FROM THE " SPECTA TOR." 235 



THE BIOGRAPHY OF SPRIG. 



[Jan. 20, 1872.] 



I DARE not hope to equal the eloquent and 

 most touching biography of Nero, with 

 whom I had the honour of a slight acquaint- 

 ance. But I was the possessor of an animal 

 who, in his way as a dog, not a cat, for 

 originality of character, reasoning power, 

 talent, and devoted affection I have never 

 seen equalled in his species, and you and 

 your readers may possibly be interested by 

 a sketch of his biography. 



Where Sprig was born I do not know, nor 

 had I any acquaintance with his parents. 

 One morning several years ago I chanced to 

 go down stairs early, and found the milk-boy 

 at the hall door, delivering his daily supply 

 to the cook. In the courtyard before my 

 house was a bright-looking rough terrier of 

 small size, frisking about very cheerfully, 

 trying to catch the small stump of a tail 

 which some cruel despoiler had left him. 

 As he was engaged in this pastime, a large 

 brown retriever entered the ^ate, to look on, 



