196 CANINE PATIENCE. 



" After some time she had puppies, of which she 

 was fond beyond expression. The servant being 

 allowed to drown some of the puppies, pretended 

 to understand the permission in a general sense, 

 and destroyed them all. It is supposed, that his 

 motive for this conduct was to prevent her from 

 being detained from following and assisting him. 

 In order to make you acquainted with the detail of 

 her business, it must be premised, that the small 

 extent of cultivated ground on Mr. Mackenzie's 

 farm, was surrounded by a slight fence of wattled 

 touch-wood, which was easily injured. Therefore, 

 the first task in the morning, and the last at night, 

 was to drive the wild cattle and horses from the 

 vicinity, to a great distance in the woods, lest they 

 should break these frail enclosures. Dugald, know- 

 ing the docility of his companion, trusted to her ex- 

 ertions for the performance of this duty, without 

 stirring himself from the bounds. When she had 

 driven them away, she would return, and look meek- 

 ly in his face for approbation ; but his usual reward 

 was threats, frowns, and vociferations ; upon which 

 she would immediately set out again, and scour the 

 woods without stopping, till she had driven the 

 objects of her pursuit to an incredible distance. 

 On returning a second time, breathless and ex- 

 hausted, she would fawn on her tyrant, before she 



