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Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est filmA A partir da I'angle supArieur gau. I .(ir ^'d i *'*''■'■' 1 - ,■ i . - t't ? ' - -"^ ..■ OYS and girls of Canada, or whoever my readers may be, many, many times I have been asked by my numerous nieces and nephews, or other friends, to tell some of the true tales which I have now written down for your entertainment ; and if you like the kind of books that I like, and are as fond of animals as I am, and those to whom I have so often told the /acts related in this volume, you will be quite sure to be pleased with your new Christmas book. We were a great family for having pets of all kinds. Douglass and Cammy always had rabbits, and my Father terriers, from my earliest recollec- tions, and earlier. 10 Trvs Anecdotes of Pet Animxda. But terriers and rabbits made no end of trouble to the unhappy possessors, for they never caught sight of each other but war, death, desolation and howls ensued in hot haste and rapid succession, followed by my Father's voice, vainly trying to con- ceal his delight at the pluck and breeding of his canine pets, assuring the poor weeping boys that they were foolish fellows to attempt to keep rabbits where there were real thoroughbred Skye terriers. The boys must have ignored the fatherly advice, for over and over again, at short intervals, the same scenes were enacted, as my Father certainly always stuck to his terriers, sometimes having as many as three or four at one time. Chapter II. ■ FANNY RETTA. ' • 'AVACK and her daughter Tottachk were both members of the " Household " at the time that a fresh instalment of pets, which I am about to mention, arrived. After the destruction by fire of our pretty new house, with all its contents, including a valuable library, all my Mother's wedding gifts, bed and table linen, and innumerable possessions that could never be replaced, we left Canada for a five years' visit to the romantic and beautiful city of Edinburgh, Scotland. There my brothers and sisters attended the best schools, and laid the foundation of thei^* education. - It was upon our return to the rebuilt roughcast stone residence, near the site of the first one, that our old nurse, Mary Currie, came to see us. We 12 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals I \l: hardly remembered her; indeed, I was only an infant in arms when we went away, and the two younger children were born in Edinburgh, but Mary kissed and hugged us all with great fervor, saying, as she bade us good-bye, that she had been keeping something nice for each of us, and that she would return with her presents in a few days. Mamma was teased to distraction, as soon as Mary was gone, to guess what the promised gifts were likely to be, for the suspense to us was terrible. " Cakes of maple sugar, most probably," was the suggestion made, and as this was something in the sweetmeat line which we had never seen nor tasted, we looked daily for Mary's return with the greatest eagerness. Well, one fine bright winter morning we spied Mary coming slowly up the avenue, and on her arm she had a large covered basket. We quickly and secretly came to the conclusion that if the presents were in that huge basket they could not be little cakes of maple sugar such as Mamma had described to us, for there were onli/ t ii te .JT- >^-^A:.e&■J■^•!i/x'■^>^^.>:■i^W■'^j"■^ J -V . V ' ■■■ ' V : ■ i '"■•'--'■■g-' "She opened the lid of the mysterious basket, and displayed to our delighted, and poor Mother's horri- fied gaze, seven as lovely sweet little kittens as ever were seen." Belonging to Our Household. IS seven of us, and seven little cakes would not require so much space for their accommodation. However, our curiosity was soon satisfied, for directly after we had impatiently received from the affectionate woman a due amount of kisses and hugs, she opened the lid of the mysterious basket and dis- played to our delighted, and poor Mother's horrified gaze, seven as lovely sweet little kittens as ever were seen. I can see them distinctly before my mind's eye at this moment, and remember the colours and features of each as well as if it were but yesterday that we got them. It was a day of ecstatic joy and happiness to us. I have no recollection of what it was to Mother and the other senior members of the family. The seven kittens also have, happily for them, long since gone where no reminiscences of the day's experiences can haunt their breasts. Bessie had first choice, being the eldest, and, of course, selected and seized the darling little jet black one, which each had coveted from the first. i 14 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals. Douglass' was grey with a good deal of white about it. Nina's was a very pretty, distinguished-looking kitten, nearly white, but beautifully marked with black about the face and sides. It was a perfect beauty, and very like its mistress in character — a bright, untameable creature, full of fun and frolic. You might chase it for hours and not succeed in getting hold of it ; and, bless me, how it could spit and scratch ! Fanny Eetta, the one that fell to my lot, was a very plain, every-day sort of black-and-white kitten. I saw and acknowledged this painful fact on my first glance at her. No doubt my countenance fell as she was handed to me out of the big basket. Ah, the remorse of it ! But as soon as I took her in my arms all disloyalty was forever put to flight, and from that moment I would not have exchanged her for any other cat or kitten in the universe. Her very homeliness commended her to my tenderest love. She was mine, my very own, and I determined to give her my whole heart's devotion, and if ever i " And whenever I sat down, either outside or in the house, she sprang into my lap and purred in the greatest contentment." 16 Triie Anecdotes of Pet Animals two creatures loved each other we did, till "death did us part," and even after, for I used to go alone to weep over the poor dead carcass which lay all winter on top of the snow in the garden. I was so glad that no one thought of burying her out of sight. I puzzled my brain for days after she came into my possession before I decided on a nice poetical- sounding name, and at last fixed upon one that was to be engraven ever after on my memory. Fanny Eetta never was very playful even as a kitten. There was always an air of pensive melan- choly about her, as if she were not long for this world. We took silent romantic walks side by side, and whenever I sat down, either outside or in the house, she sprang into my lap and purred in the greatest contentment. There was one tree in particular that we used to sit under for hours while I read some of my favourite books, and Fanny Retta basked and pur- red in the sun. I remember feeling a severe pang I Belonging to Oar Household. If of regi'et that it was of no use, and quite out of the question, to read "Conversations on the Parables," or "Pilgrim's Progress," aloud to my companion ; an indefinite perception that there was something lacking in our affectionate companionship floated through my mind as I sat enjoying my books. Fanny Retta and I grew together, for she lived for two years or more, and became a large, full-grown cat. But alas ! she fell into a decline, and one day, in the depth of winter, was found a lifeless corpse in a clothes closet under the stair. I had been out all day for a long sleigh drive with my Father and Mother, and on coming home tired, sleepy and hungry, it was decided not to infonn me of Fanny Retta's sudden demise till after tea, in case I should not be able to eat for grief. But the sad tidings could not long be withheld, for I missed her loving welcome, and wondered while I ate what could keep her from coming to me as usual. ■•■■ ^'^:" ■'■' '' ^'f.: ■'■-■'-■'■;:.' '->-!.• ^ ;'■' -.^n'-X'K i; '.-■''■(■ :■■;'' : I think one of the cords of my heart must have H- 18 True Anecdotes of Pet Anvmala broken that night, for there was such an aching pain while I cried myself to sleep, and my Mother sat by the side of my cot and sang to me. But I must not forget to tell what a commotion the arrival of the seven kittens made on account of the two terriers. Terriers can be taught to reverence one household cat; but poor Cavack and Tottachk could not comprehend that there were seven house- hold kittens, all demanding their social respect and consideration. Some of those must be intruding villains whom it was their bounden duty to catch by the cuff of the neck and shake to death as they would any other vermin. After a fortnight of constant excitement, confusion, barking, screaming, crying and scolding, six of the kittens disappeared quite suddenly. Our servant got orders to fill a canvas bag with kittens — all except mine — and to put them under the seat of the buggy one night when the man-servant was going on a journey of seven or eight miles. He was to open the bag and let out a kitten at different points on the road, near houses where they Belonging to Our Household. 10 might find comfortable homes for themselves. The owners of the kittens could not imagine what had become of their pets ; but they did not mourn very long for them, and then they were told how they had been disposed of. * , I ly ILm»c» W' '-I Chapter III. JACKO AND PETE. HILE we were residing in Edinburgh, my mother and I were invited to spend a few weeks in the town of Ayr, for change of air, as we had both been delicate for some time ; and my uncle, Dr. Whitmore, insisted that we must be under his own special charge to be restored to health and strength. It was a lovely morning in April that we set out ; and the hedges, covered with tender young leaves and beautiful blossoms and buds, perfumed the air as we drove along in a com- fortably cushioned can-iage. Sweetbriar, hawthorn decked in pink and white, and the dark green privet hedges enclosed fields, where pretty little lambs were frisking by the side of their mothers ; or meadows, where the bright green of the grass was almost hid from view by a perfect lii 22 True Anecdotes of Pet Animala wealth of the "Scottish blue bell." Sometimes, when passing a cottage garden, a delicious scent of violets surrounded us for a moment, making us sniff up the air with keen enjoyment ; but almost more delightful than all this was the exquisite sing- ing of the thrushes and linnets, the cawing of the rooks, and the far-off song of the lark. We enjoyed it all so intensely that we were sorry when our journey was ended. Aunt Whitmore met us with the warmest of wel- comes in the hall, and enveloped us in her capacious arms in a tender embrace. Cousin Flo a carried me into the drawing-room, and sat do^-vn with me on her knee, taking off my hood and pelisse. This was the commencement of a most delightful visit, which never faded from my memory. Next morning Flora showed me a drawer full of pretty toys and treasures that had been her own when she was a child ; among others, an enormous, grandly-dressed doll, with jetty curls and flashing eyes ; a superb creature, and the most imposing doll I had ever beheld. Flora still valued Ludivina so *■■ Belonging to Our Household. 23 highly that she would only let me hold her in my arms for a few minutes daily. When I was peevish and ill I used to cry for the doll, and Flora would tease me by holding her up at the glass door of the room where slie was locked up, and then running off with her through another door. Round and round we would scamper; Flora laughing, and I bawling, till Uncle Whitmore would come in and severely reprimand his daughter for teasing me, and make her give me Ludivina for a little while. Cousin Flora had always been an only child, and had possessed, when a little girl, everything that her heart could desire in the way of playthings. Every day my meals were set out on an elegant miniature mahogany telescope table, which had been Flora's, with little tablecloth, and exquisite dinner and tea sets of the finest Dresden china. I had my tiny tureen-full of soup, my little ladle, pretty meat dishes, and everything so complete that it was impossible not to have an appetite, and certainly mine came fully back to do justice to my well-appointed table. " Now, my dear," said Aunt Whitmore to me the fi ?:,. i j hi': 24 To'ue Anecdotes of Pet Animals day after our arrival, when Cousin Flora had finished showing me her drawer full of toys, and Ludivina, " there are two friends down-stairs waiting to make your acquaintance, and you will like them better than anything you have yet seen." "Who can they be?" I wondered, and I felt very shy and reluctant to meet any more strange faces ; but Aunt Whitmore held out her hand, and I took it and went away with her. "Jacko!" she called, "Jacko! Jacko!" as we went down the long winding stair. "Jacko and Pete, come here." Just as we reached the last step Jacko and Pete met us, in answer to their mistress' call, and at sight of them I gave a scream and hid behind Aunt Whitmore's gown, for what were they but two monkeys — Jacko, quite a large fellow, and Pete, a funny, active little sprite, never still a mo- ment, and full of antics. My Uncle's brother had brought them from India and presented them to my Aunt, who was really quite fond of them, especially Jacko. My fears passed away very soon, for Jacko made Belonging to Our Household. U great friends with me; putting his arms round me, and hugging me most affectionately. He followed me everywhere, and I do believe loved me dearly. As for Pete, the very sight of his comical little head and face was enough to set one laughing. He would spring on the table, pull my hair and be down again before I turned round, looking so demure and sedate that you would never suspect him of the trick. He loved to tease cook above all things ; would run off with her dish-cloth, or whatever she was likely to miss the most ; and when she flew into a passion, and ran to strike him, he woald spring out of reach in a twinkling, and grin and chatter in ridiculous derision at the indignant victim of his sport. One day she went to the knife drawer to get out the knives for dinner ; but not one was there, and it was a long time before she found them in a barrel of water, at the back door, where the mischievous Pete had dropped them one by one. But my worst story of Pete's naughtiness remains to be told. ' .-i^ 1 > -. My Uncle and Aunt had invited a large and very B ^/ k t t 26 Trtte Anecdotes of Pet Animala select party to dinner one evening, in honour of my Mother's visit. The guests had all arrived, and were sitting in the drawing-room waiting for dinner to be announced. There were a lot of ladies, very beauti- fully dressed, and a corresponding number of gentle- men. Aunt had on a lovely lace cap and a purple satin dress, and was talking and laughing, first to one and then to another; but her face was flushed, and she looked with anxiety towards the door every moment. Uncle glanced at his watch. What could be detaining dinner ? A maid appeared at the open door and beckoned, but no notice was taken, then cook herself, in all her dishabille, stood in the hall opposite Aunt Whitmore, and gesticulated violently to attract attention. In this she succeeded, and poor Aurt, much abashed at having to leave her guests, e;. !iied herself and left the room. ' < h, cook, what is the matter ? Why is dinner not announced ? I am so ashamed, it is seven minutes late now." " Oh, mistress, I'm just distracted," said cook, wringing her hands in mental anguish, " come to the kitchen to Pete ; I wish he was dead, I do." Belonging to Our Household. 27 Cook had scolded Pete early in the day for some little trick he had played, and had succeeded in giving him a rap with the broomstick, and the wicked little monkey had thirsted for revenge ever since, till a fit opportunity presented itself. Cook was going to place her pot of early potatoes (all that she had in the house) on the fire, when she had to speak to a messenger at the door for a minute or two. Down sprang Pete, seized a potato, and climbed with it to the top of a high shelf near the ceiling. Down he came, got another, and placed it by the side of the first, another, and another, till the pot was empty, and a complnte row of pota- toes formed along the shelf. When cook returned, Pete grinned at her from behind the potatoes, shook his fist as she shook her's, chattered, and mocked everything she did. First she scolded, then she coaxed, but it was not one bit of use. " Dear, good little Pete, bring down the potatoes, and I'll give you a lump of sugar. Do, Pete ! oh, do, and I'll never, never scold you again while you 'I I' * S8 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals. f I live," said she, looking up at him with beseeching eyes and elapsed hands. The shelf was so high that it could not be reached without a step-ladder, and there was none in the house. The things placed up there were not touched but once a year, at Martinmas times. One good trait in Pete was that he always obeyed his mistress at once ; so there was nothing for it but to go and bring her down stairs. " Pete, bring down those potatoes instantly," said my Aunt in great wrath. Down came Pete with a potato like a flash, and dropped it into the po^, another and another, till the pot was full, and the shelf empty. Aunt Whitmore hurried back to her guests, and informed them that a trick of master Pete's had delayed dinner, but that it would shortly be on the table now ; and in a wonderfully brief space of time the doors were thrown open, and the welcome an- nouncement made. Though Jacko and Pete did not belong to our own " Household," I could not leave their familiar names out when speaking of all the other pets. Now I must go on to tell of Cavack and Tottachk. 1 I |?^A>^»« -s^^F-v "As soon as the guns were shouldered by Mr. Russell or Douglass, Cavack would get into the wildest state of excitement to be off to the woods or the marsh, rabbit himting or pigeon shooting," 1 Chapter IV. C A V ACK. ^AVACK was a very fine imported thorough- bred Skye terrier that we brought with us from Scotland. The name Cavack means " quick," in Gaehc, and a more appropriate one could not have been chosen. Cavack was a splendid ratter, and was renowned for hunting all kinds of game. As soon as the guns were shoul- dered by Mr. Russell or Douglass, Cavack would get into the wildest state of excitement to be off to the woods or the marsh, rabbit hunting or pigeon shoot- ing. She was famous for finding the pigeons when shot, and bringing them to be put into the game bags. Such quantities as used to be brought home each time ; more than sufficient for the whole neigh- bourhood. Cavack knew as well as the sportsmen that when i.-i ulii! 80 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals they turned in the direction of " The Back Channel " they were going after black duck just as surely as she knew that the " marsh " meant pigeons, and the woods rabbits. We were all very fond of her, and had been accustomed to her society so many years, about seven or eight I think, that we looked upon her more as a human being, and a member of the family circle, than merely a dog. I should have told you that her colour was dark blue, her length a foot and a half, and her hair lonfj, rough and shaggy. I could mention many curious and interestiiig instances of Cavack's sagacity, but will confine myself to one funny incident which came under my Mother's observation. Mamma was nursing the baby at the fire one day, when the house was very quiet, every one else being out. Cavack was in a corner of the room in a box, with a litter of five pups. The only sound to be heard was the incessant yelping of one of the pups. The yelping, or rather Belonging to Our Household. 31 queali for some time, when Cavack jumped out of the box, took the pup by the back of the neck with her teeth, and set it on the floor; she then proceeded to lick it tenderly all over with great solicitude, and after doing so, lifted it again into the box and followed herself. The squealing went on ps badly as ever. After waiting patiently for a few minutes Cavack bundled out of the box in a tremendous hurry and flurry, seized the pup by the back of the neck, as before, put it on the floor in the middle of the room, and then she gave it such a worrying and shaking that Mamma was quite alarmed, thinking she was devouring it. She then carried it to a far corner of the room and left it there, returning to the box alone. For a short time the squealing continued, as if the little one was in pain, and then it ceased entirely. Cavack at once got out of her box and went to her erring offspring, licked it most tenderly all over, and carried it back to the bosom of the family. After this piece of judicious maternal discipline all 1 1 y I » %■ 32 True Anecdotes of Pet Animah was perfectly quiet and orderly for the remainder of the afternoon. One day my Father called Mr. Eussell aside and said he wished to speak to him privately on important business. Mr. Russell was an elderly gentleman who always resided with us. He had some eccentricities and peculiarities, and was extremdiy short-sighted. " Mr. Ru?sell," said my Father, " poor Cavack has become so old and infirm that it will be a mercy to shoot the poor beast before the cold weather sets in; I wish you would take her down to tho wood below the meadow immediately after dnmer and shoot her." '' Very well, sir ; it ought to be done, I suppose, but I hate the job." " Do it as quietly and quickly as you can," added my Father, "that the poor children may not know till all is over." "Yes, sir; yes, sir; to be sure." We wondered why Papa took us all into the play-room when dinner was over, and remained , ... Belonging to Our Household. 33 with us, laughing and talking and telling us funny stories. Suddenly \y^e heard the report of a gun echoing through the wood below the meadow. This wood and meadow were favourite resorts of ours, and only that morning we hau been playing for a long time there, swinging on the limb of a fallen tree that had been prevent"d by a large stump from coming to the ground. We had also play-houses up in the branches of some fine old maple trees, so that we were very familiar with the place, and we at once recognised that the shot pro- ceeded from that vicinity. Papa heard the report too, for he had been straining his ears in the midst of the noise we were making to catch that very sound, and immediately his face and voice changed, and he said : — "Now, children, I have something to tell you, and you are not to make a great fuss, for it had to be done. You know poor old Cav " But poor Papa got rio further in his self-imposed mission of breaking the news to us, for we all shouted at once, — "Oh, you've gone and shot i I'i. "■ ' ; Chapter IX. DAISY. ND now I must relate the interesting though tragic history of our pet lamb, Daisy. We had finished breakfast one cold, snowy April morning, and were looking out at the play room window, when we saw one of the men-servants coming towards the house from the barn, carrying some white object in his arms. He went in at the kitchen door, and we were wondering what the white bundle could be, when my Mother called up the stairs, '* Children, come- and see what John has got down here ! " "What has he got? What is it?" we cried, rushing down stairs as fast as our legs could carry us ; and there beside the fire, in a basket, lay the smallest and weakest of lambs, cold, wet, and shiver- ing ; the very most pitiable object that ever was seen. ■'w, Ii i 60 True Anecdotes of Fet Animals " Oh, the woe darling ! " exclaimed Nina ; " may I have it, Mamma ? " " You may all have it for your own, if you can get it to live ; the poor little forlorn creature has no mother to take care of it ; its mother is dead." "The lamb \irould have been dead, too, in half an hour more, If I had not found it and brought it in to be warmed and fed," said John Anderson. There was great danger that that lamb would be too well cared for, and should die from over- feeding ; for each child, in turn, supplied it with a super- abundance of nourishment and fondling. I am sure I can say with all truth that Daisy never felt the want of a mother's love and care ; that, in fact, she was ftir better off, far happier and more comfortable, with her seven human foster-parents, than if the mother sheep had lived to raise her up to the years of discretion. A few days after we first saw her she looked like a differert animal; so soft, and comparatively plump. Before long she could run about everywhere ; all over the house ; up and down stairs ; into every :ik § Belonging to Our Household. ei room; wherever she could have a romp with us. She was so strong as she grew up that she could force her way into any room or place against our united eflForts to keep her out. She had a most "There was great danger tliat that lamb would be too well cared for, and should die from over-feeding." provoking way of bunting over pans of milk or any vessel left within her reach ; so that the amount of mischief she contrived to accomplish was not small. There was to be a large pic-nic up the river T , given by a lady of our acquaintance, and my Father nil 68 Ti^e Anecdotes of Pet Animals \ and eldest Sister were invited to join the party. My Sister was greatly flattered by the invitation, which was one of her first to a grown-up party, and was much absorbed for some days in making preparations for it. She was to wear a new dress considerably longer than what she had ever yet worn, and her hair was to be fastened up for the first time. A little vanity and self-conceit was excusable, I suppose, under the circumstances ; she was caught looking in the glass very frequently ; her hair was done up in this fashion, and then in that, and difierent-coloured ribbons flying from head and neck. Very angry she got, too, when she was twitted upon her silly vanity. However, the day of the picnic, of course she had to look in the glass when getting ready. Wishing particularly to judge of the effect of the lengthened dress, she took down the large handsome mirror from the top of the bureau and set it on the floor against the wall ; then she paraded backwards and forwards, gazing admiringly at the figure she cut, till she was startled by my Father's voice calling Belonging to Our Household. 63 that if she did not come down immediately, he would go off without her. They had to drive seven miles before reaching the " Nina and Daisy were having a game of romps." house from which the pic-nic party was to set out, so it was very necessary to make an early start. Seizing her hat, gloves, and parasol, my Sister ran down stairs as fast as she could, leaving the room in sad disorder, and the looking-glass on the floor. ■»' 64 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals Nina and Daisy were having a game of romps round the house, and just as the travellers were passing out at the front door, in scampered Daisy, up the stairs and into the bedroom t: hide herself from her pursuer. "The glass! the glass! Daisy will break it ! " shouted the vain lady with the long dress and tucked-up hair. Crash went the mirror ; it was too late. Jealous at seeing another lamb on the same familiar social terms with the household as herself, Daisy instantaneously resolved to give her rival such a bunt with her head as would cause the said rival to quit the scene with sore regrets at having ventured thereon. The glass did vanish quickly enough, for it was shivered to atoms. Our servant, Mary Macgregor, a very ignorant, superstitious Highland girl, on coming up to view the catastrophe, called on all the saints to preserve us ; for, she said, the breaking of a looking-glass was a sure sign that there was going to be a death in the family within the year. , ly tv " It is a ' sure sign ' that a new looking-glass will have to be bought, at any rate," said my Mother, Belonging to Our Hovsehold. 65 looking woefully at the shattered remains of the pretty mirror. * . < , These delinquencies of our pet lamb made my Father resolve to sell her, and one day a gentleman came to call, to whom my Father sold our pretty Daisy. He promised us faithfully that she would not be killed, and that we could see her every time we went to his house. In a day or two we paid a visit at the gentle- man's house, and asked to see Daisy. We were told that she was in a certain meadow a good distance off ; but we were not to be put off or discouraged by ihe pi-ospect of a long walk, so away we started for the meadow. We sought in vain. Daisy was not to be seen. We ransacked the whole place, calling her by name as loud as we could ; but no Daisy came bounding to us to receive our caresses. We came back to the house crying, and feeling sure that foul play had been practised on our darling. " Have you killed Daisy, Mr. Graham ? " we demanded imperatively. 66 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals The cruel wretch turned his face away to hide a heartless smile, and then we knew that our pet lamb had indeed been slaughtered and eaten by the faithless monster. '■■1 " We ransacked the whole place, calling her by name as loud as we could." Mary Macgregor's name has brought to my mind such an amusing anecdote in connection with her that I will just give it here. - ■ . Papa and Mamma left home for a couple of days, Belonging to Our Household. 67 giving Mary sole charge of the house and children till their return. The drawing-room door was locked, and the windows fastened securely ; also the door of my Mother's room was locked, Mamma taking the keys of both apartments with her. Poor Mary was a good, faithful, affectionate girl, but she was certainly wholly unequal to the arduous and precarious task of controlling so many "High go mads" as we were, in the then irresponsible stage of our existence. Our first prank after the departure of our parents was to sally into the kitchen and insist on the unfortunate, overwhelmed Mary getting out pots, pans, spoons, etc., as also flour, milk, meat, etc., in fact everything we could think of, in order that each child might make for himself or herself a savoury dish for dinner, according to individual fancy — a little "Micawber rehsh," such as had never been suggested by any manual on cookery, nor invented by any housewife. Mary, quite bewildered by the noise and con- fusion, just did what we told her. i Hi 68 True Anecdotes of Pet Animah One of my brothers, who required fresh eggs for his concoction, and being told by Mary that she could not find any more, caught two or three hens and shut them up in barrels till they provided the required ingredient in sufficient quantity. Well, we mixed and cooked our dishes amid a deafening uproar, and were just proceeding to test the success of our cooking abilities, when, perhaps luckily for the well-being of our digestive organs, a new and all-absorbing commotion rendered the partaking of our several dishes impossible. Douglass had gone up-stairs for something he wanted, and came back with terror depicted in every feature, exclaiming, " The piano is playing ! " We all listened, and, of course, imagined we heard the notes sounding, though we would not venture up the stairs for the world, to make sure. Douglass, who was generally the leading spirit in every mis- chief, went to look in at the window to see v/ho was playing the piano in the locked-tip room ; the result of his investigation being a positive assertion that a man with a long black beard and a white coat was standing in the middle of the room. Belonging to Our Household. 69 Hastily, and in great trepidation, we sped in a body, with Mary at our heels, into what we called "the low room," and locked ourselves in. This room was directly under my Mother's, which, as I said before, was also locked up. ^ .^ Here we stood, pale and breathless, when suddenly Douglass, thinking it was time for a fresh sensation, declared he heard stealthy footsteps in the room overhead. We listened, and were sure we heard them too. It was too much for our excited nerves to remain any longer where we were ; so we got out as fast as we could. The boys procured a ladder, that they might look in at the window ; but it was some time before sufficient courage was summoned to enable any one to get further than the middle of the ladder. When they did succeed in reaching the top, we were terrified to hear that the figure of a human being was distinctly visible in this room also. A man who was labouring in an adjoining field was asked to come and see into the cause of our fears ; he walked once round the house, saying, " I XV. ^ 70 True Anecdotes of Pet Anvmala III I 11: I' never heerd tell of any one having died here," and then hurried away as if he was thoroughly scared himself. His words gave a new turn to our imagination. We had been thinking only of robbers ; now our thoughts were all of ghosts and hobgoblins, and our terrors increased tenfold. Mary declared she could not stay another minute in the haunted place, and wanted to take us all away with her, but we refused to go. As she ran across the meadow, Douglass, dis- gusted with her cowardice, stoned her off the premises, calling her a " Hieland gawky." I think he was well aware of just how much cause there was for alarm from first to last. Poor Mary never forgot this insulting treatment from my Brother; and many years after, when he was anxious to procure her services as housekeeper in his own family during his wife's absence in Eng- land, she »*efused to go for any wages he could oflfer. Mary did not leave us long to the mercy of the ghosts and goblins, for she hastened to the i! ■■^■>yy.i--''r'mit^^^ -^ Belonging to Our Household. 71 house of a friend of my Father's, and sent him, his wife and ten children, up to remain with us till the return of our parents. m K> ! Are those at which our young- lipd driink, Stooped to their waters o'er thf, grassy bank." — ]i'hittier. Chapter X. FAN, "THE RUNAWAY MARE." AN was the pride of my brother Cammy's heart. The reason why she was called by all who ^^ knew her, far and wide, "The Runaway Mare," was that her pace when going at full speed was so remarkably quick, that she had the appear- ance of running away; but she never ran away in her life, and was as gentle and loving as could be. A mile in less than two minutes Fan could go easily; and once, when some articles of dress, for a wedding my sisters were going to, had been forgot- ten by the dressmaker, Douglass got over six miles in teu minutes on her back. We hardly knew he was gone till he galloped furiously into the yard, and sprang from the saddle, leaving the reeking horse to be cared for by Cammy, who cried shame on him for the state she was in. £ I I ili Esaa hi i ' i Fan was a handsome, glossy dark bay, with a sparkling eye. My Mother rode her frequently, and preferred her to any other. On one occasion, when the saddle turned ar/l my Mother fell off and fainted, Fan turned round and stood over her like a guard, watching her with the utmost solicitude till assistance came ; and when they vere carrying Mamma to the house, " The Run- aw(. Mare" followed quietly behind of her own aijcord. Cammy- used to ride, drive, and care for Fan more than any one else, so there was a great attachment between them ; and when she had to be sold, it cost him much sorrow to part from his favourite. The last winter we had her, Cammy and I used to drive five miles twice a week to dancing school, and I have a very vivid recollection of the swiftnes? with which we would scud over the snow in the little cutter, with Fan going like the wind in front. Cammy had a most tender heart towards all dumb creatures, and on very cold stormy nights he would have a great struggle with himself between taking Belonging to Our Household. 75 his dear Fan out in the storm, and disappointing himself and me by missing the dancing, of which we were both extremely fond. But his hesitation invariably ended by his calling to me to dry my eyes and get . i my wraps, and his going to the stable to shower on Fan an extra amount of attention and endearments ; and then hurry her out, attach her to the cutter, bring her round, and we were off like a shot. " Kate," Fan's colt, was petteu by each of us like a child, and was on such familiar terms with the "Household," that many times, after she was full grown to a much greater size than her little mother, she marched into the kitchen on hearing our childish voices, and there she would insist on standing while we fed her with bread, and stroked and patted her soft cheeks. Two or three of us would got on her back, and the others would run under her from side to side, pull her nice long black tail, and just do whatever we chose, at which Kate seemed mightily pleased. After Fan's departure we felt as if we could not make enough of Kate, 60 she had a very m ' 111 '!■ Pi 7G True Anecdotes of Pet Animals merry, happy time of it, with precious little to do except to enjoy herself, although quite capable and willing for duties of any kind. But she was sold, too, about a year after Fan, and then we gave up keeping horses. I might have told you of pretty Snowball, the pure white pony on which we first learned to ride; and of dear old Prince and Charley, our oldest and steadiest horses; and of the day that "Lazy Bill" lifted his great strong wicked head, when Mr. Eussell was putting on his bridle, and knocked his arm out of joint : how Mr. Eussell shouted for help, and Douglass ran to the rescue, a^.d with great fear and trembling, and a few nnvous tears, shoved the joint " home " according to the sufferer's directions. But I must pass on to tell about Rover, whose name occupies the most prominent place in all our memo- ries, not so much on his own account, as because of his association with our beloved Cammy. It is a long, long time since all that I am writing about took place, and many changes have taken place in our " Household " in the interval. Indeed, Belonging to Our Household. ff we are not that " Household " now at all, and never can be any more. The members still living are scattered, some of them thousands of miles apart, while Cammy and Bruce have been peacefully sleep- ing, for many long changeful years, side by side in the quiet churchyard near our old home. When we lost them we weio, at least some of us, too young and inexperienced to comprehend fully the meaning of such expressions as " Being taken from the evil to come," and " Beyond the reach of woe ; " but we understand what they mean now, and can rejoice that our dear ones have been safe, and free from toil and care and sorrow all this time. Thouglits such as these passed through my mind one morning lately when walking in my garden, and admiring the lovely many-hued "Morning Glories," in all their September luxuriance, looking out from amongst their green leaves to welcome the light of a new day. Sitting sewing under the trees, I watched them close as the heat and light became too strong for them ; and it seemed to me that thus it had been with our dear boys and other friends who are resting in the sleep of death. 11] s . "MORNING GLORIES." Morning Glories ! awake, awake ! Your soft velvet bells unclose. The new morn is here ! awake, awake ! Shake off the dews of repose. Bright faces ! look up to the sun ; Laugh out — as the child from his cot, Pleased that the light of day hath come, And the darkness of night is not. Blonde and brunette, youthful and grave. Nestle yourselves 'mongst the leaves ; Gay, or saddened by sorrow's wave, Fancy round each a hist'ry weaves. Morning Glories ! what ! tired so soon 1 Folded in slumber to rest. Safe, ere burden and heat of noon. Ah ! mayhap 'tis best 1 'tis best. Ah ! we've dearer Morning Glories, WLo wearied just so soon, And they slept — our Morning Glories, Ere the toil and heat of noon. But a glorious morn shall wake them From their long dark night of rest; Then our hearts shall whisper to them, Ah, yes ! 'twas best ! 'twas best. Morning Glories ! awake, awake ! Your lovely bells unclose ; The new morn is here i awake, awake ! Arise from your transient repose. Chapter XI. Ii ROVER lY Father was a great connoisseur in dogs, and knew all the points that a thorough- bred dog, of whatever species, should possess. He would never permit any- thing but a real aristocrat within the precincts of his establishment. Rover was only a very poor, plebeian specimen of a oort of half-mastiff, half-bull dog, black and white in colour, but with a capacity for love and gratitude not tc be surpassed in any inferior animal I need not tell you, then, that Rover did not belong to my Father, but came into our circle *t first an unwelcome guest scarcely to be tolerated, and mot to tm named with the aristocratic terriers. Papa and all of us came to look up-.'O him in such a different light, and with such tender feelings r ^ 80 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals ii iif i afterwards, that it seems strange and sad to recall the general aversion towards him on our first acquaintance. If you look at the frontispiece you will see the old homestead, " Kinlochaulin," with a path leading from the garden gate to the avenue entrance. Just under the li''st tree of the avenue, you see an invalid dog lying, with his leg bound up in rags. The dog is liover ; and the boy coming towards him with a plate in his hands is my dear brother Cammy. I should explain that " Cammy " is a contraction for Campbell, Colin Campbell being the full name. He has not taken time to put on his hat, although the rain is pouring down on his poor little bare head, and his linen blouse is soaked through ; for the act he is performing is a stealthy one, and he is so anxious to accomplish it without detection that he has over- looked any care of himself. The plate contains his own breakfast of porridge and milk, which he is taking for the nourishment of his canine patient. Every day for a fortnight past he has slipped out f- * «* ;';. p! -■/ Belonging to Our Household. 81 of the house unnoticed, and fed the helpless stranger with his own breakfast. Cammy was an exceedingly robust boy, with the keen appetite of a growing child, and his continued course of self-denial in doing without the whole of his morning meal, and a part cf other meals, for the sake of a lame dog whose name even he did not know, for such a length of time, places him, in my mind, on the same platform of heroes as the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson. In fact, the acts of Caesars, Scipios, and Pompeys sink into insig- nificance in comparison. An ambitious craving for worldly applause and earthiv power enables men to endure and acf.omplish much to call forth our admiration .ind astonishir/'-nt. The knowledge that the - noble de^.ds will bo WBCorded for future generations ntealteA hem lare and do what they won . not >the. wise attempt. But here was a ml of eWvoi, aMtstly performing, from the very tenderness of his large heart, a succession of self-sacrificing acts, which he imagined would bring upon his head severe punishment if found out. i% 82 True Anecdotes of Pet Animala He knew that this dog did not possess a single point to recommend him to any consideration or toleration from my Father ; and it was a well-under- stood and standing law that no dogs should be encouraged about the place without my Father's consent. That Mamma would disapprove and object to the transfer of his breakfast he had not a doubt ; yet he braved all, like the little hero he was. The dog had appeared in the avenue one morning, and been found there by Cammy with his leg so badly cut, evidently by a stone that had been thrown at him, that his agony was intense, and he was quite unable to go away. When it wa« discovered by mere accident that Rover was being cared for by Cammy in the avenue, and the whole story came out bit by bit. Mamma recollected that fully a fortnight previous Cammy had come to her for some linen rags, and would not tell what he wanted them for. When closely questioned, the culprit stood with downcast eyes and burning cheeks, and confessed with great shame t: «- * ,.^ ii nmm «iiii n i B i ii ro iiiin a i •»» »^'" 4 rA T »* 'j^: 't ;t ^ IW' ^ ■ -^^ *^l ^VM>»VVM^ »L>MH« J«M^.« >-. aWAJ- (fwyjj.iy'MJrts*!. BlfW* •r- S'2 TrMm An«c{lot»a fn i He kiiow tibat thi to ti ■^'* j*''i ** *Mti?l0 i '*' ■ ■ ■''■-'■ '^ . Ihai Mamma WMttM tw^ ftf .*! I»> tfe® transfer of his breakfast he had not a ikmH ; yet he braved all, like the littltibero he w{is» - ? f<;' The dog had appeared in the avenue one raoruing, •i,„i i >-.,.;, fv. ,,;,.! t (.,,,. tj ij|^. C^uttfi^y >vitb-hig Iftg .»o • 5 When ii \ ;|)f .'>ffi«i»'" «C0k1'iHii' that Rover was being caj?f8^ lur by Cammy in the avenue. i«id the whoio story i3i*m« out -bit by bit, Mamma i?ecolU>ct^d that fally dkj'^i might previoits Cammy harti coraefe Iher for soina Unen rt^Si and would noi tttt irhafc he wanted t!»«m for. A^^en t?l«H»^% quBStioned, the «i3prit stood with d#«ri»«fi*t ^y«^ and bun»in'> ch%eks. and confessec! witit p«** --*hiune I . '^ ii ji ii 'i \i » I'l ' »i »t i . ■ . ■***■/ t.»>.lif»M-. ' '''Mr: ^ ■%. !sr:^ ^ # i w^ ~ -f-Wt>-- ■ M'-:':. mm'-- .■^>*y/ r.^^fe'- _ -■ ,.■.%'•.'',,-' - ,■. % til i "When closely questioneil tlie ciiliirit stood with downcast eyes and liurning cheeks, and confessed with Kreat slianic and contrition that lie had given away ever;/ breakfast since thon, but begged Mamma and Pai)a to forgive him this time. " .^. .1'. T ^: ^aJ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I If »^ IIIIM 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 J4 ^ 6" ► V] ^ n '^1 7 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4S03 ,\ ,v ■^ :\ \ O^ '^1? <^ .-K. 5^ ^. r U1 I] ill; ■J' Belonging to Our Household. 83 and contrition that he had given away every break- fast since then, but begged Papa and Mamma to forgive him this time, and he would never do such a thing again — a promise which he would certainly have failed to be able to keep under a like trying temptation. How Mamma's heart overflowed with gratitude to Almighty God for the precious gift of such a child ! and how she longed to clasp her noble boy to her bosom and shower upon him the epithets that rose spontaneously to her Ups ! But the kiss he received vras, as he thought, merely a token of forgiveness, and Cammy never knew anything about the feelings that his conduct produced in the minds of both his parents. If I were to let my pen glide off for an hour from the special subject of this volume, I could give many beautiful and touching incidents in the short life of my little her j Brother, each one like a Psalm — in fact his whole life was such — bright, joyous, loving and loveable ; taking into his large, warm, true heart all that came in contact with him. 1 Vf 94 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals You know the sweet verse, " He prayeth best who loveth best, All things both great and small." Such was our dear Cammy. Rover was by this time able to use the injured limb, and he followed his little physician and nurse everywhere, with his large brown eyes as full of love and grateful homage as they could be. There was no getting rid of him. Harsh words and blows were freely bestowed on him on all sides, but these he bore apparently quite cheerfully and patiently. They only ended in an obstinate refusal on the part of the dog to lose sight for an instant of a sturdy little figure in a linen blouse and straw hat, who was henceforth to be enthroned in tJie affections of the poor creature as his only lord and master. "Go home, sir! Go home!" was repeatedly addressed to him, with an angry kick or stroke. Even Cammy tried with a sad heart to churl the animal away, thinking that he would escape all unkindness by leaving the place. Belonging to Our Housekold. 85 One day a man of the name of Todd came to the door and asked to see my Father. " You are keeping a dog of mine here, and I have come for him," said he to my Father. "I assure you we are not 'keeping him,' for we are most anxious to have him away." "Well, you have had him here for three or four weeks. I would not part >vith him for a great deal, for he is a very valuable dog." This was said in hopes of getting money from Papa for him. "Take him away then by all means, for we do not want him here at all. My Son found him lying in the avenue with a lame leg some weeks ago, and out of pity, and without leave, fed him. I was quite annoyed that he had been encouraged to remain; although I believe he was unable to go away from the state he was in when found." The man stood a moment. He had expected to sell the dog, and was nonplussed ; so Papa repeated, " Take him away by all means ; I will be very glad, indeed." But this was easier said than done. N ;■; \M 66 Trvs Anecdotes of Pet Animals " Kover 1 " (yes, that was the name of the strange dog ; we heard it for the first time) — " Poor Rover ! Come here, poor fellow," said the owner in a coaxing voice, patting his knee. But Rover's only response was to retire with a beseeching look behind the boy in the straw hat, whose hands and legs he licked. Cammy was weeping bitterly at the prospect of separation from the creature he had learned to love ; but he said " Go home, Rover," in obedience to Papa's command, and tried to shove him towards the man. It was perfectly uselesL. Then his master, becoming angry, raised a horse- whip which he carried in his hand, and gave the unfortunate beast several severe strokes. This was too much for Cammy. He put his arms round Rover, and vith sobs and tears en- treated the man not to strike him. Then he clung to Mamma's gown, and begged her to get Papa to buy him. Ah I how that pleading voice rang in their ears Belonging to Our Household. 87 afterwards, when they bitterly regretted not having granted their child's request. But Papa said, "No, on no account;" and so with a great deal of difficulty, the owner fastened a rope round poor Rover's neck, and dragged him from the spot. We were not done with him yet, though. For the next two years, whenever Rover could make his escape, he came back to crouch at Cammy's feet, lick his hands, and follow him everywhere, until his cruel master would appear again with whip and rope and take him away. He was never absent for more than a few weeks at a time, and he bore evidence of having been shut up while gone. "Rover's back!" "Rover's back!" would be mysteriously whispered from one child to another; for we did not like to vex Papa with the un- welcome news. We left the old homestead, and removed to a residence three miles away, near some mills; but it made no diflferonce to Rover. He would have found Cammy anywhere. Cammy had confided to Mamma tho price asked for Rover in \ . ^4J ! ) 1 t' ''K- i^ 1 ii u 88 True Anecdotes of Pet Animala by Todd, and never ceased to wish that ho might be bought. A furious scraping and squealing at the back door alarmed our new servant one morning at daybreak ; and on cautiously and timidly opening the door to peep out, she was nearly knocked down by poor Rover, who bounced past her, and sped, as fast as his four legs could carry him, up two flights of stairs, and into the attic where Douglass and Cammy slept. Here he sprang on the bed and licked Cammy's face. The whole "Household" was awakened by the noise, for attached to the poor animal's neck were a thick chain and a heavy log of wood.* To have dragged these heavy weights * A yellow, faded, tattered scrap of paper fell out of a parcel of old letters I was sorting lately after my MS. had gone to press, but I find it is not too late m insert the contents here. The letter does not belong to me, but was written to an absent Brother. I do not know hoMr it got into my possession, and it was a strange coincidence that at this time I should read it for ih« Jlrtt time. 8- -, 7th November, 18—. Mt Dbar Tom,— The sale is over, and none of the horses are sold at aU. "Oibbie" was sold for $23. . . . My steers sold for t26. Papa called them by their names, "Tom Thumb" and "Rattler." Pinkie's calf was sold for $7. Flora cried terribly, and wanted to go and hide it. Your colt is doing very well. . . . Rover is still with us. The last time the Todds took him home he came back with a chain, about as heavy as a logging chain, and a big stake. They had chained him up, and he gnawed his stake right through till he got away. . . . Be sure to answer this. T remain, your affectionate Brother, COLIN CAMPBELL MAOLEAN. Belonging to Our Household. 89 four miles and more must have been a task only made possible by an overpowering and all-absorbing affection for Cammy. Caramy removed the chain and log with tears and pats, and Kover, clumsy as he was, lay between the two boys, under the blankets, till breakfast time. THr PETEIFIED FEKN. " In a valley, centuries ago, Grew a little fern leaf, green and slender — Veining delicate and fibres tender — Waving when the wind crept down so low : Bushes tall and moss grew round it. Playful sunbeams darted in and found it ; Drops of dew stole in by night and crowned it, But no foot of man e'er trod that way, Earth was young and keeping holiday. "Monster fishes swam the silent main. Stately forests waved their giant V^anches, Mountains hurled their snowy avalanches ; Mammoth creatures stalked across the plain. Nature revelled in grand mysteries, F p J.I 90 True Anecdotes of Pet Animale. But the little fern was not of these — Did not number with the hills and trees ; Only grew and waved its sweet wild way — No one came to note it day by day. "Ea:th one time put on a frolic mood, Heaved the rocks, and changed the mighty motion Of the deep, strong currents of ti •, ».'cean; Moved the plain, and shook th > haughty wood, Crushed the little fern in soft, moist clay, Covered it and hid it safe away ; Oh, the long, long centuries since that day ! Oh, the agony ! oh, life's bitter cost ! Since that useless little fern was lost ! " Useless ? Lost ? There came a thoughtful man Searching Nature's secrets, far and deep ; From a fissure in a rocky steep He withdrew a stone, o'er which there ran Fairy pencillings, a quaint design, Yeinings, leafage, fibres clear and fine, And the fern's life lay in every line ! So, I think, God hides some souls away, Sweetly to surprise us at the last day." Chapter XII. B,OYER— Continued. jNE Saturday morning Todd came to take Rover away for the last time. The next time we saw him, which was the following Thursday, the day after Cammy's funeral, he was 0U1' own, to be valued and prized as we had never valued him before. The money asked for him was gladly paid (he was valuable now), and Rover was brought home to receive for the following twelve years, till he died, his daily dinner from my Mother's own hand. She would never permit anyone else to perform what she considered a sacred duty. As I said, Todd came on Saturday and took Rover away. He had been with us for more than a week. On Monday afternoon Papa and Cammy went for a walk to the mills. I remember we had spent a particularly happy 92 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals. morning at play ; first up in the woods on the hill, preparing summer-houses, where we were going to have a tea party of all the family that evening, and then chasing each other round and round the house, and in and out of the windows, till we had to stop for laughing. The last thing Cam my did was to work a sum on his slate while I sat on his knee. It was not quite finished when Papa called him to go with him, and it never was finished, but remained as he left it on the slate till time effaced the figures. They had been gone but a short time when a man came running up to the door and asked for Macaulay's " Medical Dictionary ; " my Father had sent him for it, as a man had fallen into the mill-dam, and they were trying to bring him round. He said " a man " by Papa's xpress orders, that my Mother might not have the slightest suspicion of the shock impending. So the messenger got the book, along with some directions from Mamma, who little dreamed for whom she was giving them so calmly. We asked the name of the man who had fallen in, but the } I :^ 'A " The last thing Cammy did was to work a sum on hia slate while I sat on his knet. ' s II 94 Tribe Anecdotes of Pet Animals messenger mumbled something we did not catch, and ran quickly down the hill. Douglass was sent to find out who it was, but he did not come back. Then the servant was sent, but she did not return. Mr. Russell then went down to enquire, but he remained also. We could see the crowd standing about the mill- dam, and we went down to the gate and asked people as they passed along the road, if the ' man " was still living, and the name. The name — it was strange that no one would give us a clue to it. A girl was speaking to a man in a field, and a name did come floating on the evening air to our ears — a name that none of us were thinking of all afternoon ; but it explained the reluctance of every one to give its the information we sought. We did not distinguish a word of what the girl said, but I only know that " Cammy " was borne into our ears as we stood on the brow of the hill, and that then m ! I' BelongiTig to Ov/r Houaehold. 05 poor Mamma went rushing down to the mills, saying, " It's my boy ! Oh I it's my boy ! Why did they not tell me ?" I followed Mamma, crying, but not knowing what I was crying for. Death had never come near us before. We had never seen it. Mamma insisted on doing over again all that had already been done, but of course life had been ex- tinct for some time. At last we all walked home together. No, not all — we left our best and dearest to be carried in at a later hour. I remember so well the solemn tread of the heavy feet bearing in their burden. As we approached the door, my two elder sisters, who had not left the house, came out to meet us. They cast a glance along the long row of faces — there were friends with us — looking for one familiar face that was not there ; then falling into Mamma's arms, they said, " Oh, Mamma, where is our Cammyf" He had gone on the saw logs to ride with two companions, who were fortunately good swimmers. lii ■ ■ 96 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals. and escaped ; and the log had turned round, precipi- tating them all into the cold water. It was early in the month of May. The other two boys saw Cammy rise three times before help came, and the last time he clasped his poor little hands and said, " Mamma ! " then the Body went under the logs, and was not recovered for half an hour or more. We heard afterwards that it had required the united strength of three men to keep my dear Father from plunging into the water, which, owing to his loss of sight, would have been both useless and dangerous. Papa weeping was to me such a strange, new sight. It was the first thing that made me feel that what had taken place must be quite dijw'ent from anything that had ever occurred in "Our Household " before. And again, I was amazed and bewildered to hear him say to Mamma, when comforting her, " Remem- ber, Lena, there are worse things than death." T/hat could Papa mean? What could be worse than Death f W: '<^r^-icf 4 sil IJll ■i B 4 .13 1- g.1 ?! Q IM True Anecdotes of Pet Animals covered that he had crawled up to the barn-yard close by, and had stretched himself out on some straw. It was a cold November night, and very dark. Frost had set in after heavy rain, making the roads like glass, and travelling most dangerous. They had been going fast round a corner in their haste to get home, and coming suddenly on a sea of ice, the cutter swung round, and George, taken by surprise, came down with great force on his knees. The bone below the right knee was snap- ped completely asunder, and nothing could be done. "White, you do it," said my Brother, handing him the gun. Mr. White took the gun, but his hand shook as he tried to draw the trigger — for he knew George very well indeed, and had often driven him. The others hesitated, too; so my Brother seized the gun again himself, saying crossly, "You're a set of babies ; why can't you do it and be done ? " " George I " > Instantly the grey head was raised, and the fond Belonging to Our Household. 107 eye8 became visible at tlie sound of his master's well-known voice. Bang! and George was dead. \\\ i!i'« ^^ ',•■ Chapter XIV. . BILLY. HESE Anecdotes would be incomplete if Billy were left out. *. He came into my eldest Brother's posses- sion in a curious way, when he was a stu- dent at the University of Edinburgh. A man who was very poor had asked my Brother to attend his wife, who was ill, and on the recovery of the patient begged him, as no fee could be afforded, to accept instead a Skye terrier pup; so, laughing heartily, the youthful student pocketed his first fee, which, by the way, caused him consider- able trouble, as it had to be concealed from his maiden Aunt, who disapproved of her nephew having any other possessions besides books and knowledge ; dogs, in particular, she abhorred. However, Billy was preserved in life and health to il I I i if 110 TrtLe Anecdotes of Pet Animals cross the Atlantic Ocean, travel with his much- beloved master over the greater part of the continent during the American war, aiding him materially by ' his faithful companionship, in the superintendence of Hospitals in St. Louis, Louisville, and Harrisburg, and lived to win the profound respect and regard of the Canadian City which had the honour of receiving his bones at the ripe age of fifteen years. He was quite a character, and had a wide circle of warm friends ; in fact, was on familiar terms with every citizen — man, woman, or child. The occasion of his dt ath was deemed worthy of a poem from the pen of a well-known Author, who is a valued contributor to our English magazines. You will find it quoted at the close of this record of his life. He was dark grey in colour, and could be dis- tinguished from a distance by the odd appearance given to his figure by one e r always standing erect as he trotted along the street to pay his round of calls. These calls, numbering about twenty, he paid daily as regular as clock-work, to a select circle of his choicest Belonging to Our Household. Ill friends, to whom his one little familiar bark, "Open," was as welcome as the postman's ring. So man^ visits were made before lunch, and so many more in the afternoon. At three p.m. his " Eesonant Bow-wow " sounded at the private entrance of a certain bank ; the maid would immediately let the accustomed visitor in. The pattering feet would run swiftly past her, up a long stair, along a hall, round a corner, down three steps, along another hall, and "bow-wow" and a scratch were heard at a door to the right. With- out a moment's delay the door would open, and " Billy " was Avelcomed into a bright nursery, where he would romp with the children for an hour, leav- ing promptly in time to be home for dinner. If this volume should fall into the hands of any of those who, as children, occupied the nursery referred to, they will call to mind, I am sure, the regularity with which they looked daily for Billy's visits to them. Billy once came very near increasing his notoriety by causing the loss of three valuable lives. ^ One lovely morning in September, Miss and I ' i :' 112 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals I went for a row a distance of six miles, taking with us our painting materials and lunch, as we intended to spend the day sketching. We also took a young lady friend of considerable weight as ballast, and Billy as protector, to make up the quartette. He always went with us boating, being particularly fond of the pastime, and keenly alive to the beauties of nature. All went well until we were within four miles of the harbour on our return trip, when suddenly the lake became very rough ; the white caps danced and coquetted all around us, and a head wind kept jerking our little craft backward as quickly as we propelled it forward ; and to add to our dismay, our weighty friend turned deadly pale with fear. We assured her there was no cause for alarm if she kept quite still, but that the slightest movement on her part would surely upset the boat. Billy gave us no concern or trouble, for he had often been out with us when the water was rough. He sat calmly in the spot we had placed him when trimming our vessel, knowing that even his weight had an important part to play. ^ Belonging to Our Household. 113 Well, we toiled, and we toiled ; we (Miss and I) exchanged places cautiously every now and then at the oars. Our poor hands were blistered, and our muscles ached with our fruitless endeavours to make headway. After an hour's hard rowing we were not a boat's length advanced in our journey. We were not in the least afraid, for we were laughing over the farce of our breathless rowing; but we were very glad, you may be sure, when we saw that we had been observed from the shore, and that a man had put off in a boat to our aid. He soon came alongside, and, to our astonishment, informed us that if we had rowed twice as hard, and the water had been only half as rough as it was, we could never have got into the harbour that night, with the boat trimmed as we had it. " Billy's in the wrong end " — every one called Billy by his own name. Poor unfortunate Billy ! to think that he was innocently the cause of the failure of our strenuous efforts to reach the shorp Coffee for breakfast, and tea for tea, with toasted III -^, 114 True Anecdotes of Pet Animala bread soaked in it, were indispensable items in Billy's temporal comforts ; and if we tried to reverse the order of things, he would turn away in proud disdain. Billy was not a skilled ratter, I am sorry to say, but he had the funniest way of rushing boldly and valiantly upon the dead rat killed by Tan, of whom I shall speak presently, and shaking it with great ferocity and persistence. But though not possessed of this quality, he had another not usual in the canine race. He was excessively fond of music, especially the violin- Slow, sad airs, beautifully played, as my dear Father used to perform them, had the power of rousing as much sentimentality in Billy as if he were a human being; and whatever he was doing when the music commenced, he would leave off and come and sit on his hind legs and whine piteously, rolling his eyes, and looking unutterably sentimental. " The Rose Tree " and " Robin Adair " were his favourites. I have not told half what there is to tell of Billy, Belonging to Cur Household. 115 but I have already left too little space to tell of Tan, Bobby, and Bounce, which I must do in as few words as possible. "Died November 16th, 18 — . IN MEMOEIAM 'BILLY,' A well-known and respected Skye Terrier." "Dreary and dull, and cold and grey Darkened the dim November day On which forever passed away Our friend, poor Billy ! " A friend in deed as well as name, Whoe'er might a'ler, still the same, Aiad staunch and true through praise and blame Wert thou, poor Billy ! " What little power thou did'st possess To show thy boundless kindliness, By barks and jumps and kind caress, Was used, poor Billy ! " A noisy dog at times wert thou, WL i.t times thy resonant bow-wow Demanded entrance, silent now For aye ! poor Billy ! "Though whiles in battle thou would' st meet A fellow-dog upon the street. Or chase a cat to its retreat Aloft, poor Billy ! 4: 116 True Anecdotes of Pet Animala. " Or would'st pursue, with threatening roar, A stranger from thy master's door, From sense of duty — nothing more — 'Twas done, poor Billy ! " Though rough thy shaggy coat of grey, Thine aspect grim, there never lay A gentler heart 'neath silk array Than thine, poor Billy ! " No more on the familiar street Thy well-known form and pattering feet Shall take their old accustomed beat. As erewhile, Billy ! "And oftentimes, in vain, for thee, Thy friends shall look regretfully, But ne\ er more again shall see Our faithful Billy ! "Ah, well ! thy span was lived, though brief; Into the sear and yellow leaf r Thy days had passed, and death's relief Was best, poor Billy ! "Farewell ! may greenest turf o'erspread, Nor foot profane, e'er roughly tread ;' - The grave where rests thy faithful head, - , . In peace, poor Billy!" " Or chase a cat to its retreat Aloft, poor BiUy ! " Chapter XV. TAN. AN was a very beautifully formed specimen of an English terrier, and was a marvel for sagacity and affection. Her colour was black and tan, as her name denotes. She could catch and kill three rats in a second of time, with the utmost ease, before a crowd of admiring spectators — the rats that poor Billy used to shake after all danger was over. The rats were let out of the trap in the hall, and sometimes in the drawing-room, all at once, and before you could say "Jack Robinson," were lying dead on the floor. It was just wonderful to see the agility with which the deeds were done, generally in three dif- ferent corners of the hall, where the rats had rushed, trying to escape. 120 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals T " Eats ! rats ! " These magic words, uttered by Archie or Alick, reaching Tan's well-trained ears, made her, in an instant, start up full of excitement and e; lirness, a picture worthy of Landseer's pencil, with her pretty head turned to one side in a Hsten- ing attitude, and her elegant feet ready for a rush. My Sister Aimie got a scolding one morning for some misdemeanor, and was lying on the sofa, crying bitterly. Tan, on seeing her distress, jumped up beside her, licked her face and hands, and, patting a paw on each of her shoulders, wept and i'ol-bed with her — the tears rolling down her cheeks. It was a beautiful sight to see the aflfectionate sympathy of the dumb animal. There was a door leading from the hall to the dining-room at "Kockhall," one of our later resi- dences, which was secured by a bar one winter, as the lock was out of order. When we wanted to be admitted from the hall, we had got into a habit of giving an impatient rattle to the handle instead of rapping. Tan learned to imitate this action Belonging to Our Household. 121 exactly, so that no difiFerence was perceptible. She would put a forepaw, standing on her hind legs to reach, upon each side of the handle, and turn it rapidly from side to side till the bar was unfastened for her ladyship. Not only this, but if she were kept disrespect- fully waiting, as w ometimes were, she would, with her tail, imitate exactly my Mother's more polite rapping, which never failed to draw imme- diate attention. It was ridiculously annoying to find it was only Tan after our inconvenient haste, and it was equally amusing to see the sheepish air with which she sneaked in, knowing that she had deceived us to gain her object. A shop full of people were utterly confounded to see her open the door, in the way I have said, one day when she wanted to follow my Mother, who had gone out, not observing that Tan was left behind. Her death, which took place about four years after we got her, was a very sad one, and grieved us much. I' Hi 122 T'i'ue Avecdotes of Pet Animals. She went for a walk clown the street, and ran into a drug store, where she was accustomed to spend some of her time every day. Here she swallowed some poison that had been placed in the store-room for rats, and died in a few minutes in great agony, without having an oppor- tunity 10 bid farewell to three lovely little orphans of a week old, whom she left to the cold charity of the world. These we reaicd ourselves successfully ; giving away two of them when three months old, and retaining as a successor to poor Tan her bright, elegant little son, Bobby. :\>r '■' t.ir^i:\i: f .'fyi^'ifK ' 1 1; ':■/ .1 ,. ,.i iij. ': . -CV. :,^;" f.l. 1 Chapter XVI. BOBBY. OBBY was the quickest, smartest little crea- ture that ever lived. He went like a flash. He was black and tan in colour, like his mother, but very much smaller and more ele- gantly formed. We made a great pet of him dur- ing the one short year of his meny life. He was run over by a carriage which came unex- pectedly upon him, and never moved nor breathed again. I suppose I must pass over " Pickles" (who died suddenly while on a journey by rail with his master, undertaken immediately after a hot bath, and who still recUr.us on the rug as if in Hfe, having been stuffed), and also " Benny Beaconsfield," a fine little bull dog named for The Right Hciiourable Benjamin Mi: !i 124 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals. Disraeli, Lord Beaconsfield, K.G., etc., since deceased, and bring my Anecdotes to a close with a short ac- count of Bounce. T I 'BENNY BEACONSFIELD. Chapter XVII. BOUNCE. OUNCE was an exceedingly handsome, buff- coloured bull terrier, belonging to my Brother Gordon, sagacious, affectionate, and courage- ous to the last degree, and much loved by every member of the family. She protected the house, and each individual in it, better than a body-guard of soldiers could have done. Not a sound escaped her ears, and she would have fought till she died for the safety of any one of us. I could tell many pleasing and extraordinary stories about our dear little Bounce, but must restrict myself to the two following ones. My Mother had been altering a vest for Gordon, who was lying on the lounge half asleep, with Bounce beside him. She wanted him to try it on. ii a o 3 9 W a a a 128 Trvs Anecdotes of Pet Animals till she saw if it fitted properly, but he was lazy and would not rise. •'Get up this moment, you lazy, ungrateful fel- low," she said playfully, at the same time giving him a slap on the shoulder. Bounce sprang at her like a tigress, with a growl that threatened instant destruction if she dared to strike her master in that style again. " Why, Bounce ! " said Mamma, reproachfully, drawing back in a fright. Bounce leaned over and licked the hand he had been going to bite, as much as to say, " I love you too, but you must not hurt my master; I cannot permit that from anyone, whoever they may be." Very much amused. Mamma tried the effect of another little blow to Gordon. Bounce sprang up as fiercely as before, and this time placed herself across Gordon's body in a slant- ing position, so as to cover as much of his figure as possible, and there she stood growling in savage defiance. So poor mamma had just to await, as pa- « Belonging to Our Household. 129 tiently as she could, the pleasure of Bounce's lazy master. She got no encouragement from her master to act thus. Bounce was a sad epicure, as my last story will show. If the dish set before her was not as dainty as usual, she would give an indignant and contemptuous toss of her head, and a snuff of her nose, and retire, without touching it, to finish her nap. On behaving in this way one day, my Mother called her back, and reproved her in angry tones, saying— " Come, Bounce, you must eat it ! I will not give you another meal till that plate is empty." " Bounce understood perfectly. She waited till my Mother had retired into the house, then darting down the lane with the speed of an arrow, she presently returned, bringing with her an ugly, half-starved cur. She led the cur up to the plate, and stood guard over both till the contents were demohshed. % 180 True Anecdotes of Pet Animals. When Mamma came out shortly afterwards, Bounce looked towards the empty plate and then up in her face, wagging her tail as if expecting an approving clap for her obedience, little knowing that Mamma had been an eye-witness of the whole transaction. I must not forget to mention, that a day or two after, the same cur came uninvited into the yard, and was in the act of emptying Bounce's plate voluntarily, when Bounce seized hold of him and gave him a sound thrashing, causing him to go off in a hurry, yelping resolves never to intrude into his late entertainer's domains again without an express invitation from headquarters. Gordon was awav from home when his dear Bounce met her death. She was shot by accident by a man who was firing off his revolver in the dark; and I do not believe there ever lived a dog whose death was more deeply regretted, or that left such a mournful vacancy behind. A. K. H. Boyd's essay on " Gone " would not half express the pathetic blank caused by her death in our family circle. " We spake of many a vanished scene, Of what we once had thought and said ; Of what had been and might have been, And who was changed and who was dead." -Longfellow. CONCIUSION. EADER ! it has given me both pain and pleasure to dwell on these recollections of bygone times, for, as I said before, changes and separations have taken place, and we are not the old "Household" now, nor have we % J'. 18S Conclusion, the same feelings as of yore; but I hope my reminiscences have given you an evening's enter- tainment. The incidents given are all quite true, and are not exaggerated in the slightest degree. I close my volume with a strange wish, which has come to me while thinking of the dear old days, and the changes time has wrought in our family circle : THE STBANGE WISH. Oh ! would that once again were here, With all its weight of sorrow fraught, The day when o'er " Our Cammy's " bier We wept as one in heart and thought. Firm clasping each the other's hand, Each wishing but the other's good ; A weeping, love-united band. Beside that coffin'd form we stood. " Our hearts must break," we simply said — Ah ! little did we children think That time would heal, and mem'ry fade, And snap our love-chain link from link. Oondimon. 188' The paths diverge— the wish is vain— For now we know that never more, As one in heart and thought again, We'll stand upon this earthly shore. Reader, Farewell ! . ' i ' , » APPENDIX. SURGEON related the following incident lately at a Clinic Lecture as an example of the gratitude of a dog, surpassing that of human beings in general. The Surgeon was seated at dinner one evening when a little lad in tears asked to speak to him for a moment. Very shyly and hesitatingly the boy asked if he would be so kind as to come and look at his dog ; it had got shot in the side, and he was afraid it would die. The Surgeon told him he was sorry for his dog, but it would be better to get the Veterinary Surgeon to look at him. The little fellow said humbly, with a sigh, "We did not think you would come, but my Aunt, Mrs. , said we might try." your Aunt 1 and did she send Is Mrs. you ? Why, of course, I'll go and see your dog. Appendix. m ' The child's face brightened with hope as the two went ofiF together. The dog lay in great pai' the ball having entered the side. On looking into the mouth no blood was visible, so the Surgeon concluded that the animal's lungs were untouched, and that there was hope of life. After feeling and probing for a short time in vain, the thought struck him that the ball might have fol- lowed the curve of the body inside the skin, and be lodged only skin-deep on the opposite side. In this he was correct, and in a minute the leaden ball was removed, and the wound soothed and bound up. Months have rolled by, and the dog still lives ; and to this day, whenever he sees the Surgeon on the street, or even driving, he makes his way to him, and turns round to him the side from which the ball was extracted. ♦ ' J-