128 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



coutact, have been remarkably playful and good- 

 natured. One was the pet of a lady, and his bringing 

 up ought to have made him gentlemanly ; but he had 

 several low tricks in the eating way, such as stealing 

 from the scullery, which used to provoke his mistress. 

 His place for hiding the purloined dainties was under the 

 pillow of her bed, and frequently, at her nightly examina- 

 tion of the spot, she found not only bones, but dead mice. 



Pug number two was a very clever fellow, who used 

 to walk out by himself every day, and when he wished 

 to re-enter the house, he always rang the door-bell, 

 either by shaking the wire with his paw, or taking it 

 between his teeth. He was clever in fetching what was 

 wanted from different parts of the house, but was very 

 much afraid of being by himself in the dark. He had 

 formed a great friendship with a kitten, and the two 

 used to bask together before the fire. If Pug were 

 told to fetch some article from the bed-room, after the 

 house was closed for the night, he insisted on having 

 puss's companionship. If she were unwilling to move, 

 he dragged her along with his mouth, and frequently 

 mounted several stairs with her, before she gave con- 

 sent to the proceeding. 



Multitudes of anecdotes exist, which have been 

 handed down to us, as relating to dogs, without any 

 information concerning the species of the principal 

 actors, as in the following instances. 



The Fire-dog was to be seen at almost every con- 

 flagration in London, either mounted on the engine or 

 tearing along by its side, seeming to think his presence 

 necessary on all such occasions. He was well known 

 at all the engine stations, though he did not belong to 

 or derive his support from any individual. At last the 



