THE DOG, 
321 
“lie must have been an old dog,” ob¬ 
served Miss Taylor. “I do not think dogs 
in these days live so long.” 
“Not often,” replied Miss Winston. 
“ Twelve years is an old age for a dog, 
—though they have been known to reach 
twenty and even thirty years. It is true, 
as Annie says, that they have very long 
memories ; and instances have been known 
of their dying for joy at the return of an 
old friend. They are fond of displaying 
their gratitude, even to those who do them 
trifling services. At one time, while stay¬ 
ing in the city of It-, I had to pass daily 
through a street in which was kept a very 
large and very ill-conditioned bull-dog, who 
was the terror of the whole neighbourhood. 
I am not a coward in such matters ; but I 
confess I was rather startled one day, on 
passing down Spring Street, to see this 
dog, which was lying upon the pavement 
before his master’s door, suddenly rise up 
and advance to meet me. I put on a bold 
face, however, as I noticed that the creature 
did not seem angry, and w T alked quietly on. 
As he came up, he put his great nose to my 
hand, in the usual style of dog-courting, 
