THE BEDLTNGTON TERRIER. 403 



salt-marshes; but I could not guess their errand. The taller of the pair placed 

 a basket on my table, and said with gravity: 



" We wanted a trip to London, so we thought we'd fetch him with us. We 

 never trust one of the breed to no railway man." 



I then knew that one of a precious strain of Terriers was to be mine, and I 

 received the information with sober joy. Then spoke the broader of my 

 visitors: 



"His father's gone to America. We thought you would like a puppy of the 

 old dog's (he was as game as they make them), and we brought you the best 

 for a little present." 



Here the tall man unrolled a sheet that seemed to be dotted with characters 

 that took the shape of a big triangular blotch. 



" There's the pedigree, and nothing better in England." 



The pedigree was indeed imposing. I found myself the proud possessor of 

 a "Blue Bedlington. Date of birth, July 18th; marks, none." In the blood of 

 this aristocrat mingled strains of Old Topsey, Heron's Bess, Piper, Tip, Shields' 

 Meg, and the records of these and other breedings wound from the base of the 

 triangle to the apex, where was written the name of that heir of the ages who 

 was in the basket. As the big man reverently laid his hands on the lid, he 

 looked like a bishop about to perform a confirmation ceremony. And then 

 the prize came to view. I am bound to say that a more sorry object never went 

 on four legs. He staggered absurdly, and hung his head as if he were under a 

 sense of crime. His coat, so far from showing a shade of azure, was a mere 

 rugged pelt of dark slate-color, and a comic mustache of stiff bristles gave 

 him somewhat of the appearance of a barbel. The two giants gazed on the 

 creature, and their look was one of pure rapture. Over two hundred miles the 

 brute had been conveyed, and I knew that no higher honor could be offered 

 me by my good friends; so I resolved to bestow the utmost care on the scion of 

 Topsey. He looked up at me for a moment, and then came to fawn on me 

 in a reserved sort of way; then I saw the gleam of his deep set, fiery eye, and 

 somehow the impression given by the whole carcass changed. The ladies of 

 the house came to see my new friend, and their marked restraint increased my 

 misgivings. The poor blue dog crept after them, one after the other, and 

 seemed to crave forgiveness for his own ill-favored guise ; but the feminine 

 mind did not relent, and polite words of commendation were uttered, I fear, 

 as a matter of form. 



Then a rollicking Bull Terrier puppy entered and proceeded to play. He 

 rolled the blue over, and enjoyed the fun very much until he took the liberty 

 of bestowing a nip. In an instant the ragged youngster was transformed. 

 Without making a sound, he fixed his grip and held on. The white puppy 

 showed all the gallantry of his race, but he was soon in sore straits, and the tall 

 man said: 



"Just like the old dog. They're all the same. Better part them." The 

 warriors were lifted up and separated. 



My vanity was sorely tried during my first public appearance with the 

 blue puppy. But the ugliness wore off week by week. His limbs grew wiry 

 and strong. His tail became so muscular that a tap from it was like the blow 



