DOGS, AND THEIB CBASACTEBISTICS. 367" 



And to him I only Had to say, " Don, please do this,"" 

 " Don't make so much noise," " I wish you would go^- 

 down' after the mail," " Get your basket and go to the- 

 meat-market," " Please open, or shut the door," and the 

 many tricks I taught him. And when I made these- 

 requests an almost human look would spring into his- 

 face, and as quick as they could be these things were 

 done. How that dog loved me ! - I took him in his in- 

 fancy, his puppyhood. At that time he was but a little 

 roll of curly innocence. I was patient with him ; over- 

 looked his childish faults ; taught him I was his friend -^ 

 from the hand of my wife and myself he received his. 

 food, — ^the-embryonic seeds of Ivindness which we sowed • 

 early, budded in his heart and blossoxded into a love 

 that only his death severed. Severed? Not with us,, 

 simply with him ; for in our hearfe no other dog can 

 take his place. Others may come and go, but none 

 can touch the tendrils of two responsive hearts as did: 

 Don. It is twelve years since he died, but the passing- 

 years do not lessen our love for hini, but increases it ^ 

 over our hall door his portrait in oil hangs, and greets- 

 us every day with that same sweet, mild look he always- 

 had for us when alive. And if, at this late day, my 

 •wife and I talk of Don, and the intelligence he pos- 

 sessed, how he guarded her and the children, how,, 

 when once I asked him to go with her one stormy 

 night, he went and would allow no one to come near 

 her ; how when she moved he was always at her side ; 

 and when she stepped out to sing he terrified the audi* 

 ence with his angry growl when some persons tried to 

 restrain him ; and then, while she sangj he obeyed the 

 wish of his -master and lay at his mistress' feet and. 

 guarded and protected her, and, then saw her safely 



