78 Miscellaneotts. 



iu winter — at times by dozens — in the corn-stacks, where other miee 

 were more abundant, when the farmers were taking their corn into 

 the barns ; for at such times, either myself or children were often 

 requested to attend with my old and favourite dog Hassan, who, 

 though a large fellow, was exceedingly quick, and very fond of catch- 

 ing mice and rats, and few could escape him : the red mouse (harvest 

 mouse) was a delicate and dainty morsel ; these he immediately 

 swallowed, the other mice and rats he merely killed. My children 

 on one occasion took home some of the harvest mice ; for these I 

 made a small cage ; they hved with us some time, drank milk freely, 

 fed on any sort of grain or bread, and it was interesting to watch their 

 gambols and see them suspend themselves by their prehensile tails 

 from the wires of the cage ; unfortunately, these wires were so flexible 

 that one by one they got out, and no doubt fell a prey to pussey. 



As I have introduced my dog, I may as well mention a trait in his 

 character, proving that he was as "rigidly faithful and honest," as 

 the dog mentioned at page 5590 of the same publication ; he diifered, 

 however, from this tailless one in having a splendid black " tail wi' 

 upward curl," tipped with white. A butcher visited the Cove every 

 Friday ; the dog most certainly knew the day and was invariably on 

 the look-out, and immediately took possession of the shop, and, when 

 the butcher was absent, full charge of the meat, — was frequently shut 

 up with it, all lying around him, even on the low block on which it 

 was chopped, and woe betide the cat that attempted to steal. 



He however claimed as his perquisite the small pieces that dropped 

 when chopping, but should a large piece fall, he did not interfere. 

 Hassan had not been trained to keep shop, for I had him when only 

 a month old, nor did I tell him to attend the butcher ; he carried his 

 character in his look, and so gained the situation — 

 " His honest, sonsie *, baws'nt face. 

 Aye gat him friends in ilka place," 



and greatly respected he was by all my neighbours, for his honest 

 and quiet good-nature. With the children he was an especial favourite, 

 and constant attendant in their walks. A more intelligent "faithful 

 tyke " there could not be ; he lived with me fifteen years ; since his 

 death I dare not keep another — I cannot bear these partings. 



I could tell very mapy things about him, showing a something 

 which throws mere instinct into the shade, but must not trouble you 

 farther, beyond mentioning that, however good a character he had, 

 his name (Hassanf ) got one of my little sons, for a time, a bad one. 

 On removing to Fowey, a lady inquired of him the dog's name; he 

 said, " Hassan, madam." She mistook it for " ask him, madam," and 

 thought him impertinent; a friend to whom she mentioned it ex- 

 plained. From that time both dog and boy became favourites with 

 her — the dog soon learned to lift the latch of the door leading to 

 her kitchen, and many a piece he got by it. 



Wick, Caithness, N.B., May 24th, 1856. 



* He had, like Burns's dog, ** a white stripe down the face." 

 t * Camel-driver." 



