should be deprived of his usual morning walk; and at the accustomed hour he slipped quietly away. With his usual grand air he walked down the street until he came to the crossing.

# The policeman stood in the middle of the road, which was packed with omnibuses, hacks, and hansoms. At the sound of his familiar bark he held up his baton, and immediately the crowded 'buses and the other vehicles were drawn up solidly in line.

In response to the wave of his hand, who should step out on the crossing but Basil ? He made his way deliberately across to the opposite sidewalk, apparently quite unaware that he was doing a most unusual thing for a dog, while the omnibus drivers burst into a hearty laugh as they realised how, unconsciously, the knowing dog had tricked them all.