

298 KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
and the charades; and “that” little domestic 
farce in which we were all to “act.” (Enter Fino.) 
Oh, what fun we will have! J will look after— 
“The blossom that hangs on the bough.” 
I did not read Our Eprror’s delightful account 
of his last year’s Christmas festivities for nothing! 
[Oh, Frno,—what a very jolly dog you are! “We 
must be very careful, we find, what we say before 
you!] Do not let it be long before you and your 
dear little “ wifey”’ come down again. We must 
have a grand ‘‘rehearsal,” you know. Fino. 
Tottenham, Nov. 9. 
P.S.— What a splendid ‘‘ Lord Mayor's Day!” 
Iam just going to join the revels. Bombyx is 
now brushing his hat to accompany me. Hntre 
nous, the Oup Boy does love me,—just a bit ! 
PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF A DOG,—No. IV. 
BY ONE OF THAT SUFFERING RACE. 
(Continued from Page 238.) 

Lo! the poor Indian, whose untutored mind 
Sees God in storms, and hears him in the wind ! 
He thinks, admitted to that equal sky, 
His faithful dog shull bear him company. 
PorPE. 

NEPTUNE, I THINK I TOLD YoU, my dear 
sir, was, after my rescue, presented to Miss 
Emily by Major Broadsword. ‘This worthy 
called next evening to inquire “ how I was ?” 
Of course, the Major, like most of his cloth, 
was a gentleman every inch, and very kind 
to us poor dumb animals ; but you must not 
suppose for one moment—at least I do not— 
that he really called to inquire about me. 
No; like Hamlet, he saw ‘mettle more 
attractive” in my dear young mistress. Her 
sweet person it was that he called to see. 
He found her very unwell, from the un- 
natural excitement of the previous day. 
After the expressions of sorrow, usual under 
such circumstances, the Major took his leave ; 
and I believe, as an excuse for calling again 
that day, took Neptune for a swim. Master 
Albert and Miss Victoria were sent out for 
a walk with Rosa; and I, much against my 
will, accompanied them—led by a chain, to 
prevent my being stolen. Vain precaution! 
We had not walked a hundred yards along 
the parade before a large bull-dog bounced 
upon me, and appeared inclined, albeit he 
was muzzled, to tear me to pieces. Numbers 
of people rushed to the spot, but no one 
ventured to take off this seemingly savage 
dog. At last, a shabby-genteel sort of man, 
with his hat over his eyes, stepped forward ; 
and with well-assumed courage seized him 
by the tail, and hurled him away from me. 
Frightened almost to death, 1 kept my eye 
on the monster, and saw him, a few moments 
afterwards, jumping up to, and fawning over 
the hand of that very man who, a short time 
before, had so roughly used him. It was a 


piece of consummate acting on his part, as 
the sequel will show. Although at the 
moment much alarmed, Rosa was not the girl 
to allow a contretemps of this sort to pre- 
vent her making the best of this—her first 
opportunity in Brighton, to display her face 
and figure. (I must tell you she did not 
wear a shroud or “ugly”). And so, after 
quieting the children, on we walked. “Why” 
some young officers, when off duty, wear 
their full uniforms—with spurs and sword 
hanging and dangling at their heels, used 
often to be a matter of wonder to me; but 
that day I discovered at least one purpose. 
Several times during our walk, there were 
two of them belonging to the regiment then 
stationed at Brighton, who passed our party ; 
yet by a strange coincidence never seeming 
to re-pass us! Each time of passing, I 
observed they were apparently very anxious 
about the mounting of their scabbards. At 
the third time of passing, one of them stopped 
and pretended to admire me. t 
‘A pretty dog that of yours, Miss!” said 
the other to Rosa. 
But it would not do. The ice was not 
broken. Rosa had seen the same thing done 
a dozen times in Hyde Park, and expected 
something “new” in Brighton. So with a 
“Come, let us go home, my dears,” to the 
children, she swung me round ; and we were 
on our way back when we passed two more 
young bloods. Spank went a sword and 
scabbard against my poor ribs! But I was 
so thoroughly terrified by that bull-dog, I 
cared little for anything now we were on 
our way home. ‘This caused me not to 
notice it. 
Now, as “ faint heart never won fair lady,” 
and they were ‘“‘sons of Mars,” the fellows 
were determined to speak to the “divinity 
with the beautiful eyes,” and I was fixed on 
as the medium of introduction. They were 
again passing us; when one of them by a 
dexterous twist of his heel, managed to drive 
one of his spurs into my side. I cried out, 
and he made one of the most polite bows I 
ever saw, to Rosa; asked her pardon, took 
me in his arms for a moment, and then 
entered into conversation with her. Now 
the ice was broken. This was “quite new” 
to Rosa, and the chaps really were both very 
good-looking—so she fell to work in good 
earnest for a gossip. 
Poor J was quite forgotten; and dragged 
on like a culprit behind. But there were 
those near who did not forget me; for 
while one of these worthies was amusing 
the children, and the other the maid (the 
usual dodge!) the man who an hour before 
had the bull-dog with him, now crept quietly 
up to me with a commoner of our race under 
his arm; and undoing the chain from my 
collar, very cleverly fastened. it to his poor 

