FROM THE "SPECTATOR? 239 



resembled no terrier I have ever seen. I 

 think he would have won the prize of his 

 class at the Dublin Dog Show, had it not 

 been for a terrible accident he met with in 

 being wounded by a large foxhound in a 

 neighbouring orchard. His neck was then 

 torn open, and he was rescued by John only 

 in time to prevent his being killed. As it 

 was, it was weeks before he could walk 

 and how patient he was all the time ! and as 

 the wound healed it left a thickening of his 

 skin which had an awkward look. Sprig 

 was, however, " highly commended." In 

 his youth he was perhaps rather short in his 

 temper, and always resented in the most 

 distinct manner any liberty that was taken 

 with him. To tread upon his foot was 

 perilous, but he was at once pacified if an 

 apology was made that it was accidental ; but 

 to pull his tail wilfully was an insult which 

 he resented bitterly, and for which much 

 atonement was necessary, or he would go 

 under the sofa and cry in his peculiar manner 

 when offended. 



As he grew up, Sprig developed various 



