( 230 ) 



MY DOG, SLOP. 



Slop was a collie. There was nothing remarkable 

 about his appearance. He was a handsome animal 

 certainly, but I have seen handsomer. He was simply 

 a purely-bred, good-sized, well-formed black and tan 

 shepherd dog. But although I have had a long and 

 extensive acquaintance with dogs of various breeds, 

 it has never been my fortune to know one that could 

 match Slop in keenness and breadth of sagacity and 

 in versatility of acquirements. He became my pro- 

 perty when we were both very young — he a fat un- 

 shapely little pup, just able to lick milk on his own 

 account, I a boy of fourteen. I was proud of Slop, 

 and soon got to be very fond of him ; and he speedily 

 attached himself to me, and acknowledged me as his 

 sole master. We were inseparable; he followed me 

 everywhere like my shadow ; and we soon came 

 thoroughly to understand each other. I have always 

 been excessively fond of boating, fishing, and shoot- 

 ing; and in the Shetland archipelago, I had ample 

 scope and freedom to indulge in such pastimes. 



Slop was a present from my father. I began his 

 education almost immediately; and he soon showed 



