DOGS. 105 



if his master whispered in his ear, 4 Find something for 

 your master,' every loose article which he could carry 

 was sure to be laid at his master's feet ; and frequently 

 the ladies of the family were obliged to lock their work- 

 boxes, to prevent their contents from being carried off 

 by Dash. If one glove were missing, and the other 

 were shown to him, he did not rest till he had found it ; 

 and one day I saw him push a pile of music-books off a 

 what-not, and drag out a glove which had been deemed 

 irrecoverable. A countryman, charged with a letter to 

 be delivered to Dash's master, arrived at the house while 

 that gentleman was at breakfast. The man was shown 

 into a parlour, where he was about to sit down, when 

 a growl saluted his ears. Turning round, he saw Dash 

 lying in a chair near the fire-place, who reared his head, 

 and the ring of the bell-pull hanging close by, he put 

 his paw in it. As often as the man attempted to sit, 

 so often did Dash growl; till at last the stranger's 

 curiosity being excited, as to what the dog would do 

 if he persevered, he sat down in a chair. Dash then 

 effectually pulled the bell ; and the servant who an- 

 swered the summons, was much astonished when he 

 heard who had rung. He, however, was equally pleased, 

 for it explained a mystery which had long puzzled him 

 and his fellow-servants. It seemed that whenever any 

 of them sat up for their master or mistress when they 

 were out, the parlour bell was sure to ring immediately 

 after they had settled themselves to sleep. Of course 

 they had never suspected the spaniel, although, when 

 they afterwards discussed the matter, they recollected 

 that when they awoke, he was not to be seen. There 

 was no doubt that directly he saw their eyes closed, he 

 went to the bell in order to rouse them to watchfulness. 



