St. Bernard barrel

You know how, at least in cartoons, St. Bernards always carry a little barrel around their necks? At some point during my childhood, my mom told me the dogs carried hot chocolate in the barrel. Made sense to me—something hot to give to the cold skiers the dogs rescued from the slopes. 

I still thought it was hot chocolate until sometime last year, when Chris told me it's actually brandy in that little barrel. Innocence shattered. Thanks, Chris.

In a new children's book, Wiggens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant, the St. Bernard's barrel is said to contain "the spirit of helping others." Yeah, it contains spirits, all right!