[ Anonymous / Child's Companion and Juvenile Instructor ]
This work, published in 1861 by the Religious Tract Society, is a collection of brief tales, anecdotes, and poems designed to cultivate Christian values in the young. The Society, founded in 1799, was an influential evangelical publisher in London; it eventually merged with the still-active Lutterworth Press.
The anecdote below was preceded by an image that knocks off Sir Edwin Landseer's A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society:
THE FAITHFUL DOG
A Gentleman connected with the Newfoundland fishery owned a faithful dog. On one occasion, a boat and crew in his employ were in a state of great danger just outside a line of breakers, which, owing to a change in the wind since the departure of the boat, rendered the return passage very perilous. The people on shore were quite unable to render any help to their friends afloat, though every minute added to their danger. The dog looked on for some time, as if quite aware of there being great cause for anxiety in all around him. At a spring he threw himself into the water, and swam with all haste to the boat. The crew, supposing he wished to join them, made many attempts to help him on board; but he seemed resolved to swim around, keeping, however, very near the boat. After a while one of the crew seemed to guess his meaning, and shouted, "Give him the end of a rope; that's what he wants." This was done; the dog at once made straight for the shore, to which in a few minutes, directed by the kind providence of God, the boat and its crew were brought in safety.
We may glance here at another similar fact. A gentleman was at a bathing-place, and, having one morning ventured too far into the sea, was in great danger of being drowned. His two daughters tried to send out a boat to his assistance; but the boatmen, taking advantage of the alarm of these young ladies, demanded a large amount of money. During this conversation the gentleman was in great peril, and ready to sink. Suddenly a Newfoundland dog, which had never before seen these persons, made his appearance, sprang into the water, and succeeded in safely bringing the gentleman ashore.
The gentleman thus delivered, at once purchased the dog. He had a beautiful picture representing the scene, painted and engraved, and presented each of his friends with a copy of it.
Who, then, would not be kind to that faithful creature, the dog? (329 - 330)
The second anecdote above first appeared (to the best of my knowledge) in William Bingley's 1802 Animal Biography, and was repeated by numerous authors during the 19th Century.