5 8 DOG STORIES 



Till that time he was a poor stranger and 

 vagrant dog friendless. But thenceforward 

 he lived in the hospital, and spent his pension 

 himself "at the butcher's shop, as he did also 

 many another coin given to him by numerous 

 friends. Many is the halfpenny which, as a 

 child, I gave Hardy, that I might see him 

 buy his own meat which he did with judg- 

 ment, and a due regard to value. When a 

 penny was given to him, he would, on 

 arriving at the shop, place it on the counter 

 and rest his nose or paw upon it until he 

 received two halfpennyworths, nor would any 

 persuasion induce him to give up the coin 

 for the usual smaller allowance. I was a 

 young child at the time, but I had a great 

 veneration for Hardy, and remember him 

 well, but lest my juvenile memory might 

 have been in fault, I have, before writing 

 this letter, compared my recollections with 

 those of my elders, who, as grown people, 

 knew Hardy for many years, and confirm 

 all the above facts. There, indeed, was the 

 right dog in the right place. Peace to his 

 shade! J. D. C. 



