CH. xiv.] TAFFY PURLOINS. 241 



play tricks upon him with impunity. On one occasion, when the 

 labourers had left off work to take their dinners, one of them 

 amused himself by offering Taffy a piece of bread stuck on the end 

 of a knife, and by suddenly turning it over, managed to give the 

 dog a rap on the nose with the handle, on his attempting to seize 

 the proffered gift. Taffy bore the joke patiently for some time ; but 

 at length, thinking that his good-nature was unduly taxed, and 

 perceiving also that the loaf was fast decreasing, he determined to 

 turn the tables. Bristling up, therefore, he jumped, open-mouthed, 

 at the man, and so alarmed him, that in his fright he dropped the 

 bread, and Taffy quietly walked off with it, much to the delight of 

 the bystanders. 



427. Though Taffy's natural parts were so great, they were 



doubtless improved by education. If Mr. A n ever called the 



dog's attention to a thing by pointing at it, the dog would, to 

 nearly a certainty, bring it to him when he had got well out of 

 sight, and was, therefore, not likely to be suspected of participating 

 in the robbery. Many a time has Taffy run off with the finest fish 

 from the side of the unsuspecting angler, who, until he was en- 

 lightened upon the subject on its safe restoration, may in his be- 

 wilderment have gravely considered whether, under very favouring 

 circumstances, it would be possible for a trout to possess the same 

 vitality and power of locomotion as an eel. It always tended to the 

 maintenance of the piscator's proverbial reputation for patience and 

 equanimity, that he should not detect Taffy in the commission of 

 the theft ; for the dog would constantly show fight rather than give 

 up the prize. He evinced yet greater adroitness in securing pigeons. 

 On numerous occasions bets have been laid, and rarely lost, that he 

 would bring home the particular one indicated to him out of a large 

 flock feeding on the ground ; for he would patiently crouch, per- 

 haps affecting to be asleep, until it incautiously afforded him the 

 opportunity of seizing it ; but so careful was he of his charge, that 

 he invariably delivered it up to his master, perfectly uninjured. 



428. With all his cunning and eccentricities, Taffy was " passing 

 honest," and seldom purloined on his own account ; but I regret to 

 say it is recorded of him, that in a moment of weakness and hunger 

 he yielded to temptation, The instance was this. Taffy observed 

 a woman seated at a cottage-door feeding her child. He earnestly 

 begged for a share, but in vain. Remarking, however, that she 

 frequently turned round to dip the spoon into something, he con- 

 trived to creep behind her without her perceiving him, when to his 

 satisfaction he discovered a basin of pap on the floor. It was too 

 hot to gobble up at once ; so waiting quietly until her attention 

 was drawn away, he cautiously took up the crock and trotted off 

 with it to the good woman's dismay, who was wondering what had 

 become of her dear baby's dinner and, without spilling any of the 

 contents, carried it to a convenient distance, where he leisurely ate 

 up all the carefully-prepared food, leaving the basin perfectly un- 

 damaged, and as clean as if it had been washed by the most praise- 

 worthy housewife. 



K 



