Canine Sagacity. 291 



mistress. He had pleaded immunity from them in pitying 

 glances, but without avail. Something must be done, his 

 looks would seem to say, as he lay cuddled up by the cosy 

 kitchen fire. One could almost read the thoughts that were 

 shaping themselves in his mind. 



For three long years Frisky, who had been allowed to 

 sleep at nights in the sitting-room, was accustomed, when 

 morning broke, to visit the different members of the family 

 in their respective dormitories, and have a lively, rollicking 

 time. These visits were always looked forward to, and in no 

 instance, during the whole of that period, were they ever 

 intermitted. To have missed one of these exciting romps, 

 would have been a keenly-felt deprivation. But that we were 

 to be doomed to such disappointment and affliction, subse- 

 quent events only too clearly showed. 



One Saturday morning, for it was always on the Jewish 

 Sabbath that the bath was given, Frisky failed to make his 

 accustomed calls. This was noticed by everyone, and no 

 amount of comment was provoked. Loudly his name was 

 spoken, but no response was elicited, and it soon became 

 evident that the cunning little elf was beyond the reach of 

 calling. Search was instituted, but to no effect. His absence 

 was lamented, and it was feared some calamity had befallen 

 him. A silence, like unto death, filled the house. There 

 was weeping and wailing about, for Frisky was not. 



But just as the shadows of night were deepening, and hope 

 was dying out of the bosoms of all, the patter of little feet 

 was heard upon the pavement leading to the back-door. 

 The sounds were too familiar to be those of a stranger. All 

 listened with breathless silence. " Tis Frisky, 'tis Frisky," 

 went up a chorus of voices, and we all rushed to the door to 

 welcome the runaway back to the fold. Not a chiding word 

 was spoken, not a look of reproof given, as with out- 

 stretched arms the culprit was received to our hearts. A 

 more crestfallen, conscience-stricken being, however, could 

 hardly be conceived to exist. 



