DAME GILFiy AND HER GOATS. 



253 



skins. "Verra likely she thinks there's some o' her ain amang them. 

 She's a rare creatnre to smell, is Esther ! " 



At the next call a shawl was worn, in which Esther had no inter- 

 est. To Esther, Dame Gilfin talked as if she were a real person. 

 When any one called Esther pushed herself in to be noticed. She 

 was very fond of society, and her mistress would say, "Diinia ye 

 ken I've company to-day? IsTow, if ye can behave yersel, ye can 



W:tt-S/rdA^rf 



just sit doon in the far corner an' listen. If ye can't, ye can just go 

 out-o'-doors. Do ye mind my words, Esther? " 



Esther usually crouched down in a corner of the funny little 

 cabin-parlor, and silently enjoyed the chatter going on. 



It was part of Dame Gilfin's business to rear young goats, and 

 then sell them to rich people, to be harnessed into dainty little car- 

 i-iages. You can see such any day in the parks, and very likely 

 E>^ther's pretty kids may be among them. 



For a span of thoroughly trained ones Dame Gilfin often received 

 two hundred dollars. 



