FROM THE "SPECTATOR? 103 



A CONSCIENCE-STRICKEN DOG. 



[Feb. i, 1879.] 



You have frequently published letters con- 

 taining stories bearing on the question of the 

 moral nature and the future of the lower 

 animals. I venture to send you some facts 

 about a dog, narrated to me by a lady, whose 

 name and address I enclose for your own 

 satisfaction, and at my request written down 

 by her as follows 



" A young fox-terrier, about eight months 

 old, took a great fancy to a small brush, of 

 Indian workmanship, lying on the drawing- 

 room table. It had been punished more 

 than once for jumping on the table and 

 taking it. On one occasion, the little dog 

 was left alone in the room accidentally. On 

 my return, it jumped to greet me as usual, 

 and I said, ' Have you been a good little dog 

 while you have been left alone ? ' Immedi- 

 ately it put its tail between its legs and slunk 

 off into ;m adjoining room, and brought back 

 the little brush in its mouth from where it 

 had hidden it. 



