A DOG-STORY AND A SQUIRREL-STORY.
[TO THY EDITOR 07 TER " SPECTATOR:9
SIR,—I note that in your paper you are publishing anecdotes about dogs. Permit me to relate one of a dog belonging to us named Forte,' a lineal descendant of the famous old Barry,' the St. Bernard whose stuffed skin is in the museum at Berne, and who bore little resemblance to the large St. Bernard dogs now bred for the London market, and which would be of no use on the snow whatever. Now whether it runs in the blood or not I cannot say, but our dog is certainly the moat "knowing" animal I ever met with. I watch him often until I could believe he is endowed with human intelligence. Well, last summer a feud arose between him and a dog belonging to my friend Baron de R---, and as his dog was much smaller, I gave him permission to drive off our dog and, if need be, to thrash him with his stick. Of - .course, this led to a very ill-feeling between 'Forte' and the Baron. I am sorry to say the quarrel was kept between the three the whole season. At the end of the season, however, and at the last service to be held in the church, what was my amazement to see 'Forte' walking in the demurest and most sanctimonious fashion close at the heels of the Baron and his daughters on their way to church, as one would say, "As this is the last service, and you will soon be going away for the winter, let us at all events forget and forgive and part as Christians should." In this heavenly frame of mind he followed the Baron up the steps, entered the church with him, and lay down in the empty pew immediately behind. As he -knew the voices of my daughters, who led the choir in the gallery he sat up loyally during the music, but he seemed some. what uneasy during the prayers. He persevered, however, until the hymn before the sermon was finished; but when be saw the clergyman mount into the pulpit it seemed more than his -nature could stand, se he gravely got up, put the entrance -curtain aside with his paw, and quietly marched off. I am afraid there was not much reverence amongst the occupants of the gallery, who were astounded and convulsed with laughter at the sudden conversion and comical proceedings of the dog.
Allow me one more joke, about a squirrel. A restaurant- -keeper at the foot of the Waldeck bad a squirrel in a cage on the front of his house. An American passed one morning, and, seeing the squirrel whirling his cage round, asked the man what he would take for the whole concern. The man said twenty francs, which the American paid. He then said he did not want the cage, but ordered the cage to be opened, and out bounced the squirrel into the pinewoods above as if over- joyed at his liberty. Whereupon the purchaser discoursed the late owner considerably on his cruelty to a little creature like that, and hoped it would be a lesson and a warning to him as long as he lived. Early next morning what was the sur- prise of the restaurant-keeper to hear the cage whirling round at a tremendous rate. The squirrel had voluntarily returned to his labours, and appeared as if anxious to make up for lost time. As his freedom had been purchased, his door was always left open and a supply of food kept, so that his little lordship could enjoy his run in the forest when he wished, but he invariably returned to his work. In the autumn, when his drowsiness came on, he took to the woods for his winter's nap, and the question is, Will he return in .the spring ? If he does not, I shall conclude that be has been -shot by some of the lads who sell the skins and who look upon a roasted squirrel as a supreme tit-bit. It is a pity one did mot see the face of the American when he realised the result of his benevolence —I am, Sir, &c.,
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