THE DOG. 147 



soon learned to distinguish what belonged to every per- 

 son, and to every part of the person ; if I lost my glove, 

 I showed my hand to Quail, and she set out on a quest, 

 searched every place in and near the house, and almost 

 always succeeded in finding it. This she soon improved 

 into finding, of herself, whatever was dropped, and con- 

 veying it to us. Many a pocket-handkerchief was saved 

 in this way, which we never thought of sending Quail 

 in search of. 



" This faculty of recognising and carrying away 

 things that had heen touched by us, was used for 

 a bad purpose, and severely compromised her character. 

 There was an old woman who sold apples and oranges 

 at the corner of the next street. We had a servant-boy 

 who often set his eyes on them. One day he took up 

 an orange, and asked the price of it j but thinking it 

 too dear, the old woman snatched it out of his hand, 

 and bade him go ho,me. This was observed by Quail ; 

 and when he returned, she immediately ran back, snap- 

 ped up the orange, and brought it to him in triumph. 



" When this quality was discovered, it was soon put 

 into requisition ; and all the fruit-women of the town 

 were laid under contribution. The appearance of Quail 

 in the market put every one on the alert ; and many a 

 severe blow she received in doing as she was bid. She 



