232 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. IX. 



feel. There are some affections which do not grow by 

 excluding or uprooting others, but, like vines and elrns, 

 grow best together, and I should mourn the day when I 

 found it impossible to cherish together love for the departed, 

 and the living." 



The loss of the terrier, Grim, was associated with his 

 sister Mary's love for the dog; and in December 1849 he 

 writes to a friend, Mr. J. C. Brown, " Have they told you that 

 Grim is dead ? Poor little fellow, he was suddenly attacked 

 in the very midst of his gambols by a stroke of apoplexy, 

 and died in a few hours, in spite of the promptest treatment. 

 The sight of animal suffering is always to me very horrible, 

 and the loss of my kind little companion has vexed me 

 grievously. He was dear to me for his giver, my good cousin 

 Alick's sake, and still more as a memento of my dear sister 

 Mary, with whom I always in thought associated him ; and 

 I feel his loss very bitterly. Somehow, Christmas has 

 always been a sad period with me, and this year is like 

 preceding ones in that respect." Of a visitor who was 

 present when Grim was seized by illness, he remarks : 

 " Your brother David is 'a fine fellow; his sympathy with 

 me over my little dog's dying agonies endeared him to me. 

 I loved the poor fellow for Mary's sake, and lamented him 

 sincerely." Grim was a general favourite with his master's 

 friends, and was always recognised as a member of the 

 family, being spoken of as "my son Grim." A letter to 

 Miss Abernethy contains this paragraph : " Mi respectabel 

 parint is tolerabil, and if the Guvirnor wood not li on the 

 sofa, but run after the geeg as i doo, which would be 

 quite well, butt the oald geinleman luvs too grumbel. 

 And am your afekshinate stepsun, 



"GRIM WJLSON." 



