"I was once called from dinner in a hurry to attend to something that
had occurred; unintentionally I left a favourite cat in the room,
together with a no less favourite spaniel. When I returned I found the
latter, which was not a small figure, extending her whole length along
the table by the side of a leg of mutton which I had left. On my
entrance she showed no signs of fear, nor did she immediately alter
her position. I was sure, therefore, that none but a good motive had
placed her in this extraordinary situation, nor had I long to
conjecture. Puss was skulking in a corner, and though the mutton was
untouched, yet her conscious fears clearly evinced that she had been
driven from the table in the act of attempting a robbery on the meat,
to which she was too prone, and that her situation had been occupied
by this faithful spaniel to prevent a repetition of the attempt. Here
was fidelity united with great intellect, and wholly free from the aid
of instinct. This property of guarding victuals from the cat, or from
other dogs, was a daily practice of this animal; and, while cooking
was going forward, the floor might have been strewed with eatables,
which would have been all safe from her own touch, and as carefully
guarded from that of others. A similar property is common to many
dogs, but to spaniels particularly."
It is impossible in a work on dogs to omit the insertion of some
pretty lines on a spaniel by Mrs. Barrett Browning, and which do so
much credit to her kindly feelings and poetic talents:--
"Yet, my pretty sportive friend,
Little is't to such an end
That I praise thy rareness!
Other dogs may be thy peers,
Haply, in those drooping ears,
And this glossy fairness.
But of thee it shall be said,
'This dog watched beside a bed
Day and night unweary,--
Watched within a curtained room
Where no sunbeam broke the gloom
Round the sick and dreary.
Roses, gathered for a vase,
In that chamber died apace,
Beam and breeze resigning--
This dog only waited on,
Knowing that when light is gone
Love remains for shining.
Other dogs, in thymy dew,
Tracked the hares and followed through
Sunny moor or meadow--
This dog only crept and crept
Next a languid cheek that slept,
Sharing in the shadow.
Other dogs of loyal cheer
Bounded at the whistle clear,
Up the woodside hieing--
This dog only watched in reach
Of a faintly uttered speech,
Or a louder sighing.
And if one or two quick tears
Dropped upon his glossy ears,
Or a sigh came double,--
Up he sprang in eager haste,
Fawning, fondling, breathing fast,
In a tender trouble.'"
[Illustration]
[Illustration: FRENCH POODLE.]