Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-30

AGAIN, ana never was, except tne one
Plato sworc by. talk to him Just as
should do to any reasoning animal on two
legs, the only difference being that he has
four superfluously.
Charles Lamb once owned dog, pre-.
sented to him by Hood, that hc mightnoi
be companionless in the long morning
walks he indulgcd in, when emancipated
from Leadenhall street and its uncongc.
NAL desk work. Dash's habits were ex-
travagantly erratic, and the source OF
much pcrplexity to his supposed master.
He went securing streets and roads be-
yond Lambs ken, leaving him in fever
of irritation lest the animal should ge!
lost, while he had not the heart to curl
his spirits. Regents Park was Dash's
favoritc goal, and for that reason thithei
did Lamb oftenest wcnd his way. Nc
sooner was the park gained than Dash
vanished, well aware that his master
would not dare to stir from The spot until
he chose to return. At last lambs pa.
tience gave way, and he transferred his
troublesome friend to Mr.. Patmore. But
he did not forget him.
Some of the minor poets Of our day
have been notable peters of animals,
Mrs. Kingsley tells IFS that the rector OF
Eversley's horse was his friend, and knew
it. His Scotch terrier Darby, after at-
tending school lessons and cottage lee
lures, and accompanying his master rcgu-
larly in his parish walks for thirteen
years, was laid under the frs on the rec
tory lawn, beside Sweep the retriever,
and "Teckel' of the Queens present
ing, with whom his attached master sat
up during the last two suffering nights OF
the little creatures life. Charles Kings
ley delighted, too, i'll cats, the stable new
er lacking its white cat, or the house its
black or ta1by one. On the lawn dwelt
family of natter-toads, which lived On
from year to year in the same hole in the
green bank, which the scythc was never
allowed to approach. A pair of sand
wasps-one of which had been saved from
n watery death in hand-basin by the
tender-hearted rector--livcd in crack OF
his dressing-room window and every
spring he looked eagerly for their advent.
A little hy-catcher that built every year
under his bedroom window was II con-
stant Joy to him and he rejoiced i'll IA
vorite slow-worm in the churchyard,
which his parishioners were specially en-
Joined not to kill. Believing, like Wes-
ley, in future state for animals, Kings
| ley loved every creature that draws
breath, barriug the spider ; to that he
owned an antipathy he could neither con-
quer nor understand.
| Mortimer Collins was also a man of
many animal friends. He would stop in
his work to stroke the protrudcd to
invite the caress-of the tortoise on his
writing-table. 1t amused him when his
owls in the garden woke up suddenly in
the night and hooted in all sorts Of keys,
until they brought their like from the
woods to Join company and add to the din.
He delighted in seeing his white rats sit
on his wife's hand, and play tricks with
her finger-nails ; and when Mrs Black
bird was sitting on her nest, he never
failed to give her call and stroke her
glossy feathers liberty she never re-
sented, knowing her visitor had no de-
signs upon her eggs. On mornings n robin
flying into the book room, half-stunned
itself against the window. The little in
truder was taken up tcnderly, coaxed to
drink little water, and put out on the
grass. This treatment quickly brought
the dazed bird round, and from that time il
was on the most intimate terms with its
rescuer, making itself free OF the house,
hopping over the poets manuscript
perching on his knee, and accompanying
him on his morning stroll.
But the chief members Of the family
circle at "The Cottage" after the master
and mistress, were Growl, Eido aud Big
dog. The first named was Scotch ter
rier with propensity for attacking tht
Thames swans, ando bellicose turn
out of all proportion to his dimensions
For some piece of impertinence, he one,
got such shaking from Big-dog that III
was only resuscited by a copious admins
tration of port wine but, for all that, h
never failed to greet the approach Of hi
punisher with n provocative lrowl. Fido
blue Skye, was the gift Of DR.. Allen
who parted with him because his iealou
temper impclled him to bite uuewly- com
baby. Fido is described as the most eX
citable, most irritable, most aifectionat
dog in the world "always in extremes
either barking in exuberant joy, or look
ing at you with great, melancholy brow
imprisoned spirit. 1t has been said q
: some dogs that they can do eyerythin
but talk FiJo does talk. We kno'
what lie means as well rs possible. ii
, has particular expressions for everytilin
I lie Wants.
The pride of the household WAS
G mighty Pyrenean wolf-hound, found ncn
. ly dead in a ditch by poor hulf-witte
= fellow, who gladly resigned him to Mo
! timer Collins until his owncrshould claii
= him. That never came to pass, and Ii
y new proprietor adopted Big-log. as J.
was called in default of knowing his pr
per name, and kept him near him viii
working, thinking and dreaming. CO
Inns was rather proud OF the fact that III
fuvorite had thrashed every dog within
~ few miles but ayerrcl that he was
". most courteous and chiyllric dog, VIII
il, when walking out with ladies', treat,
" a them as if he were prcuX chcvalicr. Mr.
=" Collins says; "Ho was curiously Ill
10 his master IN character he had nigh
10 10 strength, and yet such gentle, loyil
II ways :" and she rctutcs with evident n
:, probation, how a Berkshire lnborcr,
n Mortimer Collins and Big-dog passed |
, him, exclaimed "You be apair, you be
,e Somebody once suggested seuding Il
:" hound to dog-show, proposition
. which his master WIS very indignal
~ "As if, said he, "any dog of ours shou
y. be tied up, or Gagged for an hour, or su
GO lected 10 the impertinent gaze Of visitor
We could no more send II dog of ours
er q show than submit to be exhibited il
- man-show ourselves" An outburst tho
oughly characteristic Of the man who
friends "werc chiefly few private pc
pie, his dogs, his servants, aud his wif,
-th0mbCrs' JOUWui.
Christian Endeavor. VisitoE from the c
X You have delightful place here an
nd lovely little church. You must be pericc
sh happy" Country clergyman-"Ah,b but y
Inn't np,y bn,p harI II in ., nab. 10th "a,