FROM THE "SPECTATOR." 243 



that one hot day I had walked out from 

 town, and being thirsty went into the dining- 

 room for a drink of water. I saw Sprig's 

 ball under the table, and when I went into 

 the garden where my girls were sitting they 

 said, " Sprig has lost his ball, and is perfectly 

 miserable." After I had sent him to look 

 about for it, I said, "Now, Sprig, I know 

 where it is ; I saw it in the dining-room 

 under the table ; go fetch it." He looked 

 brightly at me, and I repeated what I had 

 said. He trotted off, and while we were 

 wondering whether he had understood me, 

 he returned with it in his mouth quite 

 delighted. I have mentioned his preaching, 

 which may sound rather irreverent, but it 

 was an accomplishment entirely of his own 

 invention. When seated in a chair after 

 dinner, and requested to preach, he would 

 sit up, place his forepaws gravely on the 

 table, and then lifting up one paw as high 

 as his head, and then the other, deliver a 

 discourse to the company in a sort of gur- 

 gling, growling manner, with an occasional 

 low bark, which was indescribably ludicrous 



