DOGS. 107 



him out,' Rover never offered to go ; but if he said, ' I 

 shall take Rover with me to-day,' the moment breakfast 

 was over he was on the alert, never losing sight of his 

 master. Plans were frequently made for the ensuing 

 morning in the dog's presence ; and one day he was not 

 taken. Ever after, when Rover heard over night what 

 was to take place, he started alone, very early, and met 

 the party, sitting in front of the road with a peculiar 

 kind of grin on his face, expressing a doubt of being well 

 received, in consequence of coming without permission. 

 Directly, however, he saw he was well received, he threw 

 off his affected shyness, and jumped about with delight. 



Though a most aristocratic dog in his usual habits, 

 when staying in England with Mr. St. John he struck 

 up an acquaintance with a ratcatcher and his curs, as- 

 sisting them in their business, watching at the rat-holes 

 where the ferrets were in, and being the best dog of all ; 

 for he never gave a false alarm, or failed to give a true 

 one. The moment he saw his master, however, he cut 

 his humble friends, and declined their acquaintance in 

 the most comical manner. 



A dark-brown retriever, named Sam, was in the habit 

 of going into a kennel of hounds, who always crowded 

 round and caressed him. When they were in the field 

 at exercise, Sam was told to go and amuse them ; he 

 then went among them, jumped Jim Crow, and played 

 all sorts of antics, leaping and tumbling about in the 

 most laughable manner, they looking at him most atten- 

 tively. He went with his master to call upon a lady ; 

 she patted him, asked if he were the celebrated Sam, 

 and hearing that he was, she invited him to stay with 

 her. The animal ran to his master, looked up, and 

 seemed to ask for his consent. He was told to return 



