THE WILD BOAR. 21 



one of decided bad temiDer : to the most superficial ob- 

 server his cross-grained disposition mil be apparent, 

 not only from his behaviour among his neighbours, but 

 in the family circle and with his own brothers and 

 sisters. If one come near him a grunt and a blow are 

 the greeting given ; and though all, from a knowledge 

 of his sour temper probably, seem disposed for peace 

 sake to give way, he is at every moment picking a 

 quarrel with a neighbour, and destroying the harmony 

 which would otherwise reign over his home. His 

 mother, whose patience is at last exhausted, may run at 

 and nearly upset him with a well-applied box on the 

 ear, given with her hard snout ; but this only makes 

 him the more sulky and disagreeable. Presently the 

 party -\\ill be joined by some other members of the boar 

 community, distant relations probably of the young mis- 

 anthrope ; and one of these, fairly disgusted with such 

 behaviour, and in no wise feeling bound to put up with 

 it, nor caring one jot for young Hateful's scowls, turns 

 about, and gives him what he has long deserved, a 

 sound thrashing. 



Another again will be as meek and long-suffering as 

 the other is insolent and over-bearing; giving way 

 without resistance, enduring all without complaint, a 

 very Cinderella among her bolder and overweening 

 sisterhood. What a life such a timid oppressed pigling 

 leads ! If it join the meal of the others, a grunt and a 



c 3 



