OUR DOGS. 105 



family excursion took him off for a day, they would inquire 

 with interest, "Where 's our dog? what 's become of 

 Rover?" As to the female part of our family, we had 

 so often anticipated piteous scenes when poor Rover would 

 be brought home with broken paws or without his pretty 

 tail, that we quite used up our sensibilities, and concluded 

 that some kind angel, such as is appointed to watch over 

 little children's pets, must take special care of our Rover. 



Rover had very tender domestic affections. His attach- 

 ment to his little playfellows was most intense ; and one 

 time, when all of them were taken off together on a week's 

 excursion, and Rover left alone at home, his low spirits 

 were really pitiful. He refused entirely to eat for the 

 first day, and finally could only be coaxed to take nour- 

 ishment, with many strokings and caresses, by being fed 

 out of Miss Anna's own hand. What perfectly boisterous 

 joy he showed when the children came back! careering 

 round and round, picking up chips and bits of sticks, and 

 coming and offering them to one and another, in the ful- 

 ness of his doggish heart, to show how much he wanted 

 to give them something. 



This mode of signifying his love by bringing something 

 in his mouth was one of his most characteristic tricks. 

 At one time he followed the carriage from Brunswick to 

 Bath, and in the streets of the city somehow lost his 

 way, so that he was gone all night. Many a little heart 



