294 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



failed to respond when lie stooped to caress it ; no cat 

 ever growled even when he took up her kitten and 

 stroked and admired it. All seemed instinctively at 

 once to recognise his love for them ; and all showed 

 that they did so by the way in which they received his 

 advances. 



Here is his own account of an adventure with a 

 peculiarly ferocious and cross-grained dog : 



There was a Scotch terrier dog who lately died, to the very 

 great sorrow of his master, an officer in the 45th regiment, and the 

 very great rejoicing of his master's friends. He was good enough to 

 honour me by admitting me among his friends the only person not 

 belonging to the family to whom he extended that privilege. His 

 name was " Mess," which was a military abbreviation of " Mesty," 

 which was an abbreviation of Mephistopheles, the name being given 

 to him in consequence of his temper, which really deserved the name 

 of infernal. No one, except his master, his master's family, and an 

 exceptionally favoured servant or two, could put a hand on him 

 without being bitten. I know a learned barrister who has been kept 

 in bed until a very late hour in the morning, because " Mess " had 

 come into his room when the servant brought the hot water, and 

 would not allow him to get up. As long as he lay still in bed. Mess 

 sat quietly on the floor ; but at the least movement, Mess sprang up 

 with a menacing growl, flashing eyes, and gleaming teeth, and the 

 unfortunate guest had to subside again, unable even to ring the bell 

 for help, and knowing that his host and hostess must be waiting 

 breakfast for him and chafing at his laziness. 



One day I paid a visit to " Mess's " master, not knowing any- 

 thing about the dog, and not seeing the dog when I arrived. Being 

 accustomed to an early walk before breakfast, I started off as usual 

 on the following morning, and, on returning, met a little procession, 

 consisting of a nursemaid leading a donkey, on which were the two 

 daughters of my host in panniers, and a remarkably fine Scotch 

 terrier, which was trotting along in front. As soon as he saw 

 me the dog sprang forward, and I, not knowing anything of his 



