214: FIVE ACRES TOO MUCH. 



brittle okras, and trampled rows of string-beans into 

 the earth. 



They had seen Patrick chase the chickens from 

 the garden, and, having constituted themselves his 

 adjutants, proceeded to keep the sacred precincts 

 clear of these nnholy intruders. Never would a 

 wandering pullet or youthful rooster step within the 

 fatal bounds but the two dogs would dart out with 

 loud yelps, and would frequently follow her or him, 

 naturally bewildered, and not knowing which way to 

 escape, several times round the garden, over the beds 

 and through the vegetables, doing more harm in five 

 minutes than an entire brood of chickens would do 

 in a month. It was in vain that we endeavored to 

 explain to them that zeal was dangerous ; and their 

 manner of self -congratulation, and of demanding ap 

 proval when they had finally succeeded in ejecting 

 the trespasser, disarmed blame or correction. 



There was one idiosyncrasy in Patrick s mind he 

 never could punish an animal. If the pups destroy 

 ed an entire bed, or broke down a dozen plants, he 

 would only utter an exclamation or two of horror 

 and reproach, and then add, apologetically, &quot; Ah ! the 

 poor bastes do not know any better.&quot; This threw 

 the duty of correction upon my shoulders, and I 

 never was a subscriber to that horrible doctrine that 



