SLEIGHT OF HAND. Ill 



and the death of my favourite and accomplished poodle 

 cost me some tears. I felt his loss for a considerable 

 time, and then made up my mind never again to have 

 a favourite dog ; but my Spitz hound Malbrook has from 

 his strong attachment for me become a worthy substi- 

 tute for my departed poodle. 



" I have taught hiin even as one -would say precisely, ' thus I would 

 teach a dog?' " — Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act iv. se. 3. 



Addison says that the dog has been the companion of 

 man 6000 years, and has only learned one of his vices ; 

 that is, to wony his species when he finds him in 

 trouble. Tie a saucepan to a dog's tail, and another 

 dog will fall on him. Put a man in prison for debt, 

 and another will lodge a detainer against him. 



The French poodle is a quiet and sagacious creature. 

 The life and adventures of the following are highly 

 interesting. Moustache was born at Calais, 1799. At 

 the tender age of six months he was disposed of to an 

 eminent grocer at Caen, who treated him in the kindest 

 manner. But, strolling about the • town one day not 

 long after his arrival. Moustache hapi^ened to come upon 

 a parade of grenadiers. They were brilliantly equipped. 

 Their spirits were high, and their drums loud. Mous- 

 tache, instantly smitten with their fine appearance, 

 cut the grocer for ever, slunk out of the town, and 

 joined the grenadiers. He was dirty and tolerably 

 ugly, but there was an intelligence, a sparkle, a bright- 

 ness about his eye that could not be overlooked. " We 

 have not a single dog in the regiment," said the petit 

 tambour, " and at any rate this one looks clever enough 

 to forage for himself." The drum -major assented, and 

 Moustache attached himself to the band, and was soon 



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