"The Legend of the Newfoundland Dog"

As the story is told, God turned one day to contemplate all of His creations and saw that Newfoundland isle, a small nation of fisherman, whose rough, weather-beaten people fought courageously against the elements of nature as the freezing cold winter took its toll and the sea asked the sacrifice of human life.

Nevertheless, they remained deeply rooted, with stubbornness as great as their courage.

In His infinite compassion God thought how He might alleviate their suffering.

He searched among the creatures of his creations, but found none that would serve. It was then that he decided to create one anew.

He took the body of the bear, and added the lithe flexible lines and movement of the seal, with the prowess to swim and speedily slip between the waves.

He then saw the dolphin happily following the ships, their joy-filled eyes revealing their serene temperament, and more, they so loved men that they often rescued them, saving them from the sea. Yes, they too would be part of his creature.

When God was done molding and casting, there suddenly appeared in his arms a superb animal with glistening black fur, powerful and sweet in the same moment.

This new being, however, had to have an allegiance and faithfulness, tried and true, to be able to live beside man and master.

It was at that moment that the Lord placed in its chest the heart of a dog, and the miracle was complete.

From that day onward, those men of the sea had beside them their courageous companion, ever strong, ever faithful, the Newfoundland dog."

From: Of the Black Angels, by Emmy Bruno