Canine Sagacity. 291 
mistress. He had pleaded immunity from them in pitying 
glances, but without avail. Something must be done, his 
looks would seem to say, as he lay cuddled up by the cosy 
kitchen fire. One could almost read the thoughts that were 
shaping themselves in his mind. 
For three long years Frisky, who had been allowed to 
sleep at nights in the sitting-room, was accustomed, when 
morning broke, to visit the different members of the family 
in their respective dormitories, and have a lively, rollicking 
time. These visits were always looked forward to, and in no 
instance, during the whole of that period, were they ever 
intermitted. To have missed one of these exciting romps, 
would have been a keenly-felt deprivation. But that we were 
to be doomed to such disappointment and affliction, subse- 
quent events only too clearly showed. 
One Saturday morning, for it was always on the Jewish 
Sabbath that the bath was given, Frisky failed to make his 
accustomed calls. This was noticed by everyone, and no 
amount of comment was provoked. Loudly his name was 
spoken, but no response was elicited, and it soon became 
evident that the cunning little elf was beyond the reach of 
calling. Search was instituted, but to no effect. His absence 
was lamented, and it was feared some calamity had befallen 
him. A silence, like unto death, filled the house. There 
was weeping and wailing about, for Frisky was not. 
But just as the shadows of night were deepening, and hope 
was dying out of the bosoms of all, the patter of little feet 
was heard upon the pavement leading to the back-door. 
The sounds were too familiar to be those of astranger. All 
listened with breathless silence. “’Tis Frisky, ’tis Frisky,” 
went up a chorus of voices, and we all rushed to the door to 
welcome the runaway back to the fold. Nota chiding word 
was spoken, not a look of reproof given, as with out- 
stretched arms the culprit was received to our hearts. A 
more crestfallen, conscience-stricken being, however, could 
hardly be conceived to exist. 
