FROM THE "SPECTATOR." 237 



me well so he does ! " When John, my 

 servant, was sent for, he gave a good account 

 of the lad, and as he entirely approved of 

 Sprig, I gave the sovereign, showing it to 

 the dog, whose wondering eyes were glanc- 

 ing from one to the other. Then I said to 

 the boy, " Put him into my arms, and tell 

 him he belongs to me ; " and he did so. 

 The little fellow looked curiously and wist- 

 fully at the lad, who, to do him justice, had 

 tears in his eyes, and then nestled into my 

 breast, licking my hands and face. When 

 my daughter came down stairs, I took up 

 Sprig and placed him in my youngest 

 daughter's arms, a process he appeared to 

 comprehend perfectly, and told him she was 

 his mistress ; nor to the day of his death did 

 he ever falter in his devoted allegiance to 

 her. He was very fond of me and of us all, 

 but his deepest love was for his mistress, and 

 on many occasions was most affecting to see. 

 She was often delicate, and once had a sharp 

 attack of typhus fever. In this illness Sprig 

 never left her. He would lie at the foot of 

 her bed watching her, and would sometimes 



