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i
J?
f
LION.
LION, THE MASTIFF.
FROM LIFE.
BV
A. G. SAVIGNV,
A Mkmfkk ok tmk Torunto II, mank Socktv, asp Ai thoh ..^ -A RcMxscr.
OK Toronto," "Tiirkk WKnniNH Hixos." Ere.
•' If there are net ,0M,son, mirthfulness, lov,., honor and firleluj. .n a ring I do
not know wher. to fl.ul then,. «>h ! if they ,..,.,|,, „nly speak, what w,,,e ar. ^ hun o ou"
and sarcastic things they uonld say." nuniorous
"The iK-wfr of control carries with it the obligation t
Hrirlirr.
o protect.
H. H. I'ortr
TOROXTO :
WnjJAM RRI(i(i.S, WKSLKV BUTLDIXriS.
r. W. lOATKS, MoNTRK.w,, qvv.. s. F. HrKSTls, Hamkav. N.s.
l89o.
.l\ 90
200t
Enterprl. acrordin<; to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one
thousand eiffht hundred and ninety-five, by Wilijam Briwis, in the f »f!ire of
the Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa.
V
t;
^
2)c^icatc^
TO
le year one
the < (fflre of
THAT hiuanl; <iiv\Ti>:u(,MA.\,
MRS. CHARLES B. GRASETT,
AM)
TO TIIK MKMoiiV OF
RICHARD MARTIN, ESQ.,
OF DANGAV AM. li A L L I N A II I \ ( ■ H CASTLE,
'•"HI) OF CLAKK, IHFLAM),
AND SURNAMED "HUMANITY,"
Al rilnli (IK
TMK MAKTIX ACT FOR TDK PKKVF.NTION OF
CKl F.l/rv TO ANIMALS,
i;ki.\(i
THE FIRST LAW IN THE WoHLD FOR
THEIR PROTECTIOX.
INTRUDL'CTORV.
Mks. SAVKiXV is alivady Tax (jui'ahly knowji as an
.•lutlu^rcss, and docs not r<M|uii-(' to he iiiti'oduced to
the pill. lie. Slic is an active int'inlH')- ol* tlic Hiimane
Society, and lias \vritt»'n ' Lion, the Mastiff'" to pi'o-
inc^re a cause wliicli is very (h'ai- to hei'. It is the
l)i-o<luction of a hidy wliose sentiments and I'eeh'nos
;ii-e in harmony wi'Ji all that is true an<l o(),)d. Eveiy
puoe testities to the kindness of jier hejut. Hei-
moral staudai-d is the Christian standa)-d. Slie in-
stinctively shrinks IVom eiHielty, an<l no (jne, we hope,
can read tliis stcjiy without catchino- somewhat oF the
humane and gentle spirit which characterizes the
writer of it.
The style of this hook is pleasant and interestino'
and shows throu^^hout the (|uick appivciation and
delicacy of touch which l.elonc- t(
) a I'etined and culti-
vated woman. Mi-s. Sj
c.Kcoedino-ly W(>11 in all his moo(
ann-er and love, hope and f
almost equally well the hoi
iviyny understands " Li
on
Is of
joy and .sorrow,
md she int«'rprets
ses, cows, cats and hirds
ear
that come into ivlations with the hero of tl
le stoi'v
\ III.
IN'rHn|)l( '!<i|;V.
\Vr li;i\f liti'c not M little tliat is )tla\ fill ami huiiioi'-
oils, and a ^kixI deal that is triidfi' and pal liftic. A
rt'fliiii;' (>r ln'ot lici'liood towards llic diiiiil) crraturcs
around us L;r(>Nv>^ as we .rad, ainl wc Icain to it-naj-d
all crih'lty towartls our lcssj»rolcctfd iici^lilioiiis as
Kasc, cowardly and sinful. The animals ai'«' (Jod's
cit-at ui't's, and to disrcHiird tlicir ii*;lits is to otlV'iid
liiiii. Ijc^idcs. all unkindiicss towards animals I't'Hitls
ui)oii oui'scKcs, dchasin*;' our own nature and )>re
jiiiriiiL;' us for l»ad eondiu-t towards our rellownieii.
" Lion, llie MustiH'" tells his own story, and liis
aulol)ioer;i|>liy, it must l)e said, is relatetl w itii more
\i\afity than some I'amous men ha\t' exemplilied in
memoirs of t lieinseU'es.
\\^' lio|H' that Mrs. Savi;;'iiy's work will hasf— asit
deserves — many rea<lers, and that .all w ho i-ead it w ill
piU'take of the considerate and humane spirit which
it su efiruewtly recummeiids.
\Vm. Cavex.
4
i
I liuiiior-
i.'tic. A
crratuics
iImiiiis as
iv ( Jnd's
III otlV'iid
lis |-»'!l('l.S
a I It I )>i't'
\iiit'ii.
ami lil^^
itii iiiuit'
])liru'<l ill
i\ f —as it
ad it will
lit w liit'h
Caven.
PRHIvVlURN NulH.
I
'^'■^i: IJl.n.Ki! The |)atlM'lic cry lur m.-iw lias
C'Mliir t:. my .-ais iVnln (|„. f,,,.,!' .Irfnicrlrss aiiiiiials;
yea. If has Imtii licafd l,y ,,,,. ,,^,.,, ;il„,^,. l|,,, |,„,,|
claiiioiir, al)(>\c tlir stir and stiifc of .'artii. I lia\.'
In-aid tiM'ii- l.,\iii;^' hraits |.al|.itatc with IVar. Tli.'\-
''"'•' '"'•' '"^' "ll tlirir trouM.'s while I haw l..,.krd
''"^^" <l''''|' i"t'> Ih.'ir soic.wf.il .-y.-s. Th.-ivlniv. as
^^' ""•' ''""' il^ \v.'i>^ I'ly pIcasaMt l(.l to s<,j.,iin, u.-ai-
thf rally hoiiM- ,,r Lin.j, thr MastiH'. and t.. haw
thriv madr tlu- drliu-htrul aciiiaiiitancr of his d.-N ,.)•
'""^''•''' •'^'•''l'«'- •'" the sad new. ivachinu' me that
l>..<.r I.ioii was lost, J IVIt constrained t„ write (W
thrm. introdiu-ino- als(, other interesting- IViends ,,f
"line, who will. I know, I.e wvy thankful that our
sdiool ehildreii and their !,{<.• l),,)thei-s may thus, In
a stoi-y ivplete with aetual facts, learn to kjiow of
tlicir re,|uiremeiits. as als., of the l,ai-l.arous eruej-
ties to which they are suhjected In" reason of the
'faithlessness (;f man to his ti'ust.
\'ours faithfully.
'I'llK Al "I'HoR.
ToR(»NT,,. M.w. JHW.").
%
%
1?
'if
CO NTH NTS.
C'MACiKH
I. I awake to life ami taste of the tree ut know ledtre
II. I lirst know I am iliiml)
III. A m(>thei-l)ii<| weeps for her youn'4
IN . We meet tuo toy terriers
\ . I take my lirst dip
VI. My mot'her holds a meetin>j;
^'II. 'I'lu- dy inif li()i.,t .peaks in the (ilen
VIII. i\Jrs. (' ■■ • Bossy speaks at the ('(.nvention
IX. Frisky, the sipiiirel, tells his story .
X. The fox terriers tell their ilream
X I. Moiisihiaa, the eat, tells her stoiy
XII. The gay parrot speaks at the ("onvention
XUl. Mrs, iMastirt' lectures to men and to dogs
X I \ . • My loved master and my home
X\'. I am lost! starved! and alone! (Ireat joy -I am
found !
Appendix
rs
r.i
71
90
MS
114
I'Jl
1 .-..*{
IS-I
197
I
1
1 ■ I
» I
LION, thp: mastiff,
CHAPTER I.
I AWAKE TO LIFK AND TASTE OK THE TREE OF
KNOWLEDGE.
pi FfRST knew I was aliNc by blijikinj;- my brown ^n-es
in the face of tliat <;i-eat ball of heat and light men
I call the sun, as hv stared me out of countenance while
I I sat in his beams at the door of u\y mother's snuy-
1/ kennel.
Cm- house was laiscd up on bricks lest the floor
hv damp in the commodious, well-ventilated stable of
OUT- master. Mr. Boston, a kind man who cared for
the comfort of his animals as only a humane man will.
; My n.othei- Xellie had left me to take my sun-bath,
,\vhile she stretche.l hei- lind3s in a run through the
.cwooded slopes of beauteous Scarboi'o', whiclMav i?)
their cool depths just across the Kinu-ston Road— for
this my eai-liest home wms at East 1\)ronto.
Aftei- my mothers duties as night-guardian wei-e
over with, she felt that a run did hei- good; and be-
sides she got a movithful of couch gr^ss, which she
said contained a veg<.t.-d,K> acid Nei-y wholesom(> for
dogs. After her i-un she would guard the door of our
14
LION, THE MASTIFF.
:m
<^iH)i\ iiiastci's shop, for we do^s hear men say thnt
" tli<' thieves' (|uarter is tlie hi^^-er half of tlie world. "
When our master luul bi'oken his fast he would
relieve Nellio and pat hei' head, sending" her to the
kitchen to say oood moi'ninj>" to oui' mistress and the
little folk, as also to lap a pan of milk, when she
would I'etui'n to hei' kennel at a (piick trot to j;ive
my bi'others and njyself our bieakfast: but as these
pa<i^es are to l)e men' splinters from the bone of my
own life, 1 shall leave my brothers to their fate whilst
I ii'ive vou the narrative of my not uneventful career.
My wise mother Nellie, very early in my life,
comnience<l to train me. I I'emeniber she was most
anxious that our mastei' should name us. It mortified
her feelini's as a thorou^'hbred to have her family
desij^iiated pups — <»ivin^ her, she afterwards told me,
a sensation of wounded pride, owin^ to the fact that
anmn(j; men the term "pup" is an epithet of su})rem('
contiiuipt: more so, indeed, than for a man to be
called "a dude." I remember that she showed symp-
toms of joy the day we were named, especially liking
my «;rand name of Lion, <;'ivinji; me that day my first
bone to coax out my teeth, as well as for a playthin<i',
which she deemed very necessary to ke<^p me bright
and lively.
When my mothei- was oft' duty at intervals durin<:
the day, she took advantaj;'e of hei* leisure to (edu-
cate me.
Before dawn she would awaken nu*, brush my coat,
pet me a little as she bro\i}j;ht out my nails and teetli
in a playful tussle and tumble, then she would take
ha
I ,'
I AWAKE TO \AVK.
1.5
1 sav tliat
le worM."
lie would
ler to the
s and the
when she
)t to ^'ive
t as these
)ne of m\-
ate whilst
I'll! careei-.
my life,
was most
t mortified
ler family
s told me,
B fact that
)f supreme
lan to he
Aiid symp-
!illy liking
LV my first
])laythint;',
UK! bright
'als durin*:'
re to (!du-
ih my coat,
and teeth
^'ould take
me fln-ou^^h our majster's yard and field, teaeliing me
the use of the dam}) j^rey toad in kitclu-n and flowei-
gardens, and of the dear bii'ds u]> like ourselves and
singing their morning hymn of gladness as they
sought the (!arly woi'iii.
|< '■ Never hurt the hirds, liion," she would say Jtitv-
iiitd\' : " nu'U and hovs often shoot them out of mis-
eliie\(>us want of thought, and trap them most cruelly.
We dogs often wonder that men have time to he
ei'util, thei-e are so nianv humane acts waitinii' to he
done ; but we wonder most that women cncouraffc
the spo)'t of stilling the song of the birds, merely to
gratify theii' vanity in tlie wearing of some bright
plumage. If women would frown, instead of snnle,
.on the cruel s])ort i)\' shooting down birds, men would
bag no game oF that sort. The busy little sparrow is
the best off' in its lack of gay pfumage. HenuMnbei'
what J sav, Lion, the Creatoi- ma<le the birds to
brighten the world by their song, as well as to devour
harmful in.sects, not to be hunted by dog or man,"
And then my wise mother would go on to say:
" Listen further, Lion. Youi' gi'andsire Ca'sai', as well
as your sire l'a\saj-, wei'e of champion stock fi-om
merrie Lnglands kennels. 1 shall now, as you are
Acry intelligent, describe to you youi' siiv : He was
a magnificent, upstanding dog, with a true mastiff'
liead, well set on a sti'ong muscular neck. I can see
you will be his very image," said my mother, pi-oudly ;
"he had a wonderful <Ieep broa«l chest, was loving
with his master, even-teinpt!red, but a splendid,
courageous guard.
'I '
16
LION, THK MASTIFF.
"You, Lion, iiiust show yoiii" Invrdino- l)y a Iniiiuinc
coni'tcsv, not oiilv towards men, hut towai'fls all
animals and insects as well. Men apply the term
' mon«;rels ' to doj^s not oF noble stock, and, unhappily,
the epithet iiii))lies an amount of* repi'oach and con-
tempt that often carries witli it not a little abuse for
these unfoi'tunate animals from men who tliemselves
are (piite as much entitled to the tei'm.
" When my tine points are discussed by men, and
a mon^i'el is within heaiin^-, I lon^- for a word of
praise to be thrown his way. Tlie Creatoi- made
no distinctions of caste aiiion^' do^'s, so I'emember,
Lion, I lav this comman<l ui)on vou, foi' vou are too
apt to snub the little monoiuds you meet. 1 repeat,
show voui' breediuii' bv' humane courtesy : do not hurt
their feelin<;-s because they merely lack a lono- pedi-
;4'i-ee : they may be possessed of nobler (jualities of
heart than we of noble stock. Never, Lion, when
you have a master, betrav that master's confidence ;
let him feel that thou(^'h he cannot trust those about
him, he can trust you.
" Aji'ain, and listen attentively, my little don^^ie,
we mastitis, though well aware of the advanta^t! we
have in size, are reputed to be as o-entle and kindly
as the tiniest terrier. Do not take ailvantam* of vour
si/e by ]ilayin}^' at fri*;hteninrr people, as I have seen
bin- boys do to wee tots, but spread youi'self as lar^ic
as you like in your bearing- towards the deprcilator.
Vour duties towards him who steals vom- masters
noods will be. in a measure, liji'htened on account <>l
your size : as youi* vi{j;i lance, if you follow the exampl<>
I
5S^\
I AWAKE TO LIFE.
17
a linuunic
wards all
the term
unhappily,
and coii-
abiise for
themselves
men, and
I word oi'
ator made
remend)er,
ou are too
I repeat,
lo not hurt
lon^- pedi-
|ualities of
jion, when
I'ontidence ;
hose about
I have set yon, will he so well known, that the
robber, who is a coward, will tly at sight of vour
wrathful eyes, great tawny sides and angry voice.
I wish you. Lion, to note with what vigilanee 1 watch
the domicile and outbuildings of my master: when
you liave a master see to it tluit you do likewise "
At this [ grew restless and naughty, running after
a })oor beetle, saying, ' I'll gobble uj) tJie robbers when
I grow up, mother, but I'd rather stay and bite them
here. I know very well I'll fret an<l grow into a bad
«log if I have to leave Mr. Boston and you."
" No, Lion," said my mother solenndy, " vou will
not i-egret to leave me, at least not for long^ for the
delight of the dog is in the companionship of his
master. Be true to the noble instincts you inherit,
an<l you will be a worthy companion for the best of
men."
tie doggir,
rantage we
md kindly
lo-e of vour
have seen
elf as large
leprerlator.
\v master >
account <>l
he exam pi '^
18
LION, THE MASTIFF.
CHAPTER II.
I FIRST KNOW I AM Dl'MH.
'
I CAMK toroalizi' tlie sad fact that man cannot under-
stand our mode of speecli as \\ell as we do^s can his,
and tliat lience we are often misunderstood.
In this wav tlie sad knowledire came to me : One
morning" early, ni}' motlier, liavinj^ to escort the small
folk to town, ])laced me on ^'uard at the shop door while
Mr. Boston breakfasted, telliniif me to bark as loudh
as I could if anyone entered the sliop.
I was on tlie alert, |»rickin(^ up my ears, wishing" —
bold little fellow that I was — that a tramp of the very
worst sort would come in to steal, in order that 1
might bite him, and so prove my usefulness, for I was
not and)itious to leave my mother, of whom I was
both proud and fond.
All at once 1 saw the man I was hun<^ry for. 1
knew njy mother would punish me if she knew 1
wanted a bit of his ankle, but I did, all the same. All
at once, as I toM you, a nasty, sneaking' tramp crosse<l
from the woods to the shop. " Pity (lod's acre should
be spoiled by such," thought I, remembering Mr.
Boston's words. On he came, peeping and sneaking.
I expect lie knew it was oidy a pup guarded the door
that morning. He came in softly, and when he saAv
me, he looked at me contemptuously, giving me a kick
whicli I dodged : then I ran into the back liall ami
nial
€bee
"he
kiel
ha(|
wa
nun
vvhji
I FIRST KNOW 1 AM DT'MF?.
19
ot un<ler-
fs can bis,
lie : One
the small
loor Nvhilf
: as loudly
wisliirij;-—
)t' the very
iler that 1
fori W5»^
loiu I was
irv I'or. 1
10 knew 1
Hauie. All
imp crossrti
lere shoiil'l
beriiig Mi"
; sneaking'.
c(l the door
hen he saAv
(T me a kick
I'k hall aii'l
harked for dear life, wliile he em])ti«'d tlie monoy-
drawer into liis ])ocket.
My master, thinking- an lionest customei' was tliere,
made for tlic sliop, hut seeing" no oni' — foi' tlie tramp
had skulkiMl oil", to liidi> in tlie outhuildin«;-s until he
could <i^et safely away — lie scolded me for making- a
row ahout nothin^^ his ^ood wife addin^j;' that 1 was
a had do^ for awaking- the hahy. At this I crept
behind a molasses barrel, and cried because T was
misunderstood. When mv <»'ood mother returned, she
ci'ie<l with me, more especially as someone ha<l with
vile hand spoiled our nice dinner (which had been
bi'ou^ht to the door of the keinud) by throwino- mud
and tilth thereon. Mv mother then said:
" You saw the thief come to tlu' outbuildino-s, Lion.
It was lu' who cheated me of mydiinier, as he cheated
my master of his money. Revent^'e on ytm, my little
doggie, for trying- your best to tell our master, was
the tramp's motive. But cheer u}), Lion ; you are
not the lower animal this time."
Later in the day she told me that she overheard our
master tell our mistress that "if she (Nellie) had not
been sent to town in the mornino-, he would not have
been poorer by nine dollars in silver coin," addino- that
he " felt satisfied that was what the little fellow Lion
kicked up such a row about." Further, Mr. Boston
ha<l .sai<l that he only wished he knew who the thi«'f
was ; man or woman, he wouM I'un him in.
But mother or I not beiuix able to make our irood
master understand, hn- the tiivst time I knew^ I was
what is called by man " dumb."
20
FJON, THE MASTIFF.
CHAPTER III.
A MOTIIKR-FUHI) WEKPS FOR HER YOlNCi.
" THE CHANGED SONG."
J{Y W. v. WILLS.
=t:>
1 I
" Hi I'd notes iire calling from yonder tree,
O eonie and see, eonie and see I
See wliat lies hidden beneatii that wing,
For very gladness I sing.
The snn shines warm ; and the breezes light.
Day liy day and niglit l)y night,
(lently oui' cradle swing to and fir),
While nothing of fear we know.
For all is ))right in this world so fair,
And wliat is care ? Wiiafc is care V
All earth for us Iioldeth nothing sad,
For our hearts, our hearts are ghid.
" Bird notes are wailing from yonder tree,
() (!ome and see, come and see !
Where are tlie fledglings we hehl so dear ?
Our hearts grow, heavy with fear.
For us no longer the sun shines bright,
The day has darkened to night.
Wounded and dying our birdlings lie,
All is care beneath the sky.
Long days of sorrow, dark nights of pain,
Must ever with us remain.
All earth for us holdeth nothing glad,
For our hearts, our hearts are sad,"
tl
To
til
lit
ca
ch
1
^'Stw,
A MOTHER-HIRD WEEPS FOR HER YOUN(J.
21
In ii ficM lU'.ir our iiiiisttTs house, a rohin had
Iniilt licr nest in a tall iir tiHv, and iVcMjiu-ntly IVoni
tlie stahlc'-yai'd we could sec two hoys sneak in. elind)
tlie tree, and take down the nest. They would tlieii
sit on the ^rass an<l empty the nest : then one ol' tiio
lads would o[)en the lone- hill ol* one of the youni*-
rohins, while the other hov would till it with orain
(oats, we doo-^ies thouj^lit it was). They had watei'
in an old tin vessel which they poured th)wn tlie
throat oi* the chokint;' hirdie : after this tliey i)resse(l
. th<; ^rain inU) the poor t1e(l^'line-'s bill with the top oF
one tint;'er, exactly as we have seen men do hei'ore
setting;' tire to tobacco in a little cup on the end of a
tube in their mouths. My mother Nellie says when
she sees men do so, she wonders what thev would
think of the canine i-ace warn unii^ their cohl nost's ,so.
But about the ])()or baby robins: those cruel boys
would tlien try to poke the orain down the tliroats of
tlie dear little birdies, not only with their fingers, but
with pieces of branches and tufts of o-j-ass, when,
alas ! one day that UKjther Nellie was on g'uard of
the bakeiy, they succeedetl in choking one baby
robin, which, without one word of pity, they threw
carelessly away. They then tossed the other bii'die
'Up and down on their hands, afterwards putting it in
|he nest and shaking it about. Finally when the sport
tired them, they climbed the tree and put the poor
little robin back into its ci'adle of bouohs.
After the boys had g(jne, Mi's. Mouser, a spotted
cat, came softly along and made her dinner of the
choked robin.
22
LION, THE MASTIFF.
i '■ !
On tlic irtuni ol' iny iiiotlwr, T told lii-r that tlu- bjid
})oys liud lu'cii {il'tci- the i'(jbins ji(;uin, and int'onnt'd
lici' of all that liad trans])in'd diirino- lu'i* aliscncc.
At tliis slic ^rowli'd with aii^vr, saying": " Divad-
fnl ! dread I'ul ! Oh, that 1 liad been here, my loud
Itarkiii^ wonhl liavc hronnlit onr immsU^i" out. He
would have made short work ol* those had boy.s.
If we dons could sjieak as the human race <lo,
the lattei- would not be so putted U]) with pride in
themselves. 1 wish our kind master or one of the
IJoston boys had caught them at their cruel spoi't.
Poor I'obin, 1 hope she will not I'eturn to her nest
with an empty stomach, else she will not have
stren<;th to beai' her soitow and cure her remaininf»"
sick Hedylin^'. Oh, that is oood 1 I thiid\ our master
is alxjut to water the roots of his trees. No, listen!
he is sendino- his little son, and 1 kn«)W the «;ood lad
never misses robins fir tree. Come, Lion, and all my
little do<;<;ies, into the field and watch for the pool'
mothei--bird's return."
And in we crawled under the fence, which oui'
mother jumped. We then trotted to keep up with her
brisk paci\ following; lier to the fir tree, for oui*
mother Nellie said that the plentiful drink of watei'
the youn<>' chap had o-iven its thirsty roots would
brin^' the earth-worms to the surface. And so it did :
up they came, a plentiful meal for robin. As we
quietly watched them rise, lo ! on the win^' return-
ino- (juickly through the air came the mother-bird.
At sioht of our rapt gaze she liastened, not with
fear of us, for she and my mother were friends, but
leri.'
you
for
shal
ever
^
A MOTHER-IWUI) WKEl'S FOH HEll YOUNii.
±A
blu' 1)51(1
[|'()1'UH'<1
lice.
DiTiul-
ly 1()U<1
lit He
(1 boys,
ace di),
pride in
i\ of the
L'l sport,
her nest
ot hiive
'inaiiiiii^'
iv muster
), listen !
oood lud
1(1 Jill my
the poor
hich our
with her
, for our
of water
)ts would
HO it did :
. As wi'
lu- return-
)ther-bird.
not with
lends, but
.slie feared she knew not what on seein;;' our Httle
brown noses as if seentinu* i)rev. 'I'lien as slie
. deseended she oave a ujad chirp, on seein;^" tiiat we
watehe(| tlie eartli-woiins rise : but ali;;htin;;' lieside
her nest one i^iance told her that the ruthless hands
of the ernel boys had robbed her nest, and weepin;^
bitterly, she di'opped the fat worms she had carried
from afar.
At this mother Nellie told her of the bad boys,
and advised her to take lier i-emaininii" l)ab\' birdie —
if slu' could earrv it sick as it was — away from tlie
habitations of men to the dai'k, dense woods and
all wo\dd be well : and the mothei'-bird, taking- her
advice, cJiir[)ed a mournful farewell as she .san*^' :
I (livail to go to tit'ltls iiiikiiowu
And In- a lom-ly stianger ;
Tliis tri'c, it was my iiiotlii'i'.s lioiiu',
lint 1 must llv ffom daiiiiei".
And we saw the nierrv, cheerv red robin no more.
Our mother led the way back to lier kennel, her
head drooped in vexed thouoht : but being of a kind,
unselfish disposition, seeino- that we were in dull
Bpiiits, i'(jusino- lierself, sIh; said :
" We are going to have a very tine evening, and
ere my duties as night-watch c(unmence, I shall take
you, Lion, and your brothers down to Balmy Beach
for yoiu- first dip."
" Take us now, mother," I said saucily ; " I know I
shall bite somebody if you leave me to mope until
evening, because I am right down mad," and I
24
LION, THE MASTIFF.
|i
i '
tuiiil)lt'(| one ol" my lnotlicrs ovn* to ])n)V(' my woi'ds.
" Ves, I am mjid, mud us u iiiuii when lie drinks
wliiskry, ut pool' r(;l)in s huviiiy' to hicuk U[» house, so
pleusc tuki' us now, motluT, tukf us now."
" Ti'ust me, Ijion : 1 know licst,' replied my n-ixxl
motliei'. 'Those sume I)U I l»oys wlio kiUed one I'ohin
und cuuseil tl»e motlier to tuke lli<4ht IVotn her l()ve(l
tree, tlu'ow stones ut vou und v<^ui* inothers, come into
the yui'd wlien tlie Boston hoys are ut seliool und oui*
muster und myself husy, und they ])ull you uhout.
huitin;^' your nniscles und tender youn^' spine. No,
\ve nuist wuit until those l»ud hoys ure under the l>ed-
clothes. 1 wish, us they ui'e not'lJund of Mercy hoys,
tluiv could he kept there ull du3^ Then, u^uin, if Mr.
Cunteen,down the i(>ud,is silly enouoli to l>e unsteudy
on his pins, we shull huve to look out for him, lest he
stumhle ovei- some of you, my children, und crush you
to death, us he cruslied the life out of Ids Irish setter
Tyr's wliole litter us they lay haskin*;" in the sunshine
while Tyr was in the city. 1 shall never forget liei-
cries, on her return, on seeing their mangled little
bodies. Her faithfulness to her stumbling master is
most nohle."
" I'd run away from such u tottering brute, andi)ite
liim before I became u wuif," 1 suid, with un infuntile
growl.
" You will be more true to the instincts of youi'
noble breed, Lion. You will learn that even a bad
master, such as Mr. Cunteen, expects his dog to suti'ei'
long and be kind, and such men expect not in vain.
Your sire Cjwsai' toM me that he has fi-e(juently seen
tl
wa
M;
II
arc
oti
an(
inv
■1
".'•TpS,
A MOTMKII-BIUD WEEPS KOK HEll Y()UN<J.
2."
■ Nvords.
drinks
oust', s(>
I \- o« )( X I
\ii robin
vv loved
onu' into
and ouv
u about,
ne. No,
the Ited-
■cy ■ boys,
in, il' Mr.
unsteady
11, lest be
irush you
isb setter
suusiiine
)r*''et ber
rled littb'
master is
e, and bite
I infantib'
,s of your
veu Ji bad
,o- to sutt'ei'
)t in vain,
ntly st'eii
stuinbliu"" nuMi led to their lioines at niidni^lit !»v
tlieir laithrul do<:s.
.lust as our niothei' was al)out to leap the I'ence
separating- ()ur master's ti«'lil IVoni the stable-yard, and
We little douuies were wrapping' nnrselxcs up to sliji
uiidei" throuii'li a hole that had been made b>r us, we
came upon Mrs. Nb)nser. the le«>[>ard-s[)otted eat, liall'
<lozin»^, one «'ye ojicn. She was about to sliid< away
at sio-ht of our mother Nellie, not that she leai'ed h«'r
bite, but beeau.se she feared her reproof at tlu' eanci'
haste with whieh she had devoured the baby robin
befoj'e it was eold.
"I am ashamed I you, Mrs. ^b)user,"" .said our
niotlu'i'. i-e[)r()vin<;ly. " At the very least you mioht
have waiteil until to-UK^rrow."
" Not so : not so, Mrs. ^bistitf'"' .said tln^ spotted eat
testily: "the Ho.ston boys would liave had a funeral
of the birdie loni^ beb^i'e to-morrow."
" Pei'haps so, Mrs. Mouse)' ; l)Ut you min-ht have
risked it, and not lir.ve been so ravenous as to devoui'
it befoi-e it was cold. A rat could not do wor.se than
tliat."
" And you know, Mr.s. Mastiff, that a few weeks a<;-o
I would have waited at least, until tlie delicious niorstd
was — well, a little cooler: and vou know, too, Mrs
Mastiff', witli all vour Hue faniilv about vou, that ei'e
I became wild "—and she looked so fiei'ce as her back
arched and her green eyes dilated that we ran to the
other side of our mother — " yes, wild, Mrs. Mastiff',
and at times nia<l, mad with uj-iof at the (Irowniiiii- of
my whole family of beautiful kittens — yes, yes, you
..s****
\r
20
LION, THE MASTIFF.
^
H II {
know tlijit Ix'fore my basket was inadc empty my
pride in my k)\ely ^I'ey, wliite and spotted kitties all
said< witli them into their watery orave, my heart
made desolate by the pitiless cruelty of man — l)et'ore
all this occurred I was a ditlerent cat : now 1 howl all
day and ni<;ht, and 1 am become wil<l in my habits.
Oh, if man had but spared me one, just one, of niy
own pretty kitttnis. I would have settled tlown and
been a ^'ood mother, as I had been before. x\nd if I
did make a meal of the choked ro!)in, who prepare<l
me that meal, Mistress Mastitl' ( Cruel boys, who will
^row into cruel men, and will care less for the robins
than you do, Mrs. Mastitt'; who will only love them to
tear them to pieces, as I do — I, a spotted cat, for my
lean stomach's sake: man, to tiim up his wife with.
And you know 1 speak truth, Mrs. Nellie, though your
family don't, unless it be that bold little cha|) Lion,
who looks as if he would dare any cat to spit at him.
And so, good evenint;' to you, Mistress Mastiff. I am
otl' to the hunting-tield to try to foi'^et in the chase
that I know no peace since ni}' beautiful striped and
spotted family were drowned."'
"Good evening to you, Mrs. Mouser," answered my
mother, sadly. " I don't wonder you feel bitter ; but
I pray you to spare the birdies. This world is full
of care, and would be as sad as a funeral dii'ge with-
out its songsters. Good evening to you, and I shall
be happy, now that you have been turned out of your
home, to give you a corner in the stable and a bit of
my dinner."
At this, Mrs. Mouser looked so changed, so good,
,ret
hei
m
A MOTHEIl-lUllD WEEPS FOR HER YOUNG.
27
by my
ties all
' heart
-bel'oie
KAvl all
habitH.
, of my
vvn ami
aid if I
prepared
vvho will
le robins
! them to
b, for my
ife with.
uoU your
lap Lion,
it at bim.
tt". I am
the chase
iped and
wered my
tter; but
rid is full
ii-ov with-
lul I sliJill
ut of your
d a bit ol"
she even purred, wliicli we little do<;'t;ies liked the
sound of, iLL'ver huvin<;- lu'ard Mrs. Mouser oivc vont
to «;Tatitude or liappy foldings l)efore, and, turnin^^- to
follow us, slie said :
"I shall never for^vt youi- kindness, Mrs. Mastiff,
and shall retuin with you and your happy family at
once : and I promise yon that the only tierceness 1
shall retain, will be to My at and sci'atch and spit at
' trauips or boys who may come into the stable-yard to
teasi' or .steal any of your beautiful well-bred ott-
spring."
And .saying- this, the spotted cat ran races with us
las far as our kennel, my uiother walkin<^ leisurely and
in deep thou<;ht. On overtaking- us, .she .said :
"You will amply repay me, Mr.s. Mou.ser, by ha vino-
Ian eve on my fannlv duriiii'" niv ab.sence. You will
find abundance of lawful game in the stable ; the mice
are plentiful, and fat with my good ma.ster's orain.
Moreover Mrs. Mouser, when Mr. Boston sees that
you and I are on .such friendly terms he will ask his
good .wife to a<lopt you : and now, for the present,
farewell, as I am ^oing' to take my family for their
iir.st dip, after I have a look at my master and g'l't a
good-fellowship pat from bis hand."
And away our mother Nellie trotted, look iiig on hei*
Return very happy, b}' reason of a kind word fi'om
hei- master.
so
good,
:M
n
i''-if^
28
LION, THE MASTIFF.
CHAPTER IV
WE MEET TWO FOX TEURIEUS.
" Come now, Lion, and uU you little doo-oies," said my
mother, cheerily : '"let us he oti* to the beach. I fetd
(juite frisky : yes, we are all in^ood humour and in for
a frolic. Now, oft' with you: run a race across the
field, (lood for y(3U, Lion : you are a bold one, with
not a spark of cowardice about you. Now, try your
speed with me across the Kinost(jn Road and east to
Balsam Avenue. Well done ! Now, go slow ; catch
up to your breath. We have a long evening before
us, before it is time for my duties as night-guard ; so
away we go: the road is clear. The bad boys are
under the bedclothes, and Mr. Canteen is otl' on a Lee
Avenue car for the city, so there are no clods in oui*
way."
And a right down merry party we were, T can
assure you, Hying across the Kingston Road and into
Beech Avenue, where we ran races, played dodge, and
pushed the <lead leaves with our little brown noses
along the damp earth when they rustled, telling us of
the living things they concealed. Then our kind
mother would tell us to rest awhile on the wooded
heights on either side of the rustic road, and to snill'
the fragi'ant air before we descended the now sloping;
roa<l to Lake Ontai'io's Balmy Beach. We had a mad
liiil
bad
W<i
i'nm
of
tui-|
TJ.^
We
Coal
out!
f
1
WE MEET TWO FOX TERRIERS.
29
said my
I feel
lid in for
;ross the
)ue, with
try your
I east to
w ; catch
lu- befoiH
iiard: so
boys are
on a Lee
)ds in -no-
re, T can
and into
lodj;-e, antl
own noses
lino- ns of
onr kind
ic wooded
id to snitl'
)W sloping'
ha<l a mad
^^allop down the slope to Qn<'en Street East, a rural
spot, deljo-htfully so to our mothei- Nellie, where slie
made us ao;ain r<^st awhile ere taking the road by
Balsam Av«'nue to the shore.
"Come licre, my children," slic said, " and rest by
this sweet-snudling black mouhl. I don't wish to<;ive
you your first dip in a heated ccHuh'tion. Now, I do
sincerel}' liope you will be brave when I take you in
and not disnrace your stock, and indeed my own, by
cowai-div whines and yells. If you do ci'edit to tlie
champion stock from which you come, I shall either
iiive you the first rat I kill, I shall beo' a mouse from
the spotted cat, or I shall oivc you (remendter, with
toothsome pickint»-s on all) my dinner bones of to-
morrow."
At this we capered and tumbled on the elastic sod,
crvum- :
"A I'at, how jolly 1 A mouse, how we'll tussle foi*
hell or juicy \Hn\vi-^, tntiin, muin, we taste 'em now,
mother Xellie ; we suck theii- marrow now I '
Here she })i-icked up her cais. stai'tino- t{) her iect
hui-i-i('(lly. Telling us not to stir, slu glided softly
back to thecornej-of Balsam Avenue and Queen Street.
We coidd just catch a glitnpse of the top of her head
from where we sat among the underbrush by the side
of this subui-ltan road. In a few mimites she re-
tui-ne(l, an 1 with her a beautiful pair of fox teri'iei-s
Theii- coats were lovely l)lack and white fur. They
were tie(l together with a rope around the neck, their
coats were steaming with heat, and their tongues hiuig
out parched with thirst. We little (loggies gathered
h
i'i'*w«"
30
LION, THE MASTIFF.
Ml
I .
I
I i
i! !
from oui" iiiotlicr's concern at tlicii" fao<;;('(l-()ut appear-
ance and unlja]>py state that they were ('rien<ls of liers:
and so it proved, as, pantinji^ for breatli, they replied
to my j;ood mother's ([iieries, while she, seating herself
beside tlieir ((uiverin<^, steaming sides, bit and chewed
at the i-ope so cruelly landing tliem tof>ethei', until
they had ajjjain their free<l()m of action.
" Do not try to speak, (Jrit and (Ji'ip: it is torture
with your tongues parched and han^^ing out. Come
with me and my family to the water's ed^nje and
((uench your thirst : you will travel more easily. I
gather that you have been unhappy in your new
liome in the city and nvv running away, back to
your old home at Scarboro' Junction : and with that
rope fettering' your free movements you have my
heartfelt sympathy. After you take a drink I shall
wish you a safe journey."
We little codji^ers sat on the ])each in a row
and stared at the big" water we had never seen be-
fore, and said to each other, in half-scared whis-
per's, that we wished Grit and Grip would drink it
smaller, just about the size of Mr. Boston's soft-watei'
barrel.
After the fox terriers had (juenched their thii-st,
their poor [)arehed tongues recovered the power of
moving, and retired from our fixed <^aze : tluv
then sat <lown before saying good-bye to mother
Nellie, for they were more full of fatigue than of
provisions.
" We nuist hasten away at once, Mrs. Mastitl', an<l if
our pursuers follow and demand us as their propeity
lee I
call
fvii
«i (
yoil
yo'f
yoi|
gvn
ter
WE MEKT TWO FOX TKRRIEUS.
31
of hers:
replied
(T berseli'
I chewed
ler, until
is torture
t. Couie
ed^G and
easily. 1
your new
, hack to
with that
have niy
ink I shall
in a row
■r seen hr-
!\red whis-
Id <lrink it
sol't-water
heir thirst,
le power •>!
they
to mother
vue than <>*
astiff, an«l ii
'ir property
o-a/e
if oui- master ^ives us up, we liuve determined to
drown onrseh'j's."
" Don't do any sucli thin*;-, eitlier of you," said my
mother, tt'arl'ully. as slie aecompanied them a little
wa\' towards (^)ueen Street and up from the shore.
" If you ai'e com])elle(l to leave your old mastei' a<j;aui,
do so, and try to he eontent In your new home: don't,
1 beseech of vou, hurv vourselves in the n;reat Lake
Ontario, or 1 shall always hear your «leatli-\vhine on
the waves."
" V(,u don't know what we have sutt'ei'ed since we
saw you, Mrs. Mastitt'," they I'eplied in tones of
despair, " or you would he the first to tell us to i»"et
within ran«;'e of our master's fowlinii'-piece. I wish
we felt safe in loiterinn- t() tell you, as the drink from
the lake, tom'ther with voui" kind svmi)athv, has
refreshed us, hut w^e are anxious to see our ohl
master and to know our fate, so o-ood-hye."
"Stay on(! moment, (Jrit and (Jrip," cried my
mothei' Nellie : ' w<> do«;*s are to meet a week fVom
this eveniny; in the Kew Mount iilen. I am to n'ive a
lecture, especially to our youn*;', on the duties of the
canine I'ace on enterin*;- the service of man. Some
friends from the city will also speak, amonnst them
ft cow, a parrot, a s(piii'rel, a horse and a cat. Will
you, (Jrit and (Jrip, come and tell the convention what
you would tell me now luit that the whi]) is behind
you, and — alas! for your decision — perhaps, a watery
grave your only restin^'-place."
"We are with you," replied the beautiful fox
jteniei's to^vtluM', and in mom-id'ul tones, "even if a
,:»■
I.
32
LION, THE MASTIFF.
i i
1 i '
I
watery ^rave be ours at tlte close of our recital of our
woeful experience at that (from our point of view)
Perdition for the Cdnine Race
THE !)()(; SH(JW
At our Canadian Fall Shoius or Exltibitions."
And as they trotted away tojj^ether, we watched
them turn east on gaining the corner of Queen Street
and sweet-scented iialsam Avenue.
Ill,
I TAKE MY FIRST DIP.
33
1 of our
aew)
CHAPTKR V.
ions.
watched
sen Street
I TAKE MV FIRST I HI'.
O.v tlic (U'})Jirture of jjoor (Jrit and (}rip, us we sat in
ti row (Ml tlie lteacli,()ur motlier petted us for our ^ood
Leliaviour, while I said (juickly :
" Poor Grit and (Jrip, liow tliirsty tliey were ! Hut
they did not eni[)ty tlie ^reat lake at all : it is so hig
no animal or man should ever he dirty or thirsty, as
you tell me tliey often are : and Mr. Boston's water-
barrel should never Ite empty : and mother Nellie,
may I <^o with you to the Ke\v Mount dell and hear
lill ahout perdition ^ '
At this my mothei* lauf^luMl, tellin<*; us to keep very
quiet, and look at a kin<^Hsher, on a hranch at the end
of a lo<;' in the lake, wati*hin<^ for a hitr. Presently a
small fish appe.'.riMl, wIumi the bird, to our (hdight,
plunged into the water, ai'isino- with the fish fast in
Its hill, 'i'he kin<;fishei- aj;ain perched upon the lo^,
'j|nd, <;'raspin<:f the Hsh by the tail, heat its head aj^ainst
j|ie side of the lo^, so killin<^ it. When this feathered
^sherman swallowed it, he then ])erched on an over-
han<(in(^ tvvi<^ as before, we doo-gies sitting in a row
intently watching him, when, in a few minutes, in he
plunged again, bringing up another, which this time
he flew awav with to feed his family.
|r Our mother Nellie now dashed into the water,
-3 3
m
'^■i^-
■%
^n**^
«
34
LION, THE MASTIFF.
h i
I! i
M I
find CfijH'rcd alxnit to wlu't onr a])])»'tit(' for our «lip.
Ilctuniiiio- to tlir lu'acli slie playfully sliook tlic drops
of water all ovt'r us, sayiuji;:
" Now, })(> })rav(', for eve. vvell-lired <lo^ must le'^rii
to swim, ill (»rder that he may he ready to imperil his
life to save his master, or anyone dear to his master,
yes, ev^en if it he to jump into the jij^reat dread ocean.
And now ere 1 plunge from yonder lojr, as the water-
dofijs do, I shall spur you to hrave deeds })y a recital
of ([uite a simple one which I performed myself.
Al)out the 3rd of October last vear, all the tourists
who had been summering out here at Balmy and at
Kew bleaches had, with one exception, returned to the
city : the family who still lingered was that of a Mr.
Normanby, with whom I was very well acquainte<l,
as they fretjuently petted me, and gave me a nice,
clean, juicy beef bone. The pet of tlu' family, little
iTohlen -haired Malcolm, about three vearsold, was verv
precious to me. ' On this afternoon, when my story to
you, my doggies, opens and closes, the Xormanbys
were very busy packing to get away to their winter
home in the city. I was sorry, indeed, to see those
good people go Their kind welcome to Balmy Beach
had been very delightful to me,
" Late in the afternoon little Malcolm had got out
of his hammock, hung amid the sweet-scented pines,
and had stolen, unobserved, in his navy-blue stock-
inged feet, down here to the beach. Fortunately, I
was here, though just about returning through ami
up Balsam Avenue home, for my master had said :
'• ' Yoij need a run after your bath and cojiibiiiir
him
ing
jew«'
and
his i^
madt
* Bo\i
'inissd
lor hi
lis ai
Y.
1 J
T TAKE MV FIKST DIl'.
35
nir <lip-
e drops
st lo''ni
leril his
master,
fl ocean.
e water-
a recital
myself.
; tourists
ly and at
ed to tln'
of a Mr.
quainted,
ne a nice,
lily, little
, was vei-y
y story to
ormanhys
oil- \vint<'V
see thosi'
n\y Beacli
id got out
ited pines,
ue stock -
unately. 1
rough anil
id said :
\ eojnbiii}:
Nellie; l^o, tak«' vourself otf' to the Ix'aeli, hut remeni-
))('!•, no more hatliing to-day; there, oH' with you!'
and lie ])att(Ml me on the ' 'ad.
" Well, what could I do :* I was due liouir.and yet
here was the <leai- little lad nnpi'otected. He clapju'd
his eliuhhy hands at sight of nic, ruiniing towai'ds nie
as I stood stock-still in a (|uandarv. Up he mounted
astj'ide iiiv tawnv ])ack, urii'lnii'me to ••■o into the lake;
hut instead, I turned niv head towards land. At this
lie grew cross until I again faced the water, when he
bent foi'ward and grasjied me around my neck, digging
his little nmnd heels atiainst mv sides. At this I
endeavoured to divert his attention hv turnino- vei'V
carcfullv around, and carryinj'' him on mv hack ahjiiir
the heaeh and up in an easterly clircction towards
'Bower Cottage,' his summer home. About three
yards from wh(3re you, Lion, are seated, he stepped
from my back, saying:
'"Naughty Nellie, not ride baby Malcolm into
booful ake.'
" But, taking no notice of this, I sat down heside
him, and made holes in the sand with my paw, reveal-
ing to his baby eyes the pretty stones, bright as
jewels, buried in their damp resting-places. I got u))
and walked on my hind legs, making the corners of
his uKuith turn upwards as he broke into snules. I
made as if begging, all the time having an eye on
* Bower Cottage,' hoping the child's maid would have
mis-sed her charge and come down to the Ijeach to look
lor him ; for I feared I would lose control of my pet,
§8 again and again he cast longing looks at the blue
u
w
36
l.ION, THE MASTII'F.
I i
• i
l! 1
wavcH. At last lie ))rc)l<(' tVoiii iiic and ran down to
tli(! Itoacli, Ids short Ithic and white striped kilted skii't
Hvinir out IVoni liis tinv hhie cloth drawers: his ])lue
blons(i, with its sailor collar, full oF lake breeze; Ins
yellow liair blown t"i"oin his bi'ow, while he turned
liis dear litth; face backwards to lau<4'h defiantly at
nie. Out the dai'ini;' little dia]) went into the water.
I followed him, pulling' him o-ently ))y his skirts, lest
lie should lose his Cootino-. (Jrowin<;' more and moic
alarme*! for his safety, I opened my jaws and ])ai'ke(l.
This \vas his chance, for he was free to climb that
slippery loo- yonder, which, but a few minutes a^^o,
supported the kin^-fisher you wei'c watehin*;". Baby
Malcolm had soon crawled to the end of the 1()<:;, whicli
was in deep water, its top wave-washed. IJarkinj^
still, I dashed into the lake, keepintjj close to the loy'.
At first lu! was full of ^lee, for the log was wide an<l
ahnost Hat. He amused himself bv phivinir horse
bi-eaking the twigs off', an<l whipping liis steed about it>
wooden head, but he soon wearied of this sport.
"(b-owing tire<l and feeling hims(>lf slipping oH* In
began to ciy, calling loudly foi' his mother. I w.b
considei'ably out of my depth, and had been swim
nnnii: round and round the end of the lofj until! IVii
(piite di/zy, but I nnist not give way. I continun
my movements so that I might be in a position t'
catch him if he fell in, as I felt that he must if relit
did not soon reach him. At last the little fellov
could hold on no longer, and slipping oti", called —
" ' Nellie, Nellie ! will 'oo 'like a dood dog take bali
Mtilcolm to mannna ^ '
gooJ
Hotlf
4e]ai
littid
4ripi
askil
othe
us.
"(I
the
w
I TAKE MY FIRST DM'.
87
m
lown to
bed skirt
his h\\\v
'C/A'-, Ins
V turned
iantly at
he water,
kirts, lest
and uiorc
id l)!irke<l.
•Umb that
nut*'S a^'>,
no-. Bahy
,loo;,w1»i('li
Barkiu^
to the l<><i'.
ls wide au'l
yin<^ horstv
ed ahoutit^
sport.
)\mv^ olV, li'
lier. I ^^='^
been swim
,• until . 1 IVl'
I continur-
I position t'
lUst if reli»
little fellov
called —
Oil take l)a^>:
" .lust as lie fell a row-boat put out from Kew IJeaeh.
"That is ii'ood, J thouii'lit : the oai'siium will row
thithei- and be just in time to carry the poor haby to
• Bowel* Cottaue' on mv hriii'iin'?' Iiim ashore.
" But as I nTij)ped liis petticoat ^-irdh' the ])lash (►f
the oar became fainter and yet fainter, and I realized
that tlie Itoatman had not seen us, Kew l»eaclj hcino-
a (|uarter of a mile west from l>almy Beach. I had
but a few strokes hefore I reached sandy bottom,
when I walke(l in the remainder of the way. By the
dead wei;;ht of the poor little chap, the closed eye and
pallid face, I knew he had hecome unconscious. I
huiriedly carried him u]) a few yards from where we
Wert' sittin*;", up to where tlie sand was (\ry and
warm. There I laid him, and looked earn'rlv towards
*.Bower (Jottaoe,' lii<lden from my eyes by trees, save a
glimpse of its roof. I thought I caught si^ht throiinh
tlie pines of the maitl's cap and apron, but in a
moment it was ^one.
'" Delays are dan«^erous,' I had fre(|Uently heard my
goo<l master say: so, with a rapid olaiice to see that
nothino- li\inn- was approaching- the beach, and without
delaying- to shake n.y soakino- coat, I ran for dear lib'
to ' Bower Cottaiie,' where they had but just missed
little Malcolm. His mother screamed at sio'ht of mv
diripj>in^' sides as I tu^-ovd at the skirt of her ^'own
aiskino- her to follow me, which she (|uickly did, the
other child, a big oirl, with the maids runnino- after
MS.
5i"0n reachinj^ the poor little man they all wept,
me mother picking him up in her arms, eryino-,
m
irr
^8
UON, THE MASTIFF.
*()li, liow (li-('ii<irul ! My pj'ccioiis pet is dead!'
At this I <li-(H)jM'<l my licad in sorrow that all my
cHoi'ts to save tlu' darling' had hccii IViiitlcss. Hut
my joy was ind)ouiid«'(l when, a('com])anyint;" them to
the cottaiic, 1 saw that after a tiood I'uhhiiiii' and
the ;4i\ in^" of I'estoi'ativi'S, hot milk witli a few (li'oj)s
of s))irits nf ammonia thei'eiii, Malcolm was himself
a<4"ain. Moiled in a hlaidset on his mother's knet', l»eside
a hi'i^i'ht fire of meny cracklin*;- wood in the parloui'
;;rat(!, in his jwetty bahy lann-ua<4t' and with many
tired si^hs and yawns he t(>ld the whole story : liis
dear little head |)resS'ed close to his mother's heart,
at wliich they all petterl me aoajn and a«;ain, and n-avc
me a bit t)f cow's meat and a nice Spratt's biscuit.
"The children cried as I rose from tlie rui£ to
ilepart. '^reariii'if my liead from tlie encircling' arms of
dear baby Malcolm, 1 made a (juick run for liome,
whei'e I received a scolding for staying away so Ion;;'
as well as for liaving gone into the water, n»y
orders having been to take a run after my tub and
combing.
"So you see, my dear little children seated in a row,
your heads well up, for you are no fiddle-headed ' beas-
ties,' — you see that while my joy was uidjovnided at tlu-
saving of sweet baby Malct>ln)'s iii'e, it was dampened
by the knowledge that my M;o<,d master, not beiii«i
acquainted with the facts, thought nie a disobedient
dog.
And n(jw, my doggies, for your first dip. Run in
all of you and wade: now chase each (jtlier. Tumblf
over. So! Well done! well done, Lion!
\v
ina
an(
po.s;
All
abo
a til
for
a (it
but
of t
andj
the
I TAKE MY FIIIST DIP.
39
Iciul !
ill Hiy
Hut
hoin t«>
\if siiul
V (ln)l)s
h'niisoll'
., ln'sitl*'
pjirlou''
li muny
)ry :
liis
■'s heart,
incl ^'iiN t'
Hcuit.
le ru<J to
ir anuH ol*
or l\ou»t\
HO l()i»^"
iter, luy
y tub ant I
in a row.
ded ' beas-
ided at tln'
laiupeiH''!
not bein^
lisobedient ,
Run ill
Tuuibl''
And we ilid <'nj(>y tlic IVoIic ms only happy, rear-
less little ilo'^s can. Mv head was fnll of the brave
acts 1 would ilo when I nrrw wide aii<l hieh, and f
loUL'i'd to ask IM\' niothei- il" she had .se«'n bab\- Mai-
colni since. I e\en wished that one of my biothers
woidd ;^o out too I'ai', so that 1 nii^^ht dash to the
resciie.
My mother Nellie now took us, one by one, by the
nape of the neck, out into tlie lake, and di"op})ed us into
its terrific vastness, in whieli we at first kicked and
s))luttere(l, sti-ue';;led and uin-u-h-d, ureatly to her
watchful ainuseme--t. Then she coaxed and led us
back to the beach to I'est. Aft<'r a time, .seeino-
how fearlessly and frolicsomelv we I'od. U])on the
waves, she swam out <|uite a distance and pr(.'ten<led,
as 1 afteiwards knew, to (h'own. At this 1 frette<l
and whined, but daslu'd out l)oldly to the rescue,
when, to prevent my swinnnin^" int<j too <leep water,
she floated as though dead towards me. Fear for her
made me brave, and with a bold stroke I reached her,
and tugged at her body with my teeth, as if I could
possibly save my mother Nellie weighing 130 pounds I
All at once, to my great relief and joy, she sprang
about, and took me to shoi'e, telling me it had all been
a trick of hers to try my valour, and that as a reward
foi' my bravery I shouhl not only have the choice of
a dead rat or live mouse to play with, or a juicy bone,
but that she would take me to the <>'len on the nii-ht
of the speeches by the horse, cow, s(|uirrel, parrot,
and cat. as well as her own lecture to tlu' N'ounii" of
the canine I'ace.
40
LION, THE MASTIFF.
t i '■
At the proinise of this great treat, 1 nearly jumped
ont of my tawny coat for joy, while I swelled with
pride, as I had seen men do when dressed up.
I saw my mother lau<^hing at me, so I slunk be-
hind, and in my anger swallowed the late fly, snap-
ping my jaws as I impi-isoned him. At the sound
my mother called me to walk or jog-trot beside her,
while she said :
" I was not angry with you. Lion, when I smiled
at your funny little airs of conceit ; for you are justi-
fied in a certain pride, in that your brave act incoming
so gallantly to my rescue has earned for you the
reward of attending my lecture to dogs on entering
the service of man. I had, before this evening, thought
you too young, and proposed waiting for my next
convention : but your reatly valour has shown me that
I must not delay, or else you may be taken from me
far, far away, to a home and master of your own,"
she said sorrowfully, licking a rough part on my tawn}-
coat smooth. " Yes, you may have to leave me ere I
give you the benefit of my experience, or see you prick
up your little ears in listening to all I shall tell yon
a week from to-night in the Kew Mount glen."
" But Mrs. Mastiff* mother," I said saucily, as we
rested on the heights, sitting for a minute on the brown
needles of the pines, the sweet sprigs of balsam, antl
the rustling brown leaves of the oak, " why did you
laugh at nie r' and 1 turne<l my brown eyes fear-
lessly up to her own.
" Because you sti'utted so funnily, Lion, exactly the
way I have seen some among the race of man do
un
pit
. hi
'4 pi
niot
^^#S
not
r * *H
tllr
5;|
:
^'1
I TAKE MY FIRST DIP.
41
luped
with
ik be-
snap -
sound
le her,
smiled
e justi-
coinin<^
row the
■ntering
thought
iiy next
nie thiit
roni nie
111- own,"
y tawny
lie ere I
on prick
tell you
y, as wi'
le brown
sani, an<l
r did you
lyes t'ear-
:actly the
man do,
when tailor-made, on Sundays. And now for a <,mod
race, all of you, as far as tliat clump of pines near
tlu; haw-tree, and away we ^o 1 away we go ! "
After a mcrrv run we neared tlie Kin<rston Koa<l,
walkinn- (|nietly the icmainder of the way. My
mother ])oiLteil out to us the birds all seeking-
th«'ir nests, and jL^'iving a sigh for her friend the
roliin, looking for a new liome, she bade us listen
to the cricket making the woods ring with its
cViip. She told us of that unsocial, greedy devourer
of small birds and Hyirig insects, the nighthawk,
causini:' us to so i)itv the forest flies that almost
enti'red oui' jaws that we gt)bbled them less often.
Noi- did we ci'ush the crawling caterpillar so fi'e-
(jueiitly, aftei" my mother Nellie told us that it is the
chrysalis of the beautiful hutterfly. And further, she
said that the poor caterpillai* has a hard time of it,
especially when a nasty vibrating fly lays its eggs
under the skin of the poc^i' thing, which the fly
pierces with its sharp auger. On the young becoming
hatched they f'ed upon the fat of the caterpillar, and
when they come to the vital organs the poor cater-
pillar (lies.
At this infonnation from out" mother, my brothers
ciied, but I was as angry j>s I could be, saying
hastily, "I'll gobble up eveiy liig fly 1 S"e near a
ca.erpillar."
" Well, no, I would not <lo that, Lion," s.vid my
motlier, " and I am sure a ' l^»an<l of Meicy ' boy would
not do so eithei", but you might stand near or over
the caterpillar, and if the ichneumon-fly should show
I' i
42
LION, THE MASTIFF.
fit^lit to reach its prey, rlasli out boldly as your siic
Ca'sar would have done on larger toes."
" What would a ' Band of Mercy ' boy do to protect
a caterpillar ^ " I asked : " he cannot bark. "
" He would pick up the leaf or twig on which the
caterpillar lay and carry it to a safe place, as he can
not bark or open his jaws to snap at insects as you
do, Lion."
On reaching" our kennel, my mother brought from
a hole in the ground the nice juicy bones she had
pronn'sed us, telling us we were all the better for oui'
«lip, saying, as she prepared to leave us to attend to
her duties as night-watch : 'I trust you will all, my
doggies, never neglect your dip : a dirty beast is not
fit to live, whether he be of the race human or canine."
K
ho
\\'
111
t]
IlK
8k
OUI
a d
inn
Tnai
sin'
yiY MOTH Ell HOLDS A MEETING.
43
otecfc
i3h the
lC can
IS you
it from
a\e had
for our
;ben<l to
all, u\y
it is not
canine/'
CHAPTER \ I.
MY MOTHER HOLDS A MEETING.
The iii^ht of my mother's convention was one of
tliose sweet, still evt'iiin<^'s that often come to nature
in tlie early autnmn. With a lin^vrin<>' cai'ess of sum-
mer tliere coimiiin<>led the more invigorjitino- breatli
of an older year.
!n tlic (doamino- we doo-s oathered from far and
r^ c5 o o
wi<l' .and I venture to say that on the wooded heij^'hts
oi' Scarhoro' and Kew no such t^-atherino- hud ever
been sctMi pi-evious to my mother Nellie's conventicjn,
nor, indee*l, at any date since. My wise motlier liad
show n much forethou;j;ht in lu-r selection of Saturday
eveninii', as all the nauohtv hoys of the neio-hhour-
hood, with Mr. Canteen, spent the last day of the
week in the city. And besides, it would be a briglit
moonli;;ht iiii;'ht foi' the mothers to lead the youn<jj of
the canine /aee back to tlieir homes yr keiniels. My
mother >^.eilie always knew when the lamps in the
skv W()i;i ^ !!■' i>e hrinji" out.
It was a Miiw!* nt of ti'iumph foi' nie as 1 endeav-
oured to valk as a descendant of champion stock in
a dionitied, orderly manner down the steep and wind-
inn- narrow way, and in the patli cut by the spade of
man thi'oiinh the wooded heii;hts down the beautiful
Vavine leading; t() tin j^-len. I hoped 1 would not dis-
w
I I
n
t
i]
44
LION, THE MASTIFF.
*"
^race my inother l»y scratching my coat or tumbling"'
head-first into tlio vaUey. I was on my best behaviour,
and altliougli some of the younger dogs weri' rude
enouglv to run in front and l)etween tlie legs of my
motliei", I did not even growl. I just pitied them while
hoping they would soon learn the meaning of the
words politeness and respect.
One of those naughty little doggies i'ell into a
scjuirrel's house in the hollow of a tree, and there came
neai"Iy being a fejirful mishap. The mother-s<juirrel
in her tVight ahi >;t swallowed the uni-ipe nut she
was cracking, whid aid have choked her and lel't
her l)abies, not only su^ pi^rless, but motherless.
Another dog, that disobeyed its mother by run-
ning out oi' the steep t'oot-[)ath, had disturbed the
evening repose ol' a garter-snake by putting his cold
nose to its ringed side, and when the snake raise<l its
head and stared, this badly behaved little doggie
whined, emitting numerous baby barks in calling to
its mothei".
The younger dogs beliaved themselves ai'tei" such
mishaps : but my mother tol<l me in a low voice to
run beside \uir or the wisest amonj"' the little doiiiiies,
and I did so.
It was just lovcdy in the glen. The grassy carpet
was soft and elastic, while a spi'ing ol' crystal water
emptied its i-elVeshing drops with a nuisical splash
into a nice clean-bottomed ci'eek.
We dogs with Mr. Bob, a poor horse near deatli,
also two colts with their mothei', Mi's. Hack, as well
as Mrs. (\)\\ P)()ssv and three cow friends, would ha\i'
i]
()
t
lo
"I
asl
MV MOTHER H01>DS A MEpyriNd.
45
viour,
. rude
of my
, while
of the
into a
•e caine
s(|uiiTel
nut she
iin.l left
,s.
\)y run-
•bed the
• his cold
raise<l its
do^-^-i*'
lUinj;- to
'tei' such
voice to
c do^|;-U'^'
ssy Ciivpet
itiil Nvati'V
Cid sphisb
\car death,
,ck, as well
vould hav
made a '^ood picture for tlic walls of a temperance
iiH'ctiu*;-, as we pushed jiud jostled as men <lo on near-
in<>- the LToal, ours iM-ino- tlu' rivulet whei-c we would
lain (|uench oui* thirst.
I actually saw the dai'k nose of tlio pointer Marcus,
from the city, push the brown nose of my mother out
of his way. I glanced indio-nantly up at his lean
sides ;uid saw that he wore a coat Just the colour of
Ml-. Canteen's nose, so I asked ni}'^ mother, as she
moved away in a di^niitied manner to make room for
the nose of the poiutei", if Ins coat was dyed at tlie
same shop Mr. Canteen's nose was coloured so red at,
and my wis(^ mother replied ((uickly:
" ?N(), no, not at all. Lion: Marcus may, nay, does,
foi'wt himself at times, but he is too sensible a doe- to
lye either his coat oi- nose at a whiskey shop: but.
Lion, I did at one time meet one of the canine race
will) learned the bad habits of his mastei' and _i;-rew
too fond of his beei-. PoorTipps, he sufi'ei'e<l wi>ll \\)V
his foHy: if I think of the incident 1 shall tell it in
mv lectvn*e to the vounij: dons."
" ( )h, <lo 1 '' r cried : " but mothei-, I tell you what it
is, Mai'cus the pointer is a rii;-ht down rude < loo- to push
you, my mother, out of his way; you were just as
thii'sty as he."
I " Xo, my little Lion," rei)lie(l my kind mother: "his
ton<:;ue wanted cooling- more than nn'ne. He had had a
long run fr(^m the city, and alasl perhaps did n )t catch
^*up to a ' humane dog-trouo-h ' the whole way."
Now leaving me, she devoted herself to her duties
s chairman of the convention, by cordially welcoming
(!■
46
LION,
THE MASTIFP\
1
l! )
tho lu-fiutilul fnx tcrrici's Grit ,i)id Gri]», and in
introducing' me to Duke, a nohic niastifi", and to
Maxv, a, jifiand St. IJcrnard, from Toronto. I admired
Maxy wry nnicli : ho is a ^I'and t'cllow, with (|ni('t,
kindly ways, and looked down at me so annisedly,
80 indnlf,^«'ntly, telling me he would ])rot('et me
throu<^h<)ut th(! evening. While I was gi-atel'nl to
him, I thouoht it would he j-ude to return his kind-
ness hy telling him I was a comi)letc strangei* to the
family of cowards, so I iust sat close to his yellowish
coat and observed how much longer his fur was than
that of my mother oi' my own, and pei'mitted him to
imagine that I, a noble little mastitt", named Lion, was
a coward : but Maxy said it through kindness, so in
return I was att^i.tiv' to him and behaved myself as
if I weiv full grown.
While my mother Nellie aj-ranged the order of the
s])e(K*hes, 1, never having been in the glen before,
stared in wonder at its beauty. '^^I'he sod was cool to
my feet, and the scent of the woods delicious, while
the great oak, maple and pine trees seeuKid in the
gloann'ng like gigantic men and women marching up
the sides of the ravine. I felt awed, and crept a little
closer to my mother, who came over to speak to IMa.xy.
Hut I very soon forgot self in gazing upwards, so fai-
up that it strained my lirown eyes to look at the small
white clouds flying across the sky, reminding me of
the white-saile<l boats my mother had pointed out to
me on the blue watei's of great Lake Ontario.
My wise mother having now arranged the prelinn-
naries of the meeting, we lieard faint-whispered hopes
Mlg
ClVl
cow
iiad
F
nin'u
he si
of th
rlly,
\ to
in<l-
) tlu'
than
»NV
im
to
1, was
, so in
\i as
;e
o
n\
le
))et'onN
:()()l to
so lar
le siUJi^^
nie oi
out to
)rt'
limi-
(1 hop
MY MOTHKR HOLDS A MEETING. 4<
from tlic (litr.Mviit s]»c;il<t'rs. Mr. B()l>, the i)ooi\ sick
horse, lyino- still us dratl), \u)[}rd his last \u)\)v, that \\v
woiil.l he ('l<"('t('<l tirst speaker, otherwise liis voice
iiiiirht he stilled when called to tlic j,n-assy Hoor.
Mrs. Cow Bossy, a i)retty cream and hrown ci'catuie,
reclined luxuriousiv chewin^- her cud, as she lioped
she miirht sa\- her say
Hrst, l"o)- she felt a triHe uu-
es
comfortable witli so many do<;s in close proximity,
thon<di the fear vanished from hei- eves as slie re-
membered hei- friend Mrs. Nellie Mastiff's presence.
I also ovei-heard numerous j)urrin<;s and, lookin^^
up- into the wide-spreadin(jf maple on the side of the
i-avine in front of the stump on which my njother, as
chairman, was seated, 1 espied sevei-al pairs of ^reen
an<l oi-an<;e eyes, owned respectively by our friend
Mrs. Mouser, the spotted cat: by bhick Tom, v spoiled
beauty from th'> city, and a friend of Mrs. Mouser;
also by Mrs. Mousibisa, a Malte.se, who hoped she
would be the tirst to tell her story, foi- the I'eason
that she and hei- mistress kept early hours, and she
di<l not desii'e to jeopardize hei* new ])osition l)y
stavinijf out late: she feared the wai'm milk she had
with her mistress l)efore retiring' to her basket fortius
ni^ht would bu as cold as a do^'s nos*', and n-ive her
cram])s, if slie had to wait to speak until the hoi'se,
cow, fox terriers, scjuii'rel, parrot an<l Mrs. Mastiff had
liad their say.
Frisky, the s(piirrel, anuised me hy liis ^ay fi'olic
amid the top bi'anchesof a lon^'slim pine, from which
he slyly shook the needles on to the backs of many
of the doifs sittinii' in m'ouns near the cliai)-.
m
48
LION, THE MASTIFF.
I stnrtcfl to mv IVct on lu'ariii<:" a voice likr Mr.
IJostoii's doctor say in mellow tones, pi-eceded l>y a
lieai'tv lauiih :
"Ha! lia I ha! Hinv are you ^ Oh, nionnna !
liere's a show ! "
And lookin(( into another tree, wlience tlic voice
came, I saw a hird robed in ^iven, with a knowin<;*
look, and with one eye on me. find another on tlie
cats. That fixed look fascinated me, and caused
me to forj^et my manners, the champion stock, wliat
I owed to my sire Ca'Sfir, my mother Nellie, and
everything;' save tliis strange In'rd : and I stared like
any cad amonir the race of man.
I was recalled to the realm of ^ood breeding by
the cold nose of Maxy touching my ear, as he stooped
down to say :
" Lion, give your whole attention to your mother,
Mrs. Mastiff'. That handsome bir<l is one of the
speakers of the evening, a gay parrot from the
city.
At this a thrill of delight ran under my coat, right
down to my ])aws. So this was the parrot. My
mother had truly sai<l I would be devoured by won-
dei- at this clever creature having learnt the language
of man ! After casting furtive glances around me.
and discovering that my lapse of good manners had
apparently been unobserved, I regained outward com-
posure for the remainder of the evening.
After my mother had given a (piiet moment •>!'
thought to the matter of precedence, she consulted
with Bruno and Maxy, two noble St. Bernards ; also
T^^^
M
(•i;n
til..
k I
M
|eli;n}
iMMr<r
^gain
blloM
5 M
ft'xise.
Voice
" Ml
"M.
MV MOTHER HOLDS A MEETI\(;.
40
Mr.
>y »^
iina '.
voice
winj;-
11 the
what
\n^ ^»y
4oop*-'^
liiiothor,
of thi"
om tUr
>t, vi^^^^
it. My I
i,y won-
|uu«\ "»''
ncrs Viatl
Iml coB^-
^wient "*
Jionsultrtl
Lis; also
with Dnkr. a ^irand mastiti': with tluit Jon ial I'cIIon
Marcus, tlic ])(>ii»t»'r; with Bismarck, tlic (ireat l)aii<
aM<l witli Fiitz. a .sharj), (juick-voicod litth' hhick-an«I
tan ti'iTUT : the I'csult lu'Uioa nnfininious decision m
favour of callin<;- Mr. Bol), tlie poor dyinj;' horse, to tlie
Hoor iimiiediately aftei- tlie reading- hy Hnino of the
roll-oa
II.
These wise doj^s thus <
ih't(
rniiiicd to ^ixe him pit
('('(
lenee for feur of his sudden deatli hefore tlic eolts
atteiidino' tlie coiivciititni shoiihl luive had the henctit
of his experience and .sagacious adviee.
To hasten matters, mv mother Nellie, hastilv
mounting' the stump, called upon Hmnio, the St.
Bernard, to read the roll-call. Ste))pin<i' forward
with di^'iiity, li«' <lr()p])ed the roll of names from out
liis mouth, o])ened it, and with a full aii<l clear enun-
ciation of voice, read as follows:
"()ni- dearlv loved, sagacious thoroimhhred Nellie,
the mastiti*, tliouoh not on the roll I hohl in my hand,
is, I answer for her, present."
At this deserved compliment to my mother as
Ichairman, I need not tell you of how the St. Ber-
[nanls iiii])romptu words were a])plau<le<l. On silence
ijjaiii holdin<i' swav, he continued l»v calliiii'' out the
followin;!;- names, ^'iviii;;' precedence, as a matter of
I'oursc,
to th
le s])eaKers o
k»
)f tl
le evellllio;.
Mr. Bob, the poor horse who has been so sa<lly
bbused by man ^
Pi
esen
t." 1
le rev)
ilied
in a
feebl.
roice,
Mrs. Cow Bossv :*
1
M<
»usil)iRa, a cat
resent,
'resent '
;lr':"
WW
50
LION, THE MASTIFF.
Poll rMlTot.'
(<>11^U»
nskv, a snniriT
All lici'c, M)-. IIdiik), Itt'Mk and
Cs, sir, Mini a nut in niv
inoutl)
(ii-it and (Jrip, I'ox U'l'iici's .'' '
Mrs. Cow Serena, and oalF !"
Mis. Cow Briiidle, and ealF :*
iMrs. Cow C'autiou, and calf .''
Mrs. Cow Tinv r'
V
H
resent.
ei'e
'< V
I'esent.
« 13
rese
nt.
Mi's. Hoise Hack, and her colts ;"'
Mr. Horse Toi'v :*" " Yes, sir."
Mr. Horse Spindle
Pi'esent.
All
here
H
ere, su-
ercniv, a co
It
M
Zeturali, a liorse i*'"
Mj'h. Mouser, a cat ^'
Black Tom, a cat ;'"
( )n the s])()t.
H
ere, liere
H
e]-e
am.
es, ni
this t
ree
An<l
now
foi- tl
le (.'annies
Hisniarck, a Great Dane :*
On hand, Hrui
lO.
Dul
Ke, a ma
stitf'
H
ei'e
l^nperor. a niastitiV" "Here
^lon, a m{
I
M;
Mi
istitt'
Here I
am.
ircns, a pointer
I'm all riiiiit.
ixv, a
St. B
St. B
iei'iiai'd
V
I'esent.
JV'dro, a St. Bernaivl :' "
Mnn<:<), a N(!wFonn<lland {'
Yoni's trulv
H
ere. sir
a collie
Hi
Jock,
Scami), a fo.\ terriei"
All rie-ht.
'1
Dnsk^
Heiv I am.
l)lack cocker snanie
es.
Kcho, a fox terrier :*"
Paddy, a fiehl spaniel
Punch, a pui;- :*" "I am he.
Evei- at call."
' Faith, thats m*
iiiii
MY MUTHEK H(U-I)S A MEKTIN(;.
.M
'• \'i)»«'r, i\ I'ox tt'i-ricr :*'' '' That s my iiaiiic."
" Tosso, a NcwloumllaiKl :*" " Y«'s, sir."'
• <^)iu'i'iiit'. a toy tcn'itM" '" " Me, too.'
" .linly, a ])U<;" ' " " Hcic. '
".lack, a l>ull-(lo^' '"" '" I'm all rioht."
■' Toncy, a colli*' ;* " " Vcs, sir."
" Hash, a iircvliouiid ''' " Pi'cscnt."
'Zulu, a cock'ci- spaniel !" " Present."
" Til)s, a terrier i*" " Here."
"Sliot, a setter ^" " Here, sii-."
" Hoi), a fox teii-icr !" " Pi'e.st'iit. "
" Don, a St. Bernanl '" " Present."
" Dandy, a .Japanese tei-rier .'"" " All riojit.'
" Kritz, a hlack-and-tan terrier ^" " ^'es, sir."
" (Jai-|, a settei' '" " Yes, sir : liow do !"
" Teezei", a Rlenlieim spaniel :* " " Here.""
"Curly, a water-s[)aniel {" " Pi-esent.
" Chance, a (Joi'don setter :*' " Present.
"Tramp, an Ii'ish scttei- ;''" " Vcs."
" Kric. a I'etriever {^' " Present. "
" (ii-el)e, a Skye tei'i'ier ;■" " Present."
".lack, a pu<;' :* " " I'll wa^er I am.
" Toi'ey, a piij^' :* " 1'hat's my name."
".lack, a cockei' spaniel :*" " Pi'esent.'
" Ti]), a Skye terrier :*" " Present."
'■ Scott, a Scotch terriei- ;*" " Here, sir ;""
" Snvder, a Scotch terrier !" " Present."
" And last, thoii^-li not least in hulk, myself, Bruno,
who wi.sh 3^ou all a very delightful and instructive
evennig.
" Thank you : thank you!" cj-ie<l the parrot, dogs
m
y< ' , |»* T '|
illKl ill
SOK'fS
LION, THE MASTIFI
ill till" "It'll, wliilr this iiolilr >U)'^ w»'nt
l)cliil\(l il hvr. \'nr W'nv we s
stretcli liiiiisrll", tlic iva
liould sec liiiii \MA\ii ami
tion huAin"' wcMi-HMi ii
1 li
iliii^- !in<l stuii<liii;i' in n\\r posi-
iiii. Now, a^jiin coining' to tlic
lowii upon tln' soft, cool sod in tliis
|,,v.'lv <'l.'ii, turniu}^^ his intcllinvnt eyes towfirds my
IVont and s
ittm
mo
thcr, as chairman, lir '^'.w^'
his undivided attention
to her iH'Xt moNt'iiirnts.
TUK DVrNC MOI'.SK SI'KAKS IN IHE (;r-KN.
')'.',
CIIAP'IKK Ml.
iiii; i>vi\(; unKsi; si'Kaks in ih : (jikn.
Miis. Nki.i.iK Mast 1 1' I', in |»I(y Tor (lir |m(()|-, sick linrsc,
(li'.s(M'n(l('(l I'l'oiii till' stiiiii|», It'iis iii;^- tlif iiiaiitif ol'
• liii'iiitN' lit'liiinl lit'i', aiiil walkiiiu' »i\cr to w licir Mr.
Boll's ciiijicijitcd and disrasctl Torni lay oiitstrt'ti'luMJ,
within easy icacli of the rclVtvsliin;;' ri\ul«'t. stonjH'd
lici- head to his t-ai', hut considcratfly avoiilcil chilling'
him h\" too chtst' contact with hcc cold iiosc. In a
kind Noicc, slic said :
Deal' Mr. Hoi'sc. liasin*;' consulted with sonn sa
{>■{'
\\ f lia\ c
MU'Mihcrs of the couscntion now in the iilcn,
•aniinously a^i't't'd to ask you to he t he tiist to las <nii'
.is, and so educat*' the colts as to the niannei- ol" the
human j-ace in its ti'eatment of its useful, patient ser-
\ant, the uohle (|uadi'U[>e(l, the horse. FurthtM", as
chaii-maii, 1 excuse you IVom mountine- the rostrum.
See, Mr. Boh, that lovely hit of sod iinuieiliately in
front of the chaii". \'es. I <lesii-e you to leave the
conventionalities to men, and spr-ak from heside this
stream, so that vou mav with tiie i>i-eater ease wet
voiir di'V touiiue and throat."
Ml'. Boh !»ow I'isinj^' with ditHculty, foi- «'.\|)o,s\ire and
lack of uoui'ishment liad aji^raNated his numei'ous
disea.ses .steadyin^i' himstdf on his poor tottei-in^'
limhs, an<l hendino- his hea<l to the stump on w hich
LION. THE MASTIFF.
my inotlu'i' Nt^llie had ajiaiii scuUmI licrsclf, in weak
tout's, (listiu'lMMl \}y a (Hsti'cssino- lioarsfiicss aiul a
trviii<;' C'ou^li, said : " Mi's. Mastiff' and fVit'iids, to^vtlier
with vou ol' iiiv own lac*-', in iiivinjj" vou an account
of niv life, 1 shall coinniciicc h\' contiastinii' tin-
inhunianit\' shown nu' in tliis cixih/td and Cliiistian
land with tlif tender care lK'st<;wt'(l by the so-called
heathen and seiiii-sjix a*;\' Ai'ahian to his horse.
" No Ai'ah would turn his hoise out, as I ha\ e
been turned out, on the Don flats, to die a lonely,
linuerint;- death.
" I have liad uianv masters, xt's, as iuan\- as there
ai-e shades ot* iireen in the beautii'id ti
ees a
bout
US,
onl\'
but
ehaiac-tei-
two <
>r 1
ii\-
masters w
ere of beautiful
W
ere fn\'
lat
e (twners
tl
ie\' W(
ml.l
sa\' in re. t|\'
to I
that
leaj- m\' (i\ int'' words,
in this c-i\i
lized
ant
Ciiristian land man knows the h.or.se to be but a loui'
footed beast made for his use."
" Yes, and al»use !" cried tlie )»ari-ot, S(|uiri-el, cows,
horses an*
I d
Of''
i-i
Yes, juid abuse, thouii'i I oi-it-ve to endorse your
manv toriijues," continued th
s'iui:' lioi'st
M
masters would tell you tliat the I'ejison tlie Arab is so
kiiul to his ho)-se throuj^h life and health, throii<j;li
disease and tin'ou*;'!! death, is tliat the Aiabian
believes thai (l<>d created the hoi'se out of the winds,
as He O'eated man out of thi' dust — many of the
Arab [)r(>|>liets havin*.-; proclainie*! that w Iwn ( Jod
cr<'att'<l the lioi-.se He said to the South Wind 1 w ill
biiuL:' out of thee a creaiure ; Iw th(»U therefore cun-
y
th
I'e
ol
of
in
THK hYlS'G HOKSE SPKAKS IN THE (JLEN.
o.)
(lense<l.' That tlicn tlu' aiioel Cahrit'l, takiiio- a liand-
t'ul ol' tl)»' c'<)ii(k'M.s((l wind, [)i'est'nt('(l it Ut (Jod, who
i'(>nn«*(l tht'i'cwitli a hi-owii-hav liorsc and said, ' I
naiiu' tht;t' horst* and cn'att' thee Ai'ah, and uixe tliee
a l»av eolour. I attach hiessinu'on thv toindock. TIkmi
slialt he lord of all annuals. Thou shalt Hy without
winns, and from thv hack shall DJ'oceed riches. Then
marked He him w ith a stai' on the Foivliead, the siun
o
fol
())'\' aiK
1 hi
ess nil''.
HeautiTnl ! heautirui
cried mv mothej-. Mj-
Mastirt', and tlie entire company, while my inl'antiU
bai'k
cause<l some mei-|'iment.
" Yes, l>eautit'ul, indee(l!" echoed the d\ in":' Ikh'sc
in i'aintino" tones, and stoopin^- to wet his throat and
toniiue
How true it is, \'ou aie all aware, that
where lo\ e and kindness ai'e bestowed, Ionc and kind-
ness ai'e l)eo()tten. Vou, Mrs. MastiH", loM' youi'
master and those wlio eat his hread, in return lor the
hinnane treatment ol" vouisell" and X'our lnav«' little
liion. And so with all ol" vou who ai'e blessed with
t
• ••ood masteis : but manv ot" vou are sad «'Ve<l and
CU(
lll-el-
woi'n.
'es, we are all in man's
hfind.^
won
Id
that lie were as eaj^'er to alucdie the hearl of th«'
younj4 in the schools of the land as he is to cultivate
the intellect. The nnllennium for us (|uadi'U])('ds and
h'athered hiju'ds will be the attachment of Ban<ls
of Mercv to lialis of learniuii' in all lands. Had some
of niv ijdnnnan masters been so tutoi'ed in thrir
iid'aacv, luid thev been taui^ht to be merciful to
all ( }v»d"s ci'catui-es, instead of havino- b.'en tau<rht to
be cruel bv ha\ inu' put into their l)abv tinjici's the
m
hi}
mON, THE MASTlKh.
I*
).
I 11-
tov ii'Uii, til*' wilip jiikI tlu' soldiei's, thcv would not
wlu'ii iii'own to Ik)v1ioo«1 aii<l iiumiioixl tioii' ;i)i<i
tortuiv tlu' |)o<)i' (It't'ciicelt'HSJiiiiiiials, as wt*ll as wouicn
an«l cliilflrcn of tlu'lr own kin(!.
" Y«'s, Mis. Cliaiinian. had man been taiij;lit when in
lonj'" elotlies to he niereitnl an<l n(it to make his l)al»v
lin^^crs mur«h'rous, the air-j^un and eata]>ult would
lave
lia<l
no enarm
I'oi- I
inn an(
I t!
ie money i'\|>en<
de.l
Tor the support of standing;- ainiies, waitin*;' and «'a' v
for ))loo<lslied, would he used in the endowment and
e<|uipment ol* human<' hos[>itals for the dis«'ased autl
Intirm amouiist the human I'aee, as W(l' as i'or the
])Oor animals. ^Vhat a hoon a home of I'est would
have heen to Xestor an<l myselt"! What a hoon to
many of us would he an amhulanee an<l humane
veterinaiy treatment! 'I'o hi'ini;' this all to pass s»)
tliat oui" oHsprin^' may not undei-;;'o lik«' tortuies
with ourselves, we must only look t'or the estahlish-
ment of our <nly h(>pe, th»' thriee-hlessed liands oi'
Mercy.
'No youn;;' eolt was ever happier than 1 when <;Ta/-
lUii', runnmo aiui oaml>olnno' lu the or»'en meadows o
th
d<
m\' eai
Iv I
lonie
'1 met m\' first master in the eitv ol' Toi'onto. He
was a man with many dollars, a Mr. Lolty hy name.
He kept a pail' ol* earria;;e horses, of whieh 1 was one.
He was a eareh'ss man, tossin*;" his moiu'y alnMit as 1
luid seen ha[)py little children toss the «i()l<len <;rain
in tlu' harvest fields of mv «'arlv home. He often
asked wiiat his money was for if not to pay people to
keep histrouhh's from frettin;^' him : so, though not an
THE I)YIN<J HOHSE SPEAKS IN THE GLEN.
<>l
\
ir.
I
III
to
iiiliuiiwiiic man hiiiisoll"— that is, as incii look at
ci'iu-ltv — Ik* liad a most iiilmmaiit' and dislioiifst
coachman who had a])sohitc control ot" the stal)lc.s,
and who was, mcta)J.«)rically speak inj^', l»oin with a
lasii in his hand, ami 'lismisscd liioom at't«'i' ^iroom
if they attempted t<» ease oni' Imrdens. " A horse
is onl\- a horse,' lie would sa\' ei-uftlN-. ' I'll liase
none (tt* voiii- new-rani:le(l, humane notions as to
their coml'orts, forsooth, heine- attended to, so shut
your month and (piit your talk on ventilation t't'etl-
iiiii' or do(d\in<>', oi" as sure as \<)ur name is John and
mine is Sim])kiiis, you «;'o. Hanj;" it. it' I re<| 'em as
\()U sav I'd lia\'e no ])ickini's. The hoss ain't itrvine
into my luisiness, so shut your head if you want to
keep your place. If the heasts i^ive out, there are
plenty more, and these can he tixe(| into a fine (cam
hy the joint aid of rest and a vet.
"The horse dealer had houu'ht me at the Industrial
K.xliihition. I was a handsome hi'own-hay colt, and
have he< ii humhied enouii'h, Mrs. Chairman, to sa\-
so without \anit\'
1 was small of head, slendei* ol"
limb, strone- of hack, and withal in splendid condi
tion
1 was foaled on a iientleman s farm, situate on
the most heautiful of (iod's wateis, the lii\»'r St.
Lawrence, in whose cleai- (h'pths my mother Hist
tau<i;'ht me to drink. Dh, if she or her kind master
could see me now: hut tis hetter they are spared
such soirow, as my suti'erine's are almost oxer.
///// /ni tf ii'ns
In the stahle of niv master, Ml'. L<ift\'
iijleit muxf)/, ii'hu'h </<i.i'e iiip ns/hirnt, and my ;^iaiii
seantv as well as sour, and 1 would louii' for the ni-een
58
I, ION, THfc MASTIKF.
i»nstiii"«'s sui'rouiidii;!'' tlic Iiohm' of in\' mothers oood
injistci'. \\ lint would 1 not have iiiveii t'oi- a F«*ast
spread out i)y iiatui*«' ^
■' .lohii was tlie name of one of Mr. Loft\' s j^rooms.
II
t' was a
kind,
J>( X )(
I man, of whom I will tell \'on
later: Imt Sini|»kins was a brute and eoaehman e«>m-
hined, who owned a hoise himself, whieii he hired nut
chieMy to a man who carted sand, ice or who e\ea-
\ated cellars.
" I often saw lilurt'at work carting; heavy loads, and
1 ))itie<l him from the hottom of my own sad lu'art.
e\('n thou^^h i was awa)'e that he w.-is \\'i\ from pick-
ings stolen fr«)m our stable, which mv mate Nestoi-
and myself would ha\'e been the bettei- of ourselves.
Indeed, often in oui- ad ioininu' stalls wlu'U we conh'ded
to each other our opinion of Simpkins. oui" stomachs
weic as hollow as
his I
leart.
"The man who hired IJIuH' from our c«>aclnnan had
a whole colony of children, and j)ro\isions iu'in*;' hi^h,
le Wol'Ked
Hlutf niii'h to death.
" A son of Simpkins came rvi'vy <lay at dusk to oui'
stable and carried away a l)asket of oui' f^rain, oats,
ci'acked corn, potatoes and cai'i'ots. This buy did nt)t
take the bay, but Simpkins supplied himself with
tliat, takinn- it away with him at nioht, for 'tis ti'ue,
as I beard m\' mothei's oood ma.stei" sav, that the de\ il
is called the Prince of Dai'kness, ))ecause he sets his
childr<M» at work wlu'U the mantl»' of ni«;lit liides
them.
■Some of our iirooms were as huie.;viic a'-; thev
dare(l to be, !)Ut as ' ))i)*ds of a feather flock together'
THE l)YlN<i HUHSE SPEAKS IN TMK (iLEN.
51)
so (li<l oiir Ml". Lot'tv's iiihuiiiaiH' coacliinaii lu'rd witli
ricntuics who wiiik«'(I at liis criu'l acts.
" I ki( k«'<| at tilt' tiratiiuMit 1 ivcrivcfi moiv than
thf otlwr hoi'st.', Nestor, did, so i;'ot iiion- of the \vhi[)
than he.
" The ^j^Tooni we lii'st had, o-i-o\vin^' saiicy to Siinj)-
kiiis, Wfis tiu'iit'il a(h'il't without cci-ciiionN' or a
cliaracttT.
" \\v wci'c not soiTN', as he was al\\a\'s ahusinj'' and
nej^h'ctin^' us.
" John, th«' new man, was very humane and wclosed
him. Tliou^h lie coultj not better ou!" condition, as far
as a ph'utiFul meal went, he could, and did, in uioom-
injj' us and iiiviui:' us a kind woi'd. As his wile was
sickh', times hai'd, and monev scaice, he tried to shut
lis eyes to the pill'ei'int;- .i;')ino- on and
lers he recei\('d as t
toth
le inhumane
on
le receiNcd as t«) our toiturni^ make up.
"One da\' we returned I'aiijj'etl out from our trot to
the Woodbine I'aces, whither we had taken our master
an<l Mrs. r^ot'tv with two ixtnderous ii^-ntlemen : and
what with the dea<l pidl Simpkins ha<l kept on the
lines, his Fre(|uent and needless <;-()a<l of the hi[>, with
tl
le over c
heck-
rem, we
felt
as 11 we won
Id
• •■o mad
ss
^^>
or have softening;' of the hrain.
"After Simpkins (with many oaths as to the lateiu
of the hour and ahuse of our ))ace) had left thestahh
.lohn spoke kindly to us, oave us a i^ood ^roomin
rubhed our tired lees with his hands, ami bruslied
out our heels outside the stable: for ;;'ood .lohn knew
flif </iis( ii'onhl foul <mr rrih a ml imil:< mir foail
ii n imlalalili'.
i;u
LION, THK MASTIFF.
" Al'tci'wai'ds, wliilt' r('t'(liii<«' us lie said iiKlijiiiaiith' :
"'Haiiji' siic'li tiiit'N iuii' ! I I'ct'l iiican Itct'oic mv
lioi'scs. NcstoiaiHl P»(>1), I liojH' you uu(l«'rstaii<l tliat
1 aui unt mean ('iKanili to steal x'our t-iaiii.'
Au<l
we (
lid,
lol-
horsrs know a ii:iu>n deal nioit'
than tln'\- ut't tlif ''rcdit of knowiuii" : l»ut wf could not
t'\»'ii n('i<;'li in rt'Sjionsc to Johns words, <mi' fui-'ml
■I
iiiii-'<iit's KU'i'v, Kt> para/ i/'.cd l>\' reason of our heads
hcnm- tied to our hacks durin«'' the run to the i'ac»'s
and our sta\' there, w Idle the white foam of pain hud
sti'canied from oui' mouths.
"And we reinendiei-ed with S(»me hitivi-ness the
remarks on oui' spirited hearine- hy the sports at tiic
races: and we douhted not that the turfmen were
n(»w flinin*;' as epicures at cluh nv home while we of
such spiriteil heiU'ine-, ha\in;4' had tau' jtoor moutlis
sawtMi and lerUed
»\' the leins in
tl
le nniumane
hand.'
of Simpkins, felt as though an emj»ty stomach wa.*;
prtderahle to ei'ain passing thiouwh our lacerated
moutJis.
"'A soft and wai'ju hran niasji witli a teaspocaiful of
uiuiit'i' in it would he a hcttei' meal foi- x'ou to-da\',
said .lohn kindly, foi- lie (►fteu talked to us instead of
liaNine' loafers about the stahle, as iuan\' ui'ooms do:
'hut,' he continued sa<lly, 'the hran mash bin is
empty, tlu' coachman's kid has crihhed it all : if a
man has am* heart he cant stand seeiuM- creatujes
(.'])endent on him starsc!, st) 1 uuess
111 1
uive to leave
\'ou, l»oh and Nestoi'. Hauii' it! I can't stand seeinu'
\'ou crane \'oui' necks t<t that ha\' rack ahovi' vour
lieails. It's rii-lit <lown cruel."
rriK i)ViN(; fioksk si'Eaks in ihk, (;i,e\.
ol
»)l
lo
Irt's
ivr
\\\ii
"And Nt'Htor aixl 1 tliniiiilit so, too. Tor Ihr /xn'sf
l'rp<li< vdftu'ully Ol) thf i/r<tn/iid.
" '\l\v cliiiiax was tliat John (|narr«'lltM| witli the
ooachnian oxci- onr scant rations, and In'arin;^,' tliat
Ncstoi' and I wci-' to he do(*k<'d, h«' said he \v<aild not
take ns to tiu' siu'iicon : so lie was told to <••<), sliort ol"
waji't's, too, i-atlicr than, as he said, hcai' onr scrcanis
and sec ns nuitilatctl.
" Nrstoi* and 1 nioniiwd oxci- the |tros))t'('t of losin;^'
onr hnnianc ni-oom, joj- tlion<;h it was not m his power
to t'('«'(| ns ncnci'onsly of to hnri onr ov('i--ch('ck ))ack
into tho tortnrc-t'actory. he was a kind and a n-ood
U'rooni, never neiilectinii' ns in aiiv wa\-, lookine' well
after onr I'eet, exainiiiin^' them Ireiinently to see if we
had canjj^ht np nails, stonos or ^lass : for standine- on
such wonid, h<' knew, have induced lameness. 'I'l
le
axles ol
tl
le carriau'e-wiieels were well iiieased i)V oiii
II
d I.
kind orooni, who wonld sa\' : 'Yon are sliort oiurain.
so it shall he my care to oil the wheels oi' your lairdens
for yon.'
" Tlie fhiv .lohn left he jiaxc ns man\' a kind word,
tliono-ji he woi'ked donhlv hard jiivinii- ns clean })eds.
\enti latino- the stable and j;Toomin<;- ns tenderly. Had
he a pi'emonition of evil { Nestor and I thon^lit so.
■' < )i)e of the ti'i])s we made that <lay was to take
our mistress out callin<r. Mrs. Loft\' had two vonni!'
ladit's, honse-oiiests, with her, who were Vi^ry merry,
and chatted and lanii'hed as uailv as if no dead son*:-
sters trimmed theij- liats, and as if thei-e was no
tortnre in onr make-nj).
"As we drew tlie cai-riaire alonj-' Kini:- Street West,
f
02
J. ION, THE MASTIFF.
\\r ])Ms,s('(l M cfllai' which was Ik-Iiih- excnvfit»'<|. St-vcral
idlci-s wcic looking- nt tlie dinti't'ssin^' siojit of a ])0()r
hoi'sc — in whdiii we rccojifnizL'd Hlufl', owned hy oiii'
coaclnnan — whom tlic lahourcrs had overloaded. Kx-
liausted by previous l)urdi'ns, he eonld not pnll tlie
heavy eai'th U]) the rou^li incline, and, just as we wei-e
]»assin«;', he fell to the otouimI, sick at heai't and soie
of body fi'oni repeated l)l<)ws of the s[»ade in the ha!ids
of a lal)oui'ei'. We took the faniilv out to dine that
eveninj;', and afterwards to a theati'e party. As we
waited foi' our |)eople at the enti'ance to the Urand
( )pei'a House, we would fain have droope<l our heads
in ;;,'rief foi' pool' BluH's ill-usajL;;e and foi- the coniin;^'
departure of .lohn, hut that our heads wei-e, as usual,
field in the ^rasp of the ferrihle eheck-rrlv. We wei'e
chilled thj'ou;;h and thi'ou^h, which was not Mr. Lofty's
fault, as he had said to Sini))kins, on our stopping at
the Gi'aiul :
" ' Simpkins, he sui'e you blanket the horses. There
is a keen wind, and they have work to do yet.
" But 8ini[)kins ha<l only thrown one r\v^ ovim- us,
which a strong' breeze blew ott". Thus we sto(>d for
two louii" hours, while the ))lood in ouj- lejis and neck,
b
nii>' neai' the suriace, became utterh' (
•hill
eo
" On oui' I'eturn to the stable, when John saw the
state we wei'i' in, he I'an to the kitchen to eet some
hot water from the reservoir attached to the stove, to
mix us a nu'e
warm mash, but theiv he met
Simpkins si])pino- a hot drink, who said y'l'utfly :
" ' Make yourself scarce, .T<ihn, and don't waste that
bran : rul) the liorses down and aive them some hav —
THE DYINCi IIORSK SPKAKS IN TIIK CI, EN.
ii.->
,()
it s all the lnMitcs iKM'd -Mini ^c) ahoilt yoiii' iiusiiicss;
if voii scud Jinvoiir to \\\v lor a line \'on'll iirt siicli a
" cliai'actcr " as will kw]) \<)U outside anv stable iu
Torouto.
" ()u the ivtuni ol" Joliu to the stuhh', \v<' looked
ai'ouu<l aud uei^lied expectautly, I'or a l>rau mash
alunx's made us feel hetter. When John saw this, he
rubbed his sleex'e aei'oss his e\-es, savinj-" :
Siui|)kins would uot let me oive i( to y
ou. ui\-
beauties: so oood-bve, mates, \'ou"ll have to do with
the hav aud rubbiui:" I n>' aiveii vou. Ves. aud hei'e is
ati exti'a blauket aud a uiee juicv apple apiece Toi'
\'ou. ('ook iiavetheui to uie, aud thouii'h I Feel luuiorx*
to taste theui, I'll mve theui to vou, aud uow li'cxxl-
bve,' lie said sorrowfully, pattiuj;' oui' chilled uecks.
' I hope you'll get a kiud groom, aud that you will be
a))le to stand tlie cruelty of luutilatiou.'
" Aud as we turut'd iu the <liui light to ueigli good-
bve to hiui, we aiiaiu saw the backn)f Ins baud l)rnsh
across his e\'^es, as he turned his head eic he left the
stable and went out into the miduinht streets, not
•h
h
lid
th(
d f(
kuowinii" wliejv he would earn the moi'i'ow s Oread t<n
his wife aud littl»' one, aud wondering that the good
(foil allowed him to be turned adiift foj- tiAiui:' to d<»
rio-lit by his horses: but never losiu""' faith, for we
had often heard .lohu sav, ' He doeth all thiua's
AV(
11.
" The following day IVesh trials came u|)on us. The
new groom, a tellow after tlie coachman's own heart,
added to our dailv ti'ials. We heard a man sav that
had Andrew been an emperor he would have been a
.i.i(i
64
I, ION, THK MASTIKK,
N<'i-(). As it was, lie was in liis (.'Iciiiciit in takin;
ns
()ji-()Ur iTacliiii'i" tlir t<nl iiir-clmml
K'l' \\v Wl'll-
i('LU'i\'»'(l 1)\' a numltrr ot" idlers, l»v wlioin we were
led t
<) a reel-hot ruiiiace iieai' wliicli wei'e seariii^-irons
knives, an<
1 a I;
I me nan* <>
f si
iears.
'V]
lere was inucli
connnent on oni- points and ]»ossil)l«; serennis.
" It wasdecide(I that on aceonnt ol* my had tein|»er J
sh(nd<l he the first to he inan;;,led, so in the meantime
Nestoc was .secnred hy a hridle to an iion rine- in the
wall.
" A rope was then thrown o\cr my neck, the ends
heiim- hronuht hetween m\' foi-eh'tis and undei" m\-
hind pasterns. A sudden jerk di-ew up uiy lef;s, and I
Tell helpU'ss to the Hoor, where my torinentoi- tied my
lens. I was then seeured with a twitch, which means
twistiujn' a fine rope around the nose — which, with us,
is wvy sensitive. This ahominahle sensation was
^ixen me to divert my attention.
"The o])i'rator next folded hack the hail- From the
joint to he (iivided, and ra)»idly cut the ,skin : then
with a hu^'e sheai-s 1 was docked, and notvvithstand-
in^i' my pitiful stru<;'^les, that useful a})[)enda<;e «;iven
me ])y the Creator for protection was held aloft amid
the cheers and hand-chi|)pin^' of the inhumane on-
lookers. T may here say, Mrs. Chairman, that dock-
\\\\y is now more (piickly done, hut the after-efiects
are (piite as injurious. /ie(jnenfl;/ prodacivi/ lock-jmr
from Ike sjiock.
" My torturer next applied the searinj^' iron, which
ha<i been heated as with the tires of hell, to arrest the
THE DVIXr; MORSE SPEAKS l\ THE i;l,EV.
fin
floAv of l>ln()«l. Wifli ;i iiintHc" | crv of |Knii(l<»i" tin- !«•♦
of tli«' horsr is oiM' nl" silriit <'ii(lnrMiM'r ), I rose to my
IW't inutilMtcfl, (locked ! How ])i'on(| tlir men looked
1»V iVMsofi ol' tlit'ii- iioldc ju'liieN ('iiM'iit. wliilc I sliivn-rd
wiili jisiin, ns di()o|»iiij; my liead and closin^^' my eyes
from file lun-j'id scene, I \vislie<l tlint tliey had killed
me. Prid<' left me : my s|>irit was hroken, as I tliouelil
of m\' lioad tird to m\' l>ack witli the cruel check, and
of tlu' h<ase-t1v (tin- most blood-thnstv of its ti'ihe)
armed with its lancet, |)i-od«lin^- my haek unlashed. f
felt as a man or a woman in liandcutis, and who, ha\ •
in^' ha«l a s))len<lid head of hair, was scalj>ed, and
compelled to walk foj- life under a hurnin;^' sun.
attacke<l )»y fiies.
" [ was da/ed with j^rief, and turned fiom the woeful
siprlit, of |)oor Nestor undern<)ine- tlu' satne ilisti^'ure-
metit.
" H»it I will not linoer o\«>r this ))artof my sad his-
tory, nor tell lunv, fi'om l)ein<ia tine animal, in s)>len<lid
ccmdition, I liecame, owmu^j; to the Inluunan ti-eatment
I received in Mr. Lofty s stahle, a c()m))lete wreck.
Andrew, bein^- commissione<l hy Simpkinsto j>ui-chase
new colhys, 1»ou<;lit tliem too small ())ocketin<i' the
difi'erence). They reiiderrd In'edthlrtff diffjodf, oihI
ratified, M.S to halk in our (jait. At this, Sim])kins stoo<l
\\\) in liis hox and Ho^o-e(l us, ])ut he always punishe(l
us witli tlu' lasli wh<'nev(.'r he said ' Whoa there ! ' at
a dooi" with ' Bai'-room ' w ritten u])<)n it. And Nestoi-
and I ti'eml)le<l in (nir harness when he came out
smellinii' so nast\', for he made us sutt'er. I can tell
you, lash in «i' us to a pdIo)», a<;aiu standing- in his hox
T^
H
66
I.U»N. THE MASTIKF,
In do;;- lis; Mini we wislicd tlicrc ^\;ls h Idij' oh tliosr
rooms l;ir^-«' <'nou;.;'li mikI sti'oii^' nioiinli to keep Siiiijt
IMS out.
And oh, li
ONV \v
(' loiiiird tlinl oiir iiiastvr would
not Ik" so cnrclcss, l»nt MkiI Ii
r won
Id
'•l\r ;i lew ol
Ids iiiiuiN' idle iniimlcs to cxMiMiiiiiii: onr <:(MnT;d
nwikc-n]).
" Doulttlt'ss. Mrs. C'lininium, sonic of ni\' i-jicc anionj''
this andicncf will coincide with nic as to the nnisance
a hen-coop is when adjacent to oiii" stables, owiii^- to
the fact ol' the insects, which t're(|uently infest domes-
tic Fowl, creeping;' tliroujj^h the intervenine' walls and
enil)eddiiiu- theiiiseKes in onr coats, cantii))!/ (is /<>
losr our sice}) hy rcnson of the ivfUot'i luj itchinfss.
" Nestor and 1 used to hear Mr. liofty complain <»!"
onr incessant stam)»ine' at iiieht, sayin;;* crossly that
e distin'l>e<l his rest. Mvniate and I iii-ieNcd that
w
we were unable to make him nnd(M-stand the cause of
our I'estlessness. Many owners of hoi-scs inflict this
additional sutf'eriiiji- u]»on our face throuj^'h i<:fn()ranco,
so that we must endure with our (excuse my boast,
Mrs. Chairmnii) pi'overbial ])atiencc.
W
e missec
1 Jol
111 s cart
ful
lu^ss as
to tl
le man who
should shoe us. As foi' Aii(b'ew, he did not care a rap
for our comfoi't; so he ])atroni/ed a chum of his own,
who was as i^^noraiit of his ti'ade as a iiew-liorii
infant. He seemed to take a delight in raspiii}^' the
front of our hoofs, jind .so rcmovin*;' the smooth, hai'il
ti})res on tlie outside, wliicli had ])revented them from
becomiui'" brittle and dtd*()rme(l. He would tlieii ti'im
our pool- heels too closely, causing' tliem to becojue iii-
\\(
le<
( 1
llle
THE r)VIN«; HORSK spRAKS IN THE <M,EN.
H7
In,
•n
nil
lin
flMlllCfl. I Mill ColiinlctrK (icMl' ill m\' ri-'llt r;il, dW in<f
to Aiidri'ws (MMK'I cfnTlcssiK'ss, lor lie woiiNi jx-rsisl in
fUttiiiii' tlic lifiir IVoni (lie inside of iii\' mrs. 'I'liis
;4T()(Hii WMs loo dirty in liiniscll' to keep iis clcfin. ni-
• nir stiills citlicr, .•illowinn- litter to ;^utlier until //o,/-
iniis i/dsrs ircrf ;/f'tiri'iftr(l . wliicji tfiiiited oiir I'ood, in-
inred oursio-lit. i'enio\ed tlir \Mniisli oH' the cMrri.-iees.
.'Hid nwnle us hate to take a lone- hreatli, as we would
liave lieen *^\rj\ to flo, wlieii \'yv" ot" the loathed o\el'-
clieck. The iin])Ui'e ail' atfectcfl my lun;;s, and 1 henan
to fall otr in niy pace and et'iieivd a|)])earance. In
Tact. Mrs. MastitI', the docdsinji seemed to ha\e taken
all the sj)irit out. of me, and I lost lieait.
"Simpkins i;a\"e me the whij) carelessly, and one
dav tile lash injured m\' Nd't eve. Nestor and I were
now tlie victims of intl<>noii(ifi(ni of flit /,l<l nn/s mnl
hoirc/s, ItrotH/hf upon, as hi/ thr use af mnsfi/ /mi/ <niil
(lariutf/ed i/rciin.
" As we heoaii t<) fall ott', our master too careless to
examine the causes, would scold, at which we oreatly
^rie\ed, while the coacliman seemed to ;;row more
and more inliumane. Di-ivinj;" us U)) one of the hills
on Von^'e Street (wlieii we were takine- Mrs.
Lofty and party to a winter hall), our shoes not having-
heeii shai'])eiied, and Sim])kins liavin<^ wound the reins
jiroi ••'' the luimes when }*^>iny' U]» the sli]»pery hill,
we stumbled, an<l 1 fell, hut was soon lioaded to mv
I'eet 1) the hiitt end of the whip and Simpkins' had
' ords.
" Mr. L(jfty, advised hy Simpkins, d«'cided to send
me to Smith's a ition. I was not sorrv at this tiat.
II: {
68
LION, THE MASTIFF.
:: '
fo? , as I salt] to Nfstor, who was to bp soli^. also, wp
roiilfl not bo worse oft'.
*' Nestor aii<l 1 hoped we should not l)e separaterl,
as we had i)een c<'inrades so lon^' : })nt, alas! Mrs.
Chairnian. it was to he. I fell to tlu' lot of Ben
Winter, a man with a kind voice, wliieh we know well
to be tlie sipi of a kin<i heart.
" Mv new master seemecl (<uite i)rond of me as he
attRciiecl me to his neat waj^'^nn and drov^ )ne east to
Von^e Street, and n]) tliat ci'0wde<i thoron^lifai'e, with-
out tile cruel check-i"ein. It was a iicw sensation to me
to have tlic use of mv own neck, and if the human race
eouM realize all this means to the horse, the check-rein
facto. 'V would be a hidecais nightmare of the past.
" TIh' I'est an<l care I had received at Smitli s had
been as a mask to my disease(| points, which, l)efore
manv months of travel to and tVom Kii'linton with
t'ne milk-cans, beoan to show th(,'ms(dves, and Ben
Winte)' pi'ove<l, to his own disa])pointnn nt and my
(•rief — I'oi" we had taken a iiivat likino- t() each other
— that the over check-rein had so iniured mv wind-
])i])e as to impede respiration, and that it had caused
])aralysis of the nniscles of my poor face. Ben also
found that mv mouth was violentlv sti'etclied, because
when in Sim])kin.s' cruel hands I liad been so tired
an<l uncomfortable that I liHd restecl the weitrhtof mv
hea«l
'l>
tl
in)on the rem. w
hicl
1 was on IV I'xchanirnio' <»n(
torture for another
And now. Mix Mastift' and friends, if you will
excuse
me, I shall lie down, as J feel mv sti
eniTtli
th
.11
I'apKtiy leavni;^' me
THK l)VIN«i HOUSK SI'EaKS IN THK (iLKS.
(19
11
" Pof)i- Mr. B()l»: Poor Hoh:" ciie.l tlic parrot, and
all of the company, in j^vnuiiu' synipathy.
"Weep not for lue, my frien<ls," continned Bol). " I
am glad my hui'dens aiv over. And now to tlw en<J
of mv storv. Hen Winter also fonml I was kne*--
y^livxiw^, and, with imieh ])ity foj- me, d«'cided that I
was not in mj'^d condition foi' Ids worl\. Mv eoniiii
was verv severe, conti'acted lono- aii'o in Mr. Loftv's
stable. My stall was in a dai'k pait of it, and bedded
in old, used-up straw, so damp that i of necessity
caught cold. Had some of my unfeeling grooius
endeavoured to make amends foi- theii* cru.dty — for
damp is a deadly foe to the hoi'se — had they led me
to a sunny side of the stablf. even if cohler, I might
not have suffered with this cough as I do, even in my
<lyi»ig hour. <Jh. the cruelty of man, and to us, who
never complain, for very few of us a)*e giinnblers :
most of us suffer long and are kind.
" Ben Winter gave me a nice, deep, soft lu'd. He
said it did not cost him anv more than if he ha<l been
niggar<lly witii his straw, as he freipiently dried it in
the sun, thus making it sweet and ch'an, and enabling
him to use it aiiain and aiiain.
" Ben often reminded me of .h)hn, the gioom, whom
my [)oor mate Nestoi- and I were so fond of. Vww
had just such anofhei' good, kind heail. I ho[)e, Mrs.
Chairman, that mv last thoujihts mav l>e of those
twt) men: I love to think of both of them.
"Before we starte<l with oui- milk-cans foi- Ben's
customers in thi' citv, I was let out to i>ra/e. Bt-n
said that a few mouthfuls of the fresh, iuicv urass
li
70
MON, THE MASTIFF.
was ht'ttrr For iiic than a (li'itMl-up annfi.ii ))ulle<l up
lattT in tlic <lav IVoni uikKm- tlu' I ))•()! Iiiii»- sun. And I
touiul till' (lew on tlic jii'ass a \vyy ('Xccllcnt nH'dicinc
lor inv
Fet't.
" Ben, like Jolui, always oavc me pure. tVcsli, soft
watci- to drink. 1 lia<l it after niv u'lJiin, tlu-n. la.st ol'
all, niv liJiv. Soinctinics on oui- i-ounds tl»i()Ui:li tlu'
citv J was .so tlni'stv as to \h' ohliot'd to di'ink nastv
tastino- water in tlu* public trou<;'li, into which had
hoys had thrown di"t of \arious kinds an<l had
also plunged thci'cin theii" diity feet
" Surelv, Mrs. ('hairnian, i)itv must he «lead in the
hearts of the sons of men when tliey oi-ud^"e both the
mend)e)'s of youi" race and miiu^ a hles.sed <h'ink of
pure water. I ha\'e seen ))oys empty <lo«i;-ti'()U};hs
luidei" the vei'v nose of a thir.stv animal, as well as
cloi:' the trouiih with foreiii'n mattei'.
" Hen often told me he felt very sorry that
thirst com|)elled me to drink of sucli dirty water, hut
that he liad not the heai't to add to my load a pail of
I
n
ne water from
iiis f
ii-m for me to di'ink 1)V the
w
ay, for feai' his customers miuht make jokes at his
expense
d
" All tliis r«nninde(l me of my mothei''s pai'ticulaiity
about liei- drinkiiiii-w.itei'. Lik<' manv other thorouyh-
l)reds, she j'efused to put hei' nose into a pail aft«'r
another hoi-se. Happy, hjippy mothei', in the care of
an indulii'ent and considerate mastei".
"The last trip 1 m.ule with Hen and liis milk-tins,
1 saw a siiiht which has haunted me ever sine**, it
was Nestor, mv dear old comrade, drawin*'' an over-
THE DVIN(; HOUSK SPEAKS IN THE GLEN. 71
!()H<1 nil Yoii^c Street. 1 saw tlie licat from his
sleuiiiiiiii" sides rise like a sikMcii toe- on tlie air. I
saw liim tall, it was not so iimch tlw drivers fault
(to)' his master had hidden liiin overload), Init former
iidiumanity had i()))hed my pool' mate of his splendid
health and stren«;th, so he fell to rise no more.
" 1 stood stoek-still at the pitiful siLiht. Ben, leaving'
his wao^()n in my eare, went over t<» where Nestor
lav, while a eurious-eved erowd stood aliout •ja/inj''
at the pool- fallen creature.
" Nestor tlying in hariit'ss, tlying "twixt .sliafts hikI stiap.s,
Hail fallen, tiu- overload killing liini : just one ot llie days
niisha]is ;
One of the passing wondeis, making tiu- city load
Xe."ioi' <lyiiig in iiainesw, heedless of call or goad."
As poor IJoh, the horse, fell faintino- at the i-ecol-
lection, tlwre was a orcat silence, and my mother
Nellie, fearino- he was dead. Jumped fi-om the stunij)
and ti'otted over to where he lav. I fol'owetl hei-,
foi" I felt so oi-i('\i'd for Ml". Boh 1 coidd not restrain
my feet <)]• ;ii\' xoice, and whinetl aloud as 1 ran.
The poor horse was not dead, and on my mothers
appi'oach, turnino- his patient eyes (which had the
dim ])athos of d«'ath in their depths) to her, he con-
tinued his stoi'V, saviuii":
" Kriends, foiyive me: 1 was oxcrcome with the
j)ainful rec<»llection of poor Nestoi's death.
"1\» resume \\\y stor\', Ben Winter was nnicli
atlecti'd, pattino' me kindly as he said :
" ' If 1 was not too poor, 1 woidd pasture and feed
m
72
MON, THE MASTII'K.
v«)U loi" the i-i'iiiain«U'r of your IiF«': as it is, I must
take vou to vour new niast«M'. Dcai- oi<l Boh, I am
« ■
soi'i'V to part with vou.'
"Ami 1 was the more ^ii-iovcd of the two, for 1
«h»'a(lr<i a futuic witiiout a Ncsti^^c of liopc in its vast
ol>scuiity.
" My next mastci- was of the Simpkins •itaiii]) of
man. Y»'s, Mis. Chairman, Sam Hai'(l\' was ciuol
to all (iod's civatuivs. I ivc'0<^iiiz(' in Mrs. Cow
Bossv — unless mv failin}»; siiiht deceives me — a one-
time comrade in distress."
" Yes, Mr. Boh, cried the cow, hastily : " please
e.xcuse mv interi'uittini'' vou just to sav to this con-
vention that Sum was a hiute on two le«^s, ai»d it is a
mercv he had onlv two h'^s or lie would have kicked
all creation out of shape.'
" Alas '. what vou .saw Mrs. Cow Bossv. is too true, '
continued the dviny: horse : " vou iemend)er, 1 am
sui'e, that when Hardy was in a i'a«»e with his wife
or his little children, he would come to mv stall
and tioii' me as J stood. Alas I alas! what a terriltle
thinji' is a had temper in man. At last, Sam Hai'dy
turned me out to die, cliasin*;' me with a Um^ lash,
whippin*;' me thi'oujih the dark and dismal streets of
ni^ht toward the Don Hats. Aftei' Sam left me, tiiree
inhuman lads chased me and pelted me witli stones,
callinj'' me names such as "hob-tail," "shavinii-
hrush,' and worse. At last two kind lads came to
n»y assistance in the ;;uise of ' Band of Mercy ' )>oys.
I saw their ha<lm's ' B. M. of Canada.' Tliev ii'entiv
()
\'
1,
s,
(>•-
to
vs.
■tlv
THE DYING HOUSE SPEAKS 1\ TllE GLEN. T-'i
led ine to the peaceful (jiiiet of this «;leM, beside ilie
soothin^^ iiiuniiui' of tliis rivulet, wliere to-ui«;lit 1
hope to die."
And while we all wept, we heai'd him say aiiain in
faintly whis[»ei«'d aeeents, " (j(Oo<l-bye, dear Jolin.
tlood-hye, dear IJen. '
THK CONTKAST OK THK ARAH TO HIS HOKSK.
■• Cttine, my heaiity ; come, my desert <liuliiig.
On mv shoulder lav thv t^lofisv head 1
Fear m)t, though the luirley sack be empty.
Here's tlie half of Hassam's soantv l)read."'
m
1^
fS I
74
LION, THK MASTIFF.
CIIAITKK Vlll.
MRS. cow liOSSV SPKAKS AT I'llE i '< )X\KN"n( ►\.
As the .'liitMl liorsc coiicludt'd his stoi'V, a moiinirul vrv
went iij) IVoni my inotln'i" N(dlie siikI all tlic <I()<j;s,
tVoni Mrs. Hack aiul her ccdts, t'rom the cows, cats,
s(|uii'i'el, parrot and iiiys<'lt*, as wc move*! witli one
consent over to his side.
Mv uiotlu'i-, with Duke, a mastiff* Bruno and IMaxv,
tlio St. Bernai'ds, and myself, now pushed the fallen
leaves with our noses alon*;' the oround close to poor
Mr. l>o})'s head : and Mi's. Cow Bossy slipped lier lono-
hoi'ns near to the earth and assisted him to rise and
I'est upon the leaf pillow which we do<;"s ha<l made.
Mr. Bol) opened his patient eyes and <(ave us a
dvinji- look of i^ratitude, while Mrs. Hack and her colts
lay down beside him to try to keep him warm, as also
to ]»revent his fe<din«;' lonely if he should a»;ain open
his i^reat eves.
We now all, with funeral steps, retui'iied to our
places, my mother Nellie's head bent in <(rief, as she
silently sioiialled Mis. Cow JJossy to the orassy tloor
of the «»len.
'I'he cow, therefore, step])ed forward, and, hendiny
her horns to my mother, as chairman, she said :
" Mrs. Mastiff" cows, calves ami all. I fear I have not
much to tell you of interest, and shall merely take up
T
MI{S. COU' IJOSSY SPEAKS AT THE CONVENTION. I i)
ur
|)()r
Lt
tlu' tlii'oads of iiiv ()I<1 tVi»'ii<I tlic horse's stoi'V, u'i^ i'»ii"
von iMV own IVom that l'\uu\ and shall foninieiice
hv tellinti' xou tliat tiic man Sam Haidv was mv
owner Ix't'orc I was happily sold to a most hnmanc
lad\' in this lU'iiihlxjni'lKKxI.
"Alter Hardy had tnrned out pool" Mr. Hoh to die.
he at once hon^ht anothei- lioi-se, to wliom lie was
(p;ite as crnel. I tell yon what it is, Mrs. Mastiff' and
all the cows, my nnlk was t'nll of temper, for my
l)loo<l used to faiily boil at the sound of the lash
descending;' upon the not ovei'-stronn- hack ol' pool-
patient Brutus. That man Hai'dy worked him so
near death, feedino- liim on pool-, scanty food that, at
last, he was forcecl to <;ive him a rest.
" I could see |)oor Brutus fiom the yard where I
stood, as he i»razed in a field lU'ar 1>\'. 1 also saw the
leads from a cata])ult in the hands of a rich man's son
lly thi'ou<ijh the sweet, warm ail', and stah the lioise
with cruel
rorce
I
COU
Id
see ne was very mucli
fi'ij4'hteiied, hut he was so <;'lad to <;'et at the o'rass
that he continued to ijfi'aze. But the bad bov wanted
to see him fall ; so, coming neai', he sent aiiothei* lead,
when, w^ith a shout of joy, he yelled to his comj»an-
ions of his ' ocjod shot,' foi' at that instant Brutus,
with a oiojin, f«'ll dead. The lead had j)iei'ced a vital
part, and placed him outsiile I'each of Haidy's lash.
The bovs then ran jiwax' to seek some othei' lianie. "
As Mrs. Cow Bossv related the sad storv of the
unfoi'tunate Brutus, the dyino- horse ^ave a plainti\t'
CIV, while Mr.-s. Cow Bossy continued :
" Mr. Bob has told ytm, whenever Hardy was in a
76
LION, THi: MASTIKK.
|i< I
raof ho would |j;o out to tlic stable ami Hoj;' him as
lie stood. Latterly this oecurrod everv niiiht. Had
Hardy's stables been in the lower dives of the city,
such souikLs of the ciuel lash would have been par-
tially drowned amid waves of discordant an<l riotous
street noises, tlu' civ of children for milk, and tlw
loud, an<;i"y voices of the tjuari-elsome. But Sam
Hardvs stables wen^ adjacent to the beautiful, ii'i'een
fields of the city's north-eastei-n subui'b, full of orand
shade trees, and named ' Rosedah',' whence in the still
evenings of sunnnei- we could hear the twittei- o\'
birds, ha[)[)y in theii- freedom: while the fresh per-
fume of the woods was wafted through oui" stable-
windows, and ' Band of Mercv ' childi'en's voices sano' :
i|!iri
Little liaii
(Is can he so
gt'
lilt
They should iievei', never dare
T<» he cruel to the creatures
lioil coinmitted to their oare."
Then their musical chattel' and lauj»hter would come
to our ears. When I told pool- Mr. Bob of this, he
would turn the ear that IMr. Loftv s inhumane iirooiii
had not destroyed the hearing;- of, by cutting tiie iiair
from the iiiside, to the window, and listen to a prayer
by a little boy, whose whit«' colt ha<l been sold that
di
ly
H.
prayc
d
"'O heavenly Father, who in every place can
see, I pray thee watch my dear, white colt, and let
him soon forget this his dear old home, an<l — me;
only please don't let him qaitr i'orget. Bless his new
master: innh' hini Jxiiul, and make him always be so
o-ood as to treat mv white colt well.'
MRS. row ROSSV SPEAKS AT THE rONVENTION. ( t
let
' And tiuMi. as tin* iltvir rliild said ' Ani»'n.' Mr. Bob
and T honrd two (jroat .sohs. Mv old friond Ivincr
y(»nd«'r and I 1()V«m| to hrai- those dear childi'rn sin«;,
and ihv littl*' lads ))i-ay<'i- j;av»' Mr. Bol) j^reat joy, I'or
li»' sfiirl snc'li a ' IJatid of Mcrcv l)ov wouM jiiow to
he a tall, M<M)d man, and liaNr hor.scs oi' Ids own, and
that lie wonid 1»<' so Innnan*' that thcv wonid lovr
hnn <
h'arl'
ant
1 h
)«' nron*
I t(
) carry mm or draw inni
ir
h
ni a f'arriaf;<'.
".Inst Taney, if yon can, Mrs. Mastifi*, how we \'o\\
after list«'nint.j to those o-ood little children, to hear the
anirrv ti'ead of onr inhnniane niastei- and to see liini
enter the stal)Ie, whi]) in hand, to ^ive poor Boh the
lash. It was as if a tiend from hell had come to
earth : an<l thonoh Sam Hai'dv did not Ho<r hk' ''^^
he ili<l the hoi'se, he never passed withont <;ivinn; me
a ciMK'l tui:' at m\' horns, which often cansed nit; to
wish to tln-ow him. He wonid lasli me with mv own
tail. or. if his hands were full. I
»e won
Id
five me a
kick. He would pasture me in a tiehl that th«' ^rass
had oTown brown in. Men had be«'n foolish enouf,di
to cut down all trees save one, which was so lon«'ly it
could not <;i-ow. He would tie me by a shoi't ro])e
to the slendei- trunk of this solitary ti'«'e. and there
lie wouhl leave me to broil all dav under a burniiii'"
sun, with a scanty breakfast of a wisp of hay or tuft
of nrass from Rosedale's ])fistures (torn u]), roots and
all), and a di'iiik of water. These were lonel\- davs.
At
lo-l
eveniuii" ue woiila come am
Id
d rel
ease im
an<
1 d
ri\ e
me houie for his much-to-be-j)itied wife to milk, and
ex])eeted me to ^ive him a plentiful su[)j)ly of milk
^^m
■ft
!
r.lON, THE MASTIFF
afior sncli I icaliin'iif . I tdl y<»u wliat it is, Mrs.
Mastitr, I used to walk ItacU \vai'<ls ami rni-\\ar<ls tin'
l«'ii<;'tli ol" )iiy i-(»|((' ill that hrowii tirld, my parcliiMl
t(Hi<;'U(' lian;;iii<.i<)nt of my mnutlijilxc a mad cTcatnrr:
and IdcflaiT, Mrs. ( Miaifiiiati, I cannot speak ))atiriitly
<►!' tliat man Hardy. It •vas adding' to my pnnisli-
mcnt to tie mr npso witliin sinhtoi' those oj-een Helds
oNcr the \va\', (Mi Avhich cattle lu.xurionslv Lii"5i/'<'<l <>r
leclined in the cool shade ol* niuiiei'onstr
ces.
H
ir«l\- s
inhuman treatment (A' me made me mtv indignant,
and when I I'eturned to the yard to he milkcfl, and
had niv ears I'nII of the sound ol' the lash comiimdown
on my comraile's iiiotrensi\'e hack, I wished he would
turn J'ound and hite Hard\'s cruel hand oil" him ; and
one evennijH' I kicked over the iiiilk-|»ail, to <'ase .Mr.
Holt hv tui'nino' Hai'<l\''s wrath on me.
" r ^I'ieved hittei'ly the nieht the jioor li(»rse was
turned adrit't. I knew I should miss him sadiv, hut
riiin{j;;]ed with my soi-row at oui' sejtaiation was one
;^rain of hope, whicli was that he would he met on the
Dctn Hats ])y either some humane person who would
take him liome and he o'ood to him, or that the
Humane Society's officer wouM shoot him. I knew
this latter death would he Mi*. Boh's I'ei'vent wish, for
he had told me that it would ])e instantanecais and
sure. Pei'haps, Mix Mastitf. you can inform Mrs. Hack
and liei' co
Itsl
low
tl
lis IS (lone
" (certainly, Mrs. Cow Bossy." resjtonded my mother.
" We do«i:;s, heino- the constant coiii])anion of man, hear
a ^ood deal nioi'c than we say. owino- to the ]»itiful
fact that our <lear masters do not umlerstand our
•^u-
MRS. COW HOSSV SI'KAKS AT TKE CONVF.XTION. 70
\lt
nc
iM
'W
for
111' I
IC-K
Icr.
ar
ll'ul
l)Ut'
iiuniiicr (>r sjM'ccli. r>nt. t<» ifply to yoiif i|ii«'i-y. J
1)j|\(' lu'jirtl iiini say tiiat ('lia]»iiiati and Willis, two
coiistahics, arc dcad-sliots, and tliat the iim/zlc of tin-
pistol should Im' held within a lew inches of the head.
I.
Ill't'C
Oiot
IS hrs
t. A
nn towar«
is tl
ir ccntrr o
r th
head, just Ix'low the I'orctoji
I thaid< voii, Mis. MastiH',' said Mrs. ('(»w l»o,ss\'
iiKMinini:'
hvv 1
lorns,
I am sure Mrs. Hack and lnT
colts arc ;;i'cHtly obliged For your clear explanation.
And
now t(» continue iii\" stor\'
( )n entcriiiL!' the ••■Icn
this cvcnine', I thou<j:ht I rccooni/ccl in thcdvinii" horse
my rri<'nd Mr. l>ol>,aiid was sureol' it as lie pnx ded
wi
th I
lis sad historx'
He has lieeii dviiii:' since the
third of the month now in its last days.
" 'I'he Sundav after his dismissal ♦() die as he l»est
could. Hard\' foroot to water me ere t\in<'' me to the
forlorn tree in the hunit field adjacent to erccii Hose-
dale, and mad with tliirst 1 walked in excited irrita-
bility the leneth of my rope. Kroiii the windows (»f
a villa near my field I saw a ha|>py family fre(|uently
;;aze sympathetically in my direction, the outcome
heiiiiT that two deal' vouni:' ladies came to mv succ()ur.
Tl
U'V
told
me
tl
lev w
ere inenil)ers of the Flumaiie
Societv, and that I woidd, tliev were sure, he elad of
a nice cool di'ink wliidi tliev had hrouiiht in shinin'-'
tin ))ails with theii" own fair hands I thoueht those
•I'irls aim'els, hut could onlvtell them so hv lickiiie- mv
chops, <irinkin^- e)vc<lily to the last re fresh in<;' drop,
and <;azin^' o-i-atefully u])on tlieir retreatine- forms.
" Hardy had not even a howine' ac(|uaintance with
the wor<l humane, au«l was, of ccairse, too cruel to
^wraS^K'l
ivv
sO
LION, THK MASTIFF.
ill-
r'an\ if ii«' wns ;i\van', tliat ill-tn-atinoiit inrtdo niv milk
*
iinwliolcsoiiH'. iiml my mrnt ~il' \ slmnM ronio tn tli*^
knilV -imtit \'nr I'ootl.
"One rvi'iiin;;' my prrsciil kiixl iiiist rrss, Mrs.
(Inodic, cluinciiio; t<> 1m' in tin- city, sjiw Hai-dy tlirnw
inii" l»its ol* (li-\* mnd jiikI snuill stoiirs nt me jis lie
(i)'((\(' iiic IVom tlu' Held t<» his st}d)lt' to 1m' milkc*!.
" Kull <>r pity tor me, ms well as witli an cvi' to my
i:o()d looks, she followed Hardv and mvsrif to his
yard, and therr and then otfcrc*! Hai'dy thirty-tivc
doMars foj- m<' (which was not too hij^h a j)ri(M' as J
am of Holstcin hrcj^d). At this he drmurrrd, sayin;x
dojfirrdlv that I was worth morn. T trcmhh'd from
thr tips of my cars to the end of my tail lost there
should I'" no sale, hut was o\ei-"n)yed, on Mi's. ( Joodie
ofieriiiii' anothei- dollar, to h<'ar the jrrutt' \oiee of Sam
Hard\' aoree to sell me. You can imao'ine mv <leli(:'ljt,
Mis. ('liaii-man, at this <;()od luek : iinleed, so over-
Joyed was I that I would not have kicked the pail
over even if Hardv ha<l milked me himself.
"The followinu- dav Sam drove me from town out
t(j this beautiful neiohliourhood. He almsed hm' ill the
way, t;i\ ino- me numerous prods with a drovjr's stick,
which is a bludgeon with an iron spike in its end.
What think you of that :* "
" 'i'hiuk '! Mi-s. Cow Bossv%" said mv mother, orowl-
in;;'. "I say it was barbarous, barbarous!"
" Hear, hear ! " cried the parrot and everyone, while
I told Maxy, the St. Bernai'd, to run against Hardy
ami knock him down for me, the next time he met
him in town. But Maxy sai<l he could not o))liiie
w
l)e
to
of
th(
wa.<i
ing
lu
IV
MRS. COW HOSSV SPEAKS AT THK T'ONVKNTION. 81
rdy
met
irK', ovvinjLi' *') tin- iMct of liis liciiij;' ;i Imiiiaiit' do;^.
And Just t'oi' tln' minute I wislu'd M;i\v had ln'cn
a
l)nll-d(>t'', t'oi- in tliat casr Hai'd\' \V(>nId Itavr \
M'cn
I«'ss ot* a k'ifkt'i-, l)v reason of a late off' Ins I
<'*•
Hai"bai"ous, indeed," contimied Mrs. Cow llossy,
' I liad no end of tfouhle with Hies in
ni<li<rnanMv
tl
the lioh's tlial ii'on sj)ike made in my l»eautiful civam
and la'own suit. When we met poMcemen lie pre-
tended the hlnd<reon was Ins walkinL^-cant
ant
I r
or
•h
a cnant^e draj^oed me aionj^ i>y a >t»|)»
tie.!
ai'oum
mv horns. Nice, nohle ci-eature that man Hardv is!
" We cows are Iivin<; machines, Mrs. Chairman,
foi-me(l to <l() special work. Now that I am I'cmI and
have what is onlv mv' due, a comf'oi'tahle, warm l>arn
as mv home, I ijfivc twice as nnich an<l twice as m)od
milk as I f>'ave previously. Mrs. (Joodie came to
my rcHcnc not a day too soon, foi' I was liecominj;'
iitKsclc-sorc on accovnt <tf Hic it ncren fftHtr of m//
stall. Oh, how cross it used to make me when, to
chan<;e my ])Ositi()n and ease my feet, I leaned first
(Ml one foot, then on another That man hail the
heai't of a stone.
"Another jjfrievance 1 had was that he tied me
with so short a rope that I could not lick myself. I
believe Sam Hardy knew (piitt' well that a cow likes
to be in such a position as to be able to lick any ])art
of her body. But what did he care ? T supi)ose he
thoujj^ht he ^ave me lickings enonoh himself; but I
wasn't partial to that kind. He (jften left nie stand-
ing ontsi<le in cold and stormy weather. He nnist
have known that when I was soaked to the skin the
6
if!-
82
LION, THE MASTIFF.
AvaiMiilli uf iii\' ImmIv would cxliMUst itscir in di-viiin;
mv tliicU coMt oi* hiur. H;ul I Ihth in tli.it man's
IwiikIs tlii'ou^li Mnothcr wintci'. tltc coltl.s lie <^-av(' me
by exposure in this wav would most cei'tainlv have
/ti'oducc'/ hiln'rcidosis. IJut what did he eai'e. I was
oidv a four- footed l)east undei' his eonti'ol. I am
«
thankful to say, Mrs. Chairman, that Mi's. (loodie,
\\\y present humani' owner, knows as well as you and
r do that 'the ])ower of control carries with it tile
ol)lij;ation to pi'otect.'
"Hardv nevei' condescended to jiTooni me. 1 am
now l»rushe(| every dav with a n-ood stiti' ))i-ush made
of coj'n. The conse'|uenc«' is that my skin is clean
and healtliy. I look i']*'m; this l»rushin«j^ as a pei-fect
luxui'V, aftei" the state t..at wi'etche(l man ke))t me in.
Mrs. Cluiirman, it is only common iustice to <le
;ir
Mrs. (Joodie to infoi'm this assembla^^v of animals
that my iti'esent owner knows her duty to every
livinji;; crt'ature in her cai'e, and pei'foi'nis it. My
milker is a \rvy kind woman who nevei- disturbs my
mental condition by blows or harsh, loud woi'ds.
She is, indeed, a ;4'<'ntle creature, and so clean tint lier
face, her hands and her aj)ron shine with soa|i, watci'
and starch. Ves, I am kejtt mentally calm and eoii-
t«'nt, which, indee(l, is my just due.
My former ownei- never
fe<l
me
bei
ore milkine'.
He fre(|uently had dii't tlyin;^' into the milk-|)ail from
UiV dirtv coat and fi-om his own. and \ er\' often left
• t t
the milk standiiu'' in the stall until it was i'uni-eu-nated
with a sweet odour, I must say. 1 am (juite sui'c,
Mi's. Chairman, that when with Hardy m\' milk was
y
c
MRS. COW BOSSY SI'KAKS AT THE CONVENTION.
iV
•a
his
unwlinlcsoinr, .ukI 1iu<I liis custom*' lu'cn al>k' t»>
uiulcrstand iiw, 1 would have toM tlM in so.
" H«* WHS vrrv toinl ol" «i'i\ in«'' nit- tin* t'ci'incntcd
rc()iw of l)j'(>w«'i'i('s, w
)iic])
I IS tlic rrr>/ n'ors
CO
irK ('(HI nit. iJut what did Hardv (-'.'.r
/ f\H>i}
It'
was
swill, swill, swill, uutil at hist \ dccliiu'd to take it.
U<^li I wlicn I tliiuk of* it eoiii]»ar('d to the uouiMsliiun-
food I MOW «;('t, c'ousistin;;" of hay, eoi'ii stalks, mixed
f;'nviu, such as tctn-srcd meal, coi'u meal, and wheat
hrau, as well as maii«.;el-wui'/els, caiTots and parsnips
varied to teiupt my c(»nstitutional ap])etite. So I be^-
K'jive to assei-t that none ol' my sistei' cows in this
chanuiiiir <:len is hettei* led than I. As I'or Mai-<l\-,
■^^ ?^
I n'ave liim milk for his ))on-id<^'e. milk for his tea, and
in I'eturn e-ot Mows as well as al»use. IT we cows
could l:"o r)} Du'ssc on sti'ike and reluse to '••ive our
uiilk to such iidiuman creatures as he, a nice tix they
wou
Id 1
We
)e in.
are meat and di'ink to men,
We aiv Shce-
lejithei' to them. What kind ol" mortar could the\-
ceil their I'ooms with, did we not ^ive them our hair '
I'eet, I 'i"y would ha\e precious
If
we
had
no ears or
litth' ^'lu«' ; and then the\ inieht just as well come in
oui" stable to live. I'oi' i'l v ce.uld not fasten theii- tine
fui-nitur«' together without uIik
'i'l
leir
lor<
fat I
lers
would not have had such tine driidsiim- vessels l»ut
for cows' horns; and yet some peo))Ie thiid\ ourdriid<-
intr-troue'lis are jiood enou
-h r
or us wi
thtl
>e se(linient
left
ni irom yai"
to \ear. Hut I am thankful to tell
you, dear Mrs. Chairman and friends, that I am in
cloviT now.'
mm
w
!'!'
84
LTON, THE MASTIFF.
V' •
At this Mif ]>fin-()t laiiLilx'"! iH-artily, which relieved
our siii'chai'irecl Icrlijiir^^, vvhilr I tinned liead-over-
i]r
" Vrs,"' coiit'nucd Mrs. Cow Bossy, eluMM't'iilly
literalU' in elovci', and niv (h"inkinj'- ti'ouLd) hm
wooih'n jiini^s in ii
w
hid)
1 arc ti'ecjuently reniovec
and the \(',-s«'l cleaned out, and sweet, t'i'esli sjM'in^"
watci' let in full to the to]), in the clear depths of
which I can see my I'ace and tine horns as I drink.
I iised to have honihle m'j^ht Jnai'e, when with Hardy,
of heinif dehorn«'d hut nexcr now, Mi's. Chairnian,
never now
" My niisti'css, Mi's. <Joodie, is xci-y I'ond ol' me and
r of he)', and she tells cNcrvone what a tine jnilker T
am
Y
ou see, liei' milk-maid nexci' wat«'rs mv mil
nor laps my ci'eam, and 1 am so humaiK'ly treateil
that my milk is moi'e ])Ientit'ul, i ichei' and moi'e
wholesoi;i<', with no had tem])ei' in it. An! now, Mi's.
Mastitt", with many apoio*.>'ies i'oi" s])eakin^' at such
len!'-t,h, I vacate the o-rassv tlooi" to a hcttei' six-akei'.
winle wishnm' to you each and all as humane a
mistress as m\' own.'
FRISKY, THE SQUIRREL, TELLS HIS STORY
8r,
CHAPTER IX.
FRISKY, THE S^riRREL, TELLS HIS STORY.
Mrs. Cow Bossy, liavino- Hiiislu'd Iut .speech, rrtirrd
ami<l much applause, aud .-i^aiu luxuiiously reclined
to cliew lier cud. My iiiotlier, Mrs. Cliairiiian, tlicn
called Mr. S<[uii'i'el to the t;nissy llooi". Scamperiiii;'
tVoui the rivulet on which he had heen playiji^-, a bit
of bark his boat, and his tail uplii'teil for a sail,
he skipped merrily toNvards us and said :
*'Mi., Mastiti' and evervbodv, Frisky is mv name,
MIK
1
t !
lis is the first conventi(^n oi" animals I have
e\ ei" attended, you wil! pK'ase excuse me if I skip
about as I talk.
•• My little master and his papa, a Mr. Ormswood.
came out this evening' to Balmy Beach to pack up
theii' siimmei" cottage to [)rotect it IVom thieves until
we retui'n next season. ]Mice and spiders reside in it
all wintei".
•• I nnist tell you all how I became a town .s(|uirrel.
A boy named Poacher stole me from my motluMs nest
in a hollow ti'i'e when I was all eyes and tail : a small
fur bal»y as I'ound as my tail l>ut not (luite so lon^'.
This })oy P(^acher peddled me about the city sti'eets.
and my cheery little mastei-. Victoi" Ormswoo<l. bein;^'
a 'Band of Mei'cy ' boy, bought iiiiioi- swei-t |)ity's
sake. I had just a'M)ut made up my mind to die
I sir r
h
I ;
■ !
86
LION, THE MASTIFF,
when the ti'julr w.is ec/ncludcd. for my residence witli
Poiiclier was a broken rnt-ti'ap. Tliis cruel boy gave
niescai'cely anytliing to eat. excepting liis finger-nails,
which were so tongh and dirty I simply could not
bear to eat tlwni. tliough he persisted in po!:ing them
tlu'ougli my prison bars. Victor gave Poachei" fifty
cents for me, and he ofti'n savs. even for the fun his
pa])a takes in my pi-anks. he would not part witii me
or a
)(jcketful of mone
)r
" Victoi' often goes out with his kind papa f(
walks in the suburl)an streets, and carries me thitlier
also. I feel very comfortable in the manner of my
tiansit. Dear Victoi' has a leathei" .satchel for me,
S(|Uare-b(jttomed, with a window-hole in its side for me
to see and bi'eathe throuixh as we m> throuiih the
ci'owded city.
" I don't like the Inisiness streets. The medley of
sounds makes me nei'vous, and I don't know what
would become of me if little Victor oi" his kind papa
w«'i'e to be skated upon l)y one of those electric
Hv*'rs! I di'ead lest anvone should tele])hone foi*
that I'oacher bov to come with his old I'at-ti'ai) and
»>
V
al
ii'rai) me
" But I foi-o'et fear in mv jov at reachini!' tlu^
beautiful subui'ban stiX'ets and green fields. Mi'.
Ormswood savs he feels like a bov ajiain as he sits
«lown on the gra.ss and takes off his hat, and fans
himself with the reiVeshinii' breezes. And he lauii'hs
to see me scamper from the satchel of leather as up
I run and down I llv anioui'' the tine tall trees, while
Mr. Ormswood and Victor gaily sing:
FRISKV, THE SQUIRREL, TELLS HIS STORY
87
" ' Crowtls of l>ee.s, gi<l<ly with clover,
CroWfls of gi'iissliopjM'is skip at oiif feet ;
t'rowtls of larks at tlu'ir matins hang o\ it,
'I'hanking tin- l^ord foi a lift' so swct-t.'
s
s
" oil, Mrs. Cluiiniijiu and «'\ t'lvhodx-, I cuinot Ix-oin
to tell yoii how liappy and joyous we arc tooctlicr.
" Kind Mr. Onnswood tills Ids pockets with sweet
youno- ])ine coni's and hei-i-ies I'oi- nie, and plays hall
with Vict(Ji' initil it is time to K-axc the heautiful
woods and I'etui'u to the city. As weaoain ]»ass thionoh
the husy streets I IVe(|uently see N'ictoi" [teiroini
kind acts. One day a rude man knocked ai^ainst a
poorly clad little oii-| who was can-yino- a do/en coos
in a papei' hao-, and she ci'ied Tor fear of a heatino'
hecause Tour oi' the tw(d\
e were ln'oken.
Vict
or at
once (with a snnle at his pa))a as he passed a lo\ ino-
hand onci* his hadoc, ■ |J. M. oi' ('anada ) enti'i"e»l a
(^i-o('e)-'s shop, and with his own ])ocket-mojiey honolit
six new co-OS I'oi- the po(>r little child, and sent her i»n
he)' way with snnles instead of teai-s.
" Anothei' day he Ie<l a stray doo\ who was parched
with thii'st, to a Humane SocietN^'s water tiouiih.
" X'ictor has a jilay-room at homt', and there 1 ha\e
a l)o\. Imme(liately oNcr it is sus))ended a lon;^' ro)M-
attached to an ii'on hook in the ceilino, .-md whi iieNcr
I play a trick on i^'idele, the Oreat l)ane, or Til*, tin-
Russian cat, 1 scam[)ei" up my i-ope until the ^i-Tni
is ovei'.
"I must tell you (*!' one of our deliMitrul wiiitei-
walks. Last Docendter we came out heic. and. Mi's.
Chairman, this o|(>n was a ma/e of heaiitv — <lelicate
K I
88
LION. THE MASTIFF.
white luc't^, woven hy tlie nia<;ic fi unci's of Kiiij;' Frost,
liun<;' fi'oin hou^h to hrancli, From ti'iink to t\vi«;" of
tl
II'
ice-U'WelM
'd trees. Mr. Ormswood and ile
11'
Vietoi- wei'e as deliolited as 1, an<l perhaps you can
picture tlie Joy of my mothei- and family when I
<h"opped in upon them at supper in tlie liollow of their
tr
ce
'1^1
lev wei'e as snuy; as i)ees ui clovei-, an<
d(
d aft
ei"
the snow-inantled world outsid*', theii' liouse looked
lovely with its cai'pet anrl cushions of scai'let an<l
oran;^('-hu(Ml leaves of the maple, with hei'i'ies and
nuts of eveiy conceivable sha<le ))iled hi^h and plenti-
ful in all the coi'iiers. We had a ^ay reunion and a
^rand feast,
" And now, Mrs. Chaiiinan, if you will excuse me, as
I have hern (piiet so lon^-, I shall frisk ahout a little
as 1 finish my story in son*;."
At this the nay |)arrot laut;hed, while I turned
a someisault in miith at Frisky's idea that he had
lieen <|ui«'t, when he ha<l not l»een still a sinj^le
minute. Seein<; how amused I was, lie skipped over
to me, and Hap[)e(l his hushy tail in my face as he
pt rched on Flit/, the hlack-aiul-tan's coat. At this the
convention lifte<l up its voice in o'l-eat lau«;hter, while
V
risky, scampering' a
])out,
sai(
1
• Ves, Mistress Mastiff', *^ood and true, with your
mirthful Lion, and you, tine cow, poor horse, j^'rave cat,
ami i>'a\' and lo\-el\' i)arrot —
111
" I iiiii a .s(|uirit'l iHTclit'd alxft,
All activi' litllt' ruviT ;
See how I whisk my Itu.shy tail
Whit'ii .shadows iiic all over.
FRISKY, THE SQUIRREL, TELLS HLS STORY.
89
'* Now, rapid as a ray of light,
I cliiiil) tlu! talle^st beecli,
Or .ski|) along from hough toh(»ugh,
Until tlu! top I rt'ach.
"Ni>\v sec nie sit iijKtn this branch,
And lints crack at my case,
While Iiirdics sleep, and insects lly
Amid the fine tall trees.
lie
lie
III)'
lit,
" 'i'lie /epiiyr lifts my silken hair,
So long and loosely flowing ;
My (|uick ear catches cvei\' sound —
Say, I am brisk and knowing.
" With cunningglance I east around
My merry, sparkling eye.
In yonder haw tree by tiic creek
Rich clusters I do spy, —
some of wliicli I sIkiII skip ;iway witli. As Mr. Onns-
wood }iii<l dear Victor lune ceased knockin*;" with
the lianimer, our cottaoc must be all boarded up JTom
thieves, so o()()d evenino-, Mrs. Chairiiiau. I iiuist
sc'aini)er away from vou, IJon, and evervbod\', and
])e ready to eiitei' my witchel of leather.
" Aiul now, befoi-e I o(), o-ive three cheers for little
Victor, the ' Band of ^fercv ' bov! "
"Three cheers. Hurrah! huri'ah ! hurrah," cried
my mother, tlie gay parrot, and all the voices in the
olen. And as we looked about for Krisky, the meriy
fellow was o()iie.
h\'
90
LION, THK MASTIFF.
Ii, I
ii'!
CHAITEK X.
THE FOX TElllllEUS TKLL THKIIl DKEAM.
With \wv usual kind oonsidcratioii lor tlu' IV'('liu*;s of
otluTs, woll aware ol" tlir att'cctiou subsisting" between
(h'it and (Jrij), and of their tlesiie to face tlu' audience
too'etli*'!-, our tlu)U<;l»tful eliairnian, liftin;;' up her
voice, called the fox tei-riei's to the rosti'uni : and so
to the accompaniment of j^lad notes of welcome from
the entire convention, tlu'y came foiwai'il, lu'ads erect,
their black and white coats in l>eautiful condition, the
I'esult of li'ood nourishment and carefid iiroomiiii^'.
Standinii' aHectionately side hv side, ( Ji-it, as s|)()kes-
man for himself and comrade, in polite tones said :
" Mrs. Mastirt* and Convention, instead of relating;'
the heart-rendin*"' ti'ials and homesickness of my
ih
•If,
1 I)
dear companion and m\ sell, on our henjt;' sold hy oui'
loved master to a man in the citv. 1 shall relate to
you a dream of ww own on tlu' nioht of our return to
the home; and master we love so truly.
" I nuist tell you, Mrs Chairman, that my comrade
dreamed a somewhat similai' dream to my own which
I have urji'ed him to tell you, hut Griii says mine is
more connected than his, so he, with his usual modesty,
has elected to r<'main silent.
And
now, ere jjivniii' you my visions o
f si
eei
let
me tel! you, in a few woivls, of how we had In'oken
loi
enc
Wo
of
ilU]
tho
tho
to 1
THE FOX TERRIERS TELL THEIR DREAM.
91
IC'b
is
let
:eu
loose from our kcnncI .it Toronto, on tlir luornint;" of
tlu' (lav tliut vou, Misti'css Xcllif, hud so Iminaiu'lv
iiisist('(l on oil)- stoppin;^' in order to <ni('iieh our thirst
ill the \f\\",\i waters of Lal<«' Oiitai'io. Yoii will
perhaps wonder that w«' had taken so many hours to
reach Balmy Beach, hut you will jH'Uiemher that our
U\'v iiwn'ements wei'e liam])ere(l l»y the cruel i'o)>e
hindino- us together, and that we could hut make
short runs in the open foi- feai* of llyiiiM- missiK's in
the hands of ho\'s, as also the teirihle air-iiun and
catapult from which we fled to hide in some friendly
shadow. We di'euded the mid-dav hour when the
^ivat hall <jf heat and li«4ht men call the sun should
illuminate ('Vciy coi'uer and make the shadows tlee.
(.)u
r leal' w
as no dream, Mis. Mastitl', for numer
ous stones caused our hones to ache, and had it not
been for the friendly shelter of a humane man's stahle,
oui" pursuers would have a*;ain led us into captivity.
" My dear comrade (Jrip and myself will never
forn;(!t the run we made that day, nor the trials we
eiiduivd. Yes, we have had i'nout;h of the hunt, and
wonder that men enjoy and call it s])ort, the hunting'
o
f
poor
friirhtened fo.K or timid hare, the nohh
huntsmen themselves astride blood horses with
thorou«;'hbreds of our race also in pursuit.
" After our peril and homesickness, you, Mrs.
Chairman and all friends, can picture to yourself the
ofreat joy of (irip and myself on our return to <nir
«;"ood ma.ster to find him orcatly please(| to see us,
thou<»h horrified at our condition, at which he resolved
to part with us no more. After beiui:' fe«l, watered.
T
'!• I
92
LION, THE MASTIFF.
oTooincd, talk('(l to and p«'tt«'(l, we were sent to oni
•rood master's room, to oiir old coi'iicr ai
sol
(!■-
bed, and each <lreaiiied iimeh the same dream, tliat
we oi' the I'aces canine and ht'i))aceons liad l)Ui'st
our bonds, and that tlie liuman race was in })ond-
ao(.' to us. We dous were ruleis over all, rei;4'nin;;'
al)solutelv ovei" the human race and in a Dvneral,
th()Ut;h undespotic, manner over horses and cows,
we o'ivinn- tiiem almost any lenj^th ol' line. For
example: We dons onened the Industiial Kxhihition.
»1
You, Mrs. Chaii'man, with your l)i'ave little I^ion, my
comrade (ii'ip, and Nox, a l)ull-d()i;', rolled in state in
the carriage of the ]jieutenant-(jlovernor. His fine
]
)rown-n
-b
iiy SI
)an
d
rew
US to the ji'rounds, but the
horses had a tint? e
isy
til
ne o
f it-
no
bit,
no over-
check, and easy, well-Httin^" shoes, which the new-))()rn
lorses
%
our ordei
am
1 th
.1
leir own desire, won
1.1
never wear, as the (ireat Creator did not intend they
should, and no l)linders. It was lovely, Mrs. Mastiff, to
see them turn their heads when tliey desire<l to ha\e a
look about, them. To be sui"e, they havin^- suffered the
mutilation of docking-, were unable to lash the horse-
fly, but we had a boy on the box to attend to the
blood-thirsty brood. We <lreamed — I shall speak in
the plural, Mrs. Mastifi', as the dream of (Jrip was so
similar to my own — and so to repeat, we dreametl
that the harness Trix and Pan wore was after the
fashion of the latest and most humane patent ; but if
our coachman foroot himself and made as if to saw the
mouths of our steeds, or was wicked enough to swear
at them, Trix and Pan stood stock-still, and Nox, the
Ml
me
IK
wa.'
wit
The
i»nt
aiiio
THE KO\ TERRIERS TKM. THEIR DREAM.
93
l)»ill-<l();;\ iiiiin»f(l oil t"> ;i |»ic('<' <»r iiM'chMiiisiM iti tlic
Hoor of our ('.'in'iMjir, wiirn iiistMiitMiicouslv a st«M'l bit
spraii;^ to tlir luontli <>!' tlir coMcliiiian ami sawcti
awav, wliilc Nox jiTowlctl until lie was hroiitilit to a
proper IVaiiic of iiiitwl and tlic spii-it taken out of
liiin. 'IMien and onlv tlien would the liorses move
on. And in om dream Trix and Pan IVeipiently
rested under eomi*oitai)le clean awnines and di'ank
at marl)le ti'oujj^lis wliich men kept constantly re-
))lenis]u'(l.
" We also ol'ten leaped iVom our carj'iap' and re-
galed ourselves at relVeslnne^ slio))s, wliei'e eveiytliine-
from S})ratt's biscuits to a sirloin of beef was i-eady
for US at call.
" In Di-eamland all other animals wej'e e(|ually well
treated — she(ls and commodioiis stables, comfortable
an<l wi'll ventilate(l,and ;;;j'anaries overflow inn-. What
was kiln-drie<l we left foi- the race of man. In short,
Mrs. Mastitl', oui' freedom was com])lete.
" On I'eachinji' the Kxhibition jj'rounds, what a chanjie
met the eve ! ^b'n and bovs nnitilate(l and rinniiuir
out of OUI' wav,as we did in the davof their iron rul»'.
The building" formerly appi'op)'iate(l to the do^-show
was now full of men and bovs, confined in small cai-cs,
with the sun o'larino- at them with llamini:" beams.
The St. iJei'nards asked us to e'ive the men and bovs
~ t
'arji-er caii-es, and shield them from the sun bv blinds,
but we only lau^'hed as we chose our .servants from
amonir
st tl
lem.
" In fact, Mrs. Mastiff, Just then in Divamland we
foruot the thrice blessed ' ( lolden Rule,' and mettMl out
^"«u
'<>«>
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IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
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Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
33 WEST MiVIN STREET
WEBSTER, NY. 14580
'716) 873-4503
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94
LION, THE MASTIFF.
tlio same Miiiouiit of mercy they Iwul sliown lis when
they \vei'(^ in powei-. We liad a .staff of men ami boys
to hriii^- food and (h'ink once a day totlie cages, whicli
sometimes they neglected to do, as they liad formerly
done in our sad case: but we, the managers of the
man and boy show, only laughed when Maxy, the St.
Bei'iiard, and other members of the Humane Society
of dogs conn)laine(l.
" In our dream we selected our servants from Ken-
nel Club men, as lovers of our race, and who, having
stiKlied pathology, wouhl understand our reqiiiren».ents.
" Oiii's was the only carriage drawn by horses in
the whole city, and we <lreamed we did this as a joke,
an<l because a deputation of horses had waite<l upon us
with the reipiest, so that we might show to any turf-
men, who might still be alive, how liorses should have
been treate<l when they held the reins of power. On
our way to the Exhibition, we met numerous dogs
being carried on the shoulders of men in a very com-
fortable conveyance, or their servant-men drove them
in o])en carriages, which were drawn by men : and we
beheld the strange and awful sight of bits in their
mouths and their heads fastened to theii" spines with
the ovei'-eheck.
" We met only a few hungry-looking, stray, idle
men and boys, who fled at our ap})roach, but met
lai'ge numbers of the hinuan race in attendance upon
dogs, horses ami cows.
" We passed beautiful plains, acres in area, from
which, for our convenience, our men-servants had torn
down whole blocks of buildings, and, after carting
THE VOX TEUKIERS TELL THEIR DREAM.
95
away tlie debris, tlicy liad sodded and plaiitrd wifclj
clunn^s ()
A' ti
IM'S.
H
wo
the 1
loi'ses ii'alloixMi, »>Ta/(><
.1,
d,
drank I'l-oin clrar stn'aiiis, waded in artitieial lakes,
rested beneath the trees, or <i-;iiid)olled iii delicious
IVee<loin. Wlien ovei'lieated, tlieir men ruhhed tlieni
irentlv down and nave tlicni retreshnients from ad-
acen
tsl
U)1)S
p
o
We (h"eamed tliat cows had like attendance in fields
f their own. Still in Divandand, we visited a lai'ii'e
an<l l)ea\itit'nl })alace. As wo ueared wc heard voices
smmiiiT swee
tly
■ Hiny tlie l)ell.s of inoi'cy,
Ring thfiii l«)ii(l and clear
Lot tl'.eif music linL'er
Softl
V on
th
e ear.
loo;s
)m-
ien\
wo
their
\vith
idle
mot
upon
from
I toni
rtin^i
" ' Filling jsouls with i)ity
For the (liunh ajid weak,
Telling all tiie voicelcs.s
We for tlieni will speak.'
"As we came near to the beautiful music we saw in
our divam that tliis orand palace stood in extensive
and beautiful grounds, in whicli wei'*' ore xjpN of women
and i^irls of all sizes, also maiiv animals and numei'ous
majestic cats, three times as lar^'e as our oraiio-e and
o'l'een-evcd friends in yonder tree. The women and
chihb'en were all excessively ha})})y as they worked,
})layed or sanj;' :
" * Join our hands, the wonl is spoken,
Mercy is our cry ;
Wc all plcatl for voiceless creatures,
Victory is nigii.'
11:
ll. I
96
LION, THE MASTIFF.
liW
II ''
" And we (lieaiiied on tliat because women, wee tots
and girls liad been buniane to ns, so under our
regime wo saw to it that they were perfectly happy.
We had no dog-fiohts and no cock-tijj;hts to disturb
th<' peace, thougli a few bull-dogs, who had been'
s[)UiTed on to fight l)y men in Former days, still at
times forgot themselves.
" We chose our pets from amongst the human race,
as men had sometimes done with us. I was very fond
of njy boy Fi-eddie, and he of me, an<l I dreamed that
a bad bull-dog sna[)ped at my pet boy, when, on my
telling him to l)ehave himself, he tui'ued upon me.
Freddie, fearing for my life, dashed at him, wlien
the fei'ocious bull-dog turned again on Freddie,
making a great many holes with his teeth in the
teniler body of my pet boy, at which the poor little
fellow screamed so loudly that I awoke. So vivid
was my dream, Mrs. ^^astiff, Cirip starting up from
Dreandand at the same moment, that our hearts ached
with fear.
" J^ut as we more fully wakcMied and realized that
we weri! still with our kind master, an impulse of
great joy stirred our hearts that it was but a dream.
As things are, they aiv best, in that we of the canine
race are still the frien<l and companion of man."
At the conchision of the dream of the fox terriers
there was a great silence ; even Nature was appalled,
not a leaf stirred. In great fright, I stole to the
side of the stump (m which my mother, as chairman,
was seated. At this she jun)ped down close beside
nie, saying solemnly :
THE FOX TElmiKKS TELL THEin DREAM. 97
«.y wjtl. ,.o„, . As thin,,, are, tl„.y an- U^"'- ' '"''
pi ' f
08
LION, THE MASTIFF.
CHAITER XI.
ill
R^
i
mm
MOUSIIUSA, THE CAT, TELLS HKH STORY.
MY mother Xcllio, scciiin; my l()ri<;in^" to be near lier,
l)a»le me juiii]) to tlie stump on wliich, as chairman,
she was seated, whicli so pleased the eonvention that
tliey <:^ave way to nnicli nnrtli, while J, thi-owin^-
dignity to the four cornel's of tlie ^len, nearly rolled
off the stumj) : an<l the <(ay parrot cried :
A
n
ch
sDeecii, a
sp
ee
cli f
rom
Li
on
At this I rose to my feet, ami imitating my mother's
tones, said :
" As this is my tnai<len speech, please don't lan^h.
When I ^row hi^'h and wide I shall do better. J shall
now merely say that as a descendant of champion
stock I camiot l)ut cham))ion the ladies, and therefore
^ive precedence to Mrs. ^^(>usibi,sa, whom your chair-
man, Mrs. Mastiff", has alivady called to the grassy
tlooi"."
At this much laughter tilled the glen, th(
parrot waking many birds, but poor Mr. Bo
horse, lay still as death throughout the mirth.
The Maltese cat, Mrs. Mousibisa, springing n
upon
the truidv of an oak tree that, had been
by the woodman four feet from the grounc
orange eyes shining brightly in the gloaming, |
forth her story as follows :
«^- ^''.y
(
b, the
(
lindjly
s
felled
b
d, her
a
)urred
SI
MOUSiniSA, THE CAT, TELLS HER STORY.
99
lEfb.
assy
the
iibly
elled
(I
"Mrs. Mastirt", fiion, jukI nil IVicuds, tli()n;j;h my
kiiulred come iVoiii i'orcion parts, from a land wlion;
Kiuff Shivers (l)-()])s no icy siiow-ihikcs : wlu'rc the
in'ii'hts an; mild an<] iiivitiiij'' to the rdiiu' raml)l<'r:
whci'i' I have ol'tcii wisliccl to ln\ Imt that 1 must
traN'rl loii^' Icnj^ths of miles tliron<j,h the detested
clement, watei-, whicli at the mei-e tliouo-ht ol" I
(h'aw up my |)aws IVom tin's stump \vith a shudde;'
— ves, mv IViends, tliouii'li Full of i)itv h>i' nivsell" in
that my kin were evei- bi'oujjjht by man Fi-om our
beautiful liome on the Me(liteiTanean, still Jiiy horror
of wet feet has cause<l me to be content to remain
in Canada; and only in my me(litative moods,
when lyin<4* on tlie ruo- in front of the orate of
my late dear mistress, Mrs. Maitin, did I roam
in <b*owsy luxury amon^ the vines, the olives, the
lemons, tlu; almonds and the cotton-helds on moon-
litifht nijj;hts, in celestial company with my own race,
the Maltese cats, in my ancestral home, lovely, fertile
Malta.
" My earliest home was with a kind-hearted <;eiitle-
man and his wife, by the name of Mai'tin, who resided
in the north-eastern part of M'oronto, an ai'istoci'atic
(piarter in which the races human and feline were
ecpially tine. I was brou<;ht to the Martins when
quite a kitten, and found Thomas, a really superioi'
specimen for a colonial cat, in pos.session. He had a
beautiful basket in the boudoii- of oui* mistivss, with
a soft ru^ inside as his bed, which was not, however,
sufficient inducement to him to remain in every ni<;ht,
for Thomas loved a stroll in the moonlight.
100
LION, THE MASTIFF.
m
i
" TlioniMs wjis ;i j;('iitl('iii}mly cat of a lai'^o size,
and wore a hrowiicry- yellow iii()ttl»'(l suit, wliich ^vas
soft and ^"lossy by reason ol' ^ood livin<r and nnich
strolsino'. Ho liad ^'lowinj^ eyes oF brin-lit orange,
hieli were tierc(! or kind as he iouiiht or purred.
\v
pui
" Fortunately (as my mistress said), Thomas re-
ceived me with much ])oliten('ss. Standinf]^ on his
hind leijfs and takin*:; me l»y the najx' of the neck
iVom my mistress's lap, and carryinnnir to hishaskrt,
he licked the ruffled part of my grey t'ur, until I,
losing all Fear, I'ollcd unto my hack an<l })layfully
batted his head with my ])aws, which at once created
fi friendly feeling 'i'his lasted until — l)ut you sliall
hear later. Alas, that I should have to take up tlie
refrain of my ]n'esent mistress's cry for the good old
times !
" Oui' dear mistress was an extremely delicate lady,
and our mastei", being a man of means as well as
of humane deeds, was not oidy able but willing to
lavish every luxury upon her: so that Thomas and I,
when I grew ohl enough to take grown-up food,
h.ad the very best of times. At tirst, on going to
resi<le with Thomas and the dear Martins, I was
regularly supplied with sweet, warm milk six times
a day, which Thomas never robbed me of. When I
grew to be a beautiful, graceful blue-grey cat, I
shared mv mate's re";ular meals, which consisted of
oatmeal porridge and cream for breakfast, and a dainty
chicken bone and dish of bread an<l milk for luncheon.
For diinier we had nicely cut pieces of meat or bits
of boneless fish, wdiich make my mouth water even
MOUSIBISA, THE CAT, TELLS HER STORY. 101
Jis
t(i
II,
Nvas
lines
leu I
it, I
mI oi'
ihity
icon,
bits
even
now. \Vr Ii.'kI tasty V(';j;('t}il)l('s, riec pu<l(lin<^" oi*
C'ustai'd, and cacli day a variccl disli.
" Oui' o-()()d niastrr also oi-cw catnip foi" our winter
use in a ])ox wliicli stood in a cornci" ol* the conser-
vatory. In tlie wintei- oui' basket was ])eside the hot-
water coils in tlie houdoii' ol* our mistress, and every
day our ru^- was I'eiaoved and cairii'<l out to the
clotlies-line to keep it sweet.
" Tlionias was a j^Tanddookin^- cat, tall and strono-,
thick and wide. Thomas was also wise and ii'ood,
learned and intelli<4ent, the I'esult, he told me, ot*
systematic kindness. Our friends, my niastei" and
misti'ess, ha<l made a stu<ly of him, and lie ha<l in
turn made a stu<ly of them, the result })ein^-, on the
part of Thomas, a wonderful development and a sur-
pi'isin^" knowled*;e of tlieir word lanoiuio'e. 'I'homas
watched for the hour of our master's I'eturn from his
office, and never missed takino- tlie cliain ort* the hall
door, and welcomin<( Mr. Mai'tin in various ways,
carryiiifi^ liim Ids slippers, and on the sound of the
dressin<5;-l)ell, at si^iit of Mrs. Martin's maid assisting;"
her mistress with her toilette, Thomas would fly to
our master and attend him to his dressin^'-room and
o'l'avely watch him chany-e his coat, pare his nails
and reflect himself in the mirror's shinint'' surface.
Thomas would mount a chair and ri'tlect also, as
he washe(l his face and wondered where the cat so
like himself (that he oidy met once a day) live<l the
remainder of the time. After Thomas had made
his toilette he wouM scamper after me, whom he
would probably find playing with my paper ball tied
102
LION, THE MASTIFF.
,1,1 1.:
I'l- ■
U) u sfcrinn- suspcndc*! <»ii a nail, or j'Uimiii;;' after and
hattiii;;- liis own Iii(lia-i'ul)lM'r l)all ; or, jH'reliancc,
lu' would Hn<l inc standing' on tlic t'oncc o(),ssipin^-
with Tal)l)y, a nt'i^l)!)uur ca*., or watcliinu- Sandie, a
I'cid colli*', Icisurrly <;nawin;;' a niari'ow-ltone : or,
mayhap, he would tind nu' ru.shin^' about on a nwul,
unthinking' frolic afti'i* my own tail. Whichever my
mood wan, Thomas invariably found me, when with
feline nrace I would walk with him to the <linin<jj-
room. After dining, Mr. Martin wouhl i^ive his arm
to Mi's. Martin, 'i'homas and myself following to the
snug lihi'ary, where we would spend the evenings.
For a whil(! our dear master and mistress wouM
recline in easy chaii's and chat as they laughed at my
ti'icks on Thomas, as lu; indulged in an after-dinnei'
nap on the I'ug. There he lay curled up comfortably,
his great raccoon-like tail enwrapping his hind legs
and coming up for a throat-covering, one paw shading
the light from his orange eyes. I w<nild sometimes
take a long run and leap over his handsome mottle<l
coat, when, if I awoke him, lo, in a flash I was an
iriiiocent ball of sleepiness on the knee of my mis-
tress : or with velvet paw I would touch the ends of
his whiskers, and on his rubbing his face in a dazed
manner as he looked about him, I would be asleep
with one I'ye open on my mistress's footstool,
" Ah, those were joyous times, Mrs. Chairman. We
fre(|uently had musical e\'enings, which we all greatly
enjoyed. Our master played both harp and piano.
Both he and Mrs. JVTartin wei'e active members of the
Humane Society, and W(juld no moi'e have thought of
MOUSIMISA, THE CAT, TEI.LS HEK STOKV. 10.1
kcopino- Itii'ds eui^'cd tlian ol' iiupi'isoiiin^' Tlionuis oi-
iiiys«'ir. Tlu'V ol'tvn I'xpn'sscd iiitcDs*' pity for tlic
poor ()vorl()!i<h'(l strci't-ciir lioj'srs, an<l coiKlcmncd the
unkind citizens wlio, witli licarts of stone, persistc*!
in boardini:' horse-curs when thev weic nh-eudv full to
repletion. ' Ah ! the i)ity of it, the i)ity of it,' they
would say as they sanj;' :
'* ' Among Dill- hills hikI mountains,
And from t.'acii lowly vaU',
Oh, let tlie power of kindness
O'er all the earth prevail.
" ' Botii heart and voice upraising,
We'll swell thii mighty plea,
Till l»easts, and hirds, and all things,
From tt)rtuie shall he free ! '
luies
Itled
an
nis-
s of
i/ed
leep
We
nitly
iiauo.
If the
ht of
" Mr. Martin had a )-ich, full voice, while Mrs. Mar-
tin's was sweet and low, excepting- when a (hstressinj;'
cough drowned her notes. Then .she W(juld lie on the
divan and beg- Mr. Martin to .sing to her, while his
fingers made beautiful sounds on the harp. A great
favourite with our mistress was one with words to the
tune of :
" ' Hark ! hark ! my soul, angelic songs are swelling,
and our kind master's \'<3ice was full of eai'iiestness as
he sang :
" ' Hark I Iiark I the strain of mercy, gently stealing,
Soft on the breeze at eventide is borne.
Strain clear and sweet, and for all creatui'es pleading,
Mercy and love from man to beast forlorn.
Oh, may its mission sweet, echoed so long,
Find in our hearts a resting-place secure and strong.'
104
r.lON, THK MASTIFF.
"All! tliofsc wci'c li;>|)i)y Jjiys, Mrs, C'liaii-ni.iJi, hut
.'ilus ! all too sliort.
" 'I'lioiiiHS was the I'atlu'i' oF oui' Ix-autit'iil kitten
Mutftcc; ami I tell it with tears, .Mi's, ('haii'inan, that
when oui" dear MuH'trr ni-cw jthic to cat solid roodoui'
loved mistress sickened and die(l. Our kind, ^'ood
niastei", while in ti'ouhle's ha/e, compelled to ;;() out to
Jiri'an<;e ahout laying- his heloved companion under the
ti'ees in the cemeteiy : lieait-hi'oken an<l <li//y witli
j;;rier, while j;-ettino' from an electric llyeroti'the wrono-
side — this was just hel'oi'e the ^ates weie on, Mrs.
C'liairman — was ci'ushed to death hetween two cars !
"You can, I am sui'e, (k'ai" Mrs. (*hairman, ima;;ine
U) yoursi'ir tlie state oi' orici' Thomas and oui* heauti-
i'ul slender kitten, with mvseli', wei'e in, at sioht ol'
our deal' master's pooi , mangled body l)ein<;' lit*te(l
I'rom an amindance into oui" e'l'iet'-stricken home. I
remendjer the kin<l parlour-mai<l stroked me, as she
said with teai's :
" ' Ah 1 Mousibisa, your trials liave but just begun.
I (h'ead to tliink of you, hi^f Tom and your sweet,
pretty kitten beino- separated, for as I am not known
to any member of tlie Toronto Humane Society, to
bell- them to adopt you, J feel sure ^ m nnist *;'o to
ditt'erent homes, which will be the death of you.'
" At this I clindted to her sliouMer and rubbed my
foreliead under hei- cliin, when, seeing' Thomas and our
Muti'tee entering- the maids' hall, their steps slow and
looks mournful as a funeral dirge, I flew to them,
and with many caresses related what the housemaid
liad said. Thomas inunediately wrapped himself in
.1' !
MOUSIHISA, THK CAT, TELLS II Ell STOIIV
10;
eet,
lown
V, to
() to
\ my
il our
and
bheiii,
?Hiai«l
It'll' ii»
iii('<Htjition, wlulc Miitrtfc critMl. I cinlctvoin-inj'" in \;iin
to (|ui<'t ln'i", tliouj^li my own lu'art was almost
break inn-.
"'Oh, dear! oil, dcnrl' I cried, ' wliat will lu'come
o
r iiH
" 1 had not tlioujjht of our I'amiK- until the mai<l
had expressed sufh sorrow Tor us. All my trouble
had been i'oi' the illness and departure of deal' Mrs.
Mai'tin, and now, alas I that oui' l)elove(l mastei" had
also ji'one.
"Thomas now lil'tin<;' up his voice, said to nu' in
tones ol" solenui iiriel* :
M(
i>iousn)isa, we
ha\'e share<l each other
lU.xuries
we will not ]>art now. Ves, thou<;h my IViend S.'indie,
the red collie iie.xt dooi", tells me he heai'd coolv s;iy
she would e'ive Uie a home, hut that she would s'.ow
you and oui' t;entle Mutl'tee the bi'oom, I have <le(ided
that rather than be sucb a oj-cat, selfish brute as to
desert you, I will share your i'ate and JMufltee's as
deserted cats.'
"The devotion of Thomas affected nie deeply,
especially as I already perceived a chan«>e in cook's
attentions, so that Thomas had had his tii'st taste of
ne^'lect, which made; his loyalty to his family the more
noble, on the offer of ^"ood livin;^' beinj;" made to him,
to decline it rather than separate frc^m oui* slender
Mutl'tee and my poor deserted seb*. \'es, Mi's. Chair-
man, it was each day more apparent that our cook's
had been but eye-service, for had she been cruel to
us durin<^ our frien<ls' lifetime, she would have been
<lischaroed.
[
106
LION, THE MASTIFF.
a ^IM
a
■Hr^
The (lay after tin <louble funeral, aii<l (luring- the
auction of our house furniture, several of the mourners
and purchasers ottered to take Thomas home with
them, but tlu>y with one consent jeered at Mutttee
and me, which was doubly hard on me, as Mal-
tese cats are very nervous and sensitive. I longed
foi' a dear ' Band of Mercy' boy or girl to appear
on the sad scene, and brighten our lives by taking
us away together : and Thomas and myself wished
that the Toronto Humane Society would, on seeing
an auction sale at a private residence, send their
huniane ofiicei' to ascertain if any poor feline crea-
tui'es were about to be ren<lered homeless.. Oh, what
ii boon such an act of humanity would have been to
us in the hour of our extremity.
" One result of our great ))ereavement was that
Thomas, fearing that some a<lmirer of his would cap-
ture him by force and take him away locked up in
some piece of furniture, which was now all sold and
being carted away, held serious converse with me as
to how to escape his admirers. In the midst of our
conference, two gentlemen laid violent hands upon
him, and actually succeeded in tying him in a band-
box. Hut their \ ictory was only tlu^ length of five
minutes, for on their carrying him triumphantly into
the street, lo 1 my bi-ave Thomas swiftly burst his
pasteboard covering, leaving the mark of his claws in
the shoulder of the man's fashionable coat, as he tied
over his back and made a breathless return-i-nn t(j
poor Muti'tee and myself, when he iuuiiediately hurrie<l
with us out to the woodshed at the end of the back
I'l
MOUSIBISA, THK CAT, TELLS HER STORY. 107
■■n
ap-
p hi
aiul
i as
our
upon
>an<l-
tive
\u
to
It his
Kvs in
tkMl
In I t(J
irru*<
I
hack
lawn, an<l hid witli us until the house wus deserted :
and thus it was that we three heca..ie "lane cats."
"Words Fail me, Mrs. Chairman, and dear Lion, with
yonder horses, cows, scpiirrel, pari'ot, cats, and <lon;s
^reat and small, in tellino- you of our intense suffer-
ings, added to our semi-starv^ed condition. We so
missed the dear dead hands that had stroked us, and
the oeiitle voices which had talked to and petted us,
that Thomas and I would have laid down and died
together hut for our gentle Muft'tee's sake.
" Winter came on, new tenants took possession of
our house, hut alas! instead of a 'Band of Mercy'
hoy whom we had longed for, the son of the house
sported an air-gun, which compelled oui* family, as
we valued our lives, to remain W'ithout food or water
in a draughty corner of the woodshed loft all day.
At night, when this cruel hoy with his mui'derous
weapon \*^as nestling hetween soft hlankets, Thomas
and myself would emerge from our freezing (piartei's,
leaving our delicate Muli'tee in a state of lurvous
terror lest a rat should attack her and she see us no
more: hut I would not let Thomas go alone, as I
knew he could not carry frozen garhage from amid
the aslies in the lanes for Itoth Mutt'tee and myself, so
I stole away with him. This midnight seaich foi'
i:arhau"e sends a thrill of horroi' thriamh me even
now." •
At this poor Mr. Boh, the dying horse, moant'cl in
sympathy, while ill-fated Mousihisa continued :
"1 ha<l never been accustonied to hardship, and
i're(|uently fainted with cold and hungei*. Othei' cats
iplli
108
LION, THE MASTIFF,
m
attackt'tl iiu', liut Tlioiiias was more than a match for
ail}'' of tlu'iii : liis spits, growls, and scratclies terrify-
ing me, for I luid never been in lights before, and hail
never, in our happy days, seen Thomas' claw*s, he
always liaving given me a velvet paw. Alas ! that
since those beautiful by-gone days, when the angel of
peace dwi'lt in the home of the <lear Martins, I should
have learned to know that claws are freijuently
sheathed in velvet, not only among feline creatures
but in the human family.
" I shall never forget the kindness of Sandie, the red
collie, at this woeful time. He frecpiently shared his
plentiful diniH'r with Thomas, which kept up my
dear conu'ade's strength, enabling him to tight my
battles and rout the cats who fi'ightened me nearly to
death by their attacks. A share of the red collie's
dinner also gave him strength to catch mice for our
timid Muiitee. I would only eat those caught by
myself, as my companicm was kept busy keeping I'ats
at bay, as well as watching through holes in the shed
walls, lest the son of the house should steal a march
upon us with his cruel aii'-gun.
"I was always on the look-out for anotlior shed
owned ])y hum.'ine people, ami one day 1 beheld
through a crevice in our rear wall (which overlooked
a lane I'unniiig between our yanl and others) that a
kind lady came every morning to a dooi- in a long,
well-built shed and fed the sparrows. I could also
see that trees and tall shrubs looked up from their
snow IumI in this lad\ 's garden, which I thought
would be pleasant for us, if we ever were fortunate
MOUSIBISA, THE CAT, TELLS HEK STORY. 109
ior
t'y-
he
,hat
:lot*
mkl
utly
AU-es
ic rod
A bis
it my
,rly to
polUe's
or ouv
;bt by
nf vats
le s
■ch
uiai
sbotl
•looked
that a
a h>u*i,
[lid also
j)Ui then-
thon*2;ht
In-tnuate
enough to find a dwelling-place at tlie <^ood home
of tlie spaiTow-feeder. I called Thomas and Mufi'tee
to come and gaze througli the spy-hole which I had
i'onnd, and though the}' were pleased they were not
hopel'ul that the lady would }ulo])t us.
" Hope, Mrs. Chairnum, soon dies in the heart of
poor (leseT'ted lane cats; (t Ituma nor feline credfurr
fed on (javlnKje awl inhiimanif'/ soon hecoines ho/ni('s,s.
" That same <lay, events decided our crossing the
lane an<l begging at the sparrow- feeder's door. Our
luirried decision was caused b}'' tlie fact of our foe of
the air-gun having killed on the wing (as they soared
aloft) five snow^-white pigeons. We s;iw them fall
from the broad blue heavens into different yards,
so the next morning, ere sunrise, we assisted our
gentle Mnfi'tee to make the journey, coa.xing her
through the snow nnd guiding her up the easiest
posts of fences we weiv obliged to cross. I nearly
gave up the task in <lespair, but for the words of
sympathy and encouragement from dear 1'bomas.
Ah I his was a nol)le life of self-denial I At last we
reache<l the cold st<'ps of tin; la<ly who daily fe(l the
sparj'ows with the crumbs that fell from her table.
The snow bad been shovelle<l fro.n the steps the day
previous, and as none; had fallen during the night w<'
sat on them, with Mufi'tee between us, speaking for
her sak(^ bi'ave words of hope we did not ourselves
feel. At last, after a long and shivering wait, tne shed
door was opened by the kind lady with the crundts
for the sparrows' breakfast. She bj'ought them out
to the clean-swept wooden walk ami emptied them.
I v;
if
till
^:|i'!
110
LION, THE MASTIFF.
''I:
.1
II
Hi a I'M?
(
mmi
"DowD tliey lioppod in cM^cr liusto from out the
boujj^lis of ti'oi's, ninl cliirjKMl and pecked as tliey ate
or can-ied aloft the crunihs so kindly sti'ewn.
" We vvci'e now lier care. Tlie lady, smiling, called :
' Come ])retty ])ussi<'s, yon look very thin and coM ;
come and have some ])i"eakfast, come !'
" Her voice and face were kind, so Thomas and I
thou<^ht we mit:;ht trust, and coaxing our Muti'tee, we
followed tlie ^ood lady into the slied. She ([uickly
brouji'ht and set hefore oui" famishing;- foi-ms a large
plnte of p()rrid<((i. After 'I'homas had seen Mutt'tee
and myself conuiience to eat, he joined us. Ah! dear
Thomas was never greedy, as I have seen some
cliihhen.
"Afterward the lady invited us to the kitchen, hut
tlu> cross faces of a man and a mai<l frightene<l us.
We He(l to th(^ end of the slied, wliere we three
huildled up together in an empty wooden box, one of
a |)il(^ of packing cases. Foi- a few <lays in succession
we were invite<l to pai'take of a porri<lg(^ breakfast,
which we relished exceedingly, but still felt the same
vvretche(l loneliness, with the ever-])i'esent feeling
that we were in (\vvA and in truth deserted cats.
" One day was bitterly cold, with a keen fr<xst and
cutting wind — so severe, indeed, as to till us with fear
lest our delicate Mufi'tee should freeze to death ; as it
was, she was sutt'ering from a cold all through her
slender frame. The kind sparrow-feeder came several
times that day to the door of the kitchen, calling to
us to come from the packing cases and enter her door
to warm ourselves, Thomas and I coaxed and im-
MOUSIBISA, THE CAT, TELLS HER STORY. Ill
be
a-.
1 I
we
kly
ftee
lear
'(1 UH.
three
<)V
ssion
Vast,
same
elin^
t and
fear
as it
h her
several
\n^ to
jr door
id im-
plored our dear Miifl'tce to aecc'pt tlie kiiid invitation,
liopin^ slic niitrht find I'elief i'or licr cold, Init the
poor little creature had lost heart and <lid not care
to rouse hci-scli'. At last, to ])leas(' us, she con-
sented, and tiniidlv entered with 'I'liomas and nivsclf,
hut the ^reat heat of tlie kitchen ranoe (after tl'i^
intense C(jld oi* the outer world which she had ])een
ohli^ed to endure) was too much for her. A hot tire
was a new sensation to oui' unlia[)py kitten, ^ivin^jj
her a terrihle headache and feeling' of faintness. She
tottered on her poor spindle-le<;s to the door. Thomas
^ave me a look which I retui'iied in dazed helpless-
ness : then, thoutrh loth to leave the luxurious warmth
of the Hoor on which we had stretched ourselves,
Thomas patted Muftlee on hei* ])0()r sick head with
his paw, hut she sank to the tlooi" in a dead faint, at
which the ci'oss maid-servant shoved her out with
her foot, we hurriedly making' our exit, for ours was
an attached family, each unwillinj;' to })artake of good
that another could not share.
"But, Mrs. ('hairman, I must hasten, as well to
spare youi' feelings as my own. Our lieloved MuH*-
tee became very ill, and even my brave 'i'homas
became completely discouraged.
" But harder trials still were in stoi'e for us. The
iXood kind ladv went awav, on which we were hunteil
from the shed and the sparrows were break fastless.
What, think you, Mrs. Chairman, next befell us :*
Only this, that the sons of man, made in the image of
(fod, trapped my noble, unselfish Thomas for sport,
and then hung him upon a pole supported by the
iii
112
LION, thp: mastiff.
wooden i'eiicc at eitlior side of tlio lane. I found
him in this way: Tlie poor fellow had ]>een absent
from US for two wliole davs and nights. 'I'his never
havin<^ occurred since my first happy ac([uaintance
with him, causcMl me (!xcessive anxiety, so creeping:;
ere dawn from our liole under a shed, I went in seai'cli
(►f my com])anion, and tlie liorrihle sij^ht which I
liave «lesci*ibe<l j^i'ected my sad eyes. 'I'here he hun^",
frozen stiff', his mottled coat of a ])eautiful brown
and yellow (which had been often sti'oked by the
kind hands of our depai'ted master an<l mistress in
their happy home) being now encruste<l with frost.
S(n'eral gaping wounds bore witness to the tortures
he had suffered at the cruel liands of his tormentors.
At the pitiful siglit I was almost crazy, and I had
scarcely sufficient I'eason left to creep V)ack to my
poor Mufflee, my gi'ief-stricken face revealing that
some awful trouble !iad befallen Thomas.
" I was in a stupor of grief for days, from which
even tlu' j^resence of my poor, thin Muff'tee could not
rouse me. At last Tiiaternal instinct concpiered, and
I resolved to devote myself to the protection of my
dear kitten, l^ut alas ! one day hunger <lrove us to
some gai'bage thrown into the lane by a servant, and
I told Mufflee I would risk danger an<l creep from
our hole to seizes it ere it froze to the ash heap. Hut
the loss of Thomas had ma«le hei' nervous at losing
sight of me, so the gentle creature stole away with
me. W(; were just returning when the cruel air-gun
brought down a spai-row, which caused Muff'tee to
drop the bit of meat in fright. I (lon't know how
I!
MOUSIBISA, THE CAT, TELLS HER STORY. llo
mt
nee
ivcU
•M I
un^-,
rown
r the
'ss in
frost,
j'tures
Mitors.
1 had
to my
if til at
which
ukl not
(m1, an<\
oi" lay
e us to
lut, an»l
ep t'r<3m
p. Hut
it loshi^
ay with
I air-^^^^^^
uti'tee to
()W how
I ^(A luT hnck to ou)' liolr. Sl)r uns ((uitv ill nil
(lay with m hui-ninj;" thirst and tV'V(>rish coM. TlwH
ni^ht, rmlrnvonrin^" to cool hrr t'cvcnMl tonj^nc, my
lovod kitton, niv Ix-autiful Mutt'tcc, r«'ll into the ic*v
dcptlis ol" a sot't-watn- l)aiTrl and wjis drowned.
" (yra/,«M| witli ^J'icl", I fl«><l tVoni those horrible lanes
to the sti'eet, and crie*! alou<l in the l)ittei'ness of
niv woe. Stones were Inirled at me, hut I eared not.
nor sonj^'ht t<> protect niyself. Wliere coidd T flee !
Cruel boys were on both sides of lh<^ street.
"At last succour came. My ])resent dear humane
mistress was driving by, and full of sweet pity, ordei-ed
her coachman to sto]) his steeds an<l coax me to come
froin th<' vestibule of my dear old home, where, care-
less of the ])r«»sence of the boy with the cruel air-;;un,
T had taken i-efu^e. I allowed tlie man to .save me
from the death I saw awaitinj^- me in the boy's savage
eves. Mv present kind mistress drove awav with
me out to Kast Toronto village, not far from this
beautiful f;'len. I have now every cond'ort, humane
thoujrht can su;j^jjjest, an<l wei-e it not for a sa*] )»ast
1 mijrht be happy: but, <lear .Mrs. Cvhaii-man, in con-
clusion, let me tell vou that I am thankful to m\'
jroo<l mistress, and try to be content."
As Mousibisa concluded her pitiful story we all
wept with her. On our .sorrow beconnnj;' <|uieter,
she added earnestly :
" Oh, Mrs. Chairman and friends, l»a<l I ten thou-
.sand tongues I would use them all in appealini^- to the
human race to have pity on the large army of poor,
deserted lane cats I "
mm.
tits
Ui
Mr'
114
LION, THE MASTIFF.
CHAPTK1{ XII.
TIIK (iAY TAKHor SI'EAKS AT THE ('OXVENTM)X.
At tlic conclusion ol* Monsilnsn's stoi'v, my niotliei",
('\«'i' more caocr to conjj,i'atiilMt(' tliaii condole said :
" Vour storv affcctc<l me vci'v <lt'Oi)lv, Monsil)isa :
l)nt 1 am Iwipj^y at tlic tlionolit tlwit you liavc now a
luimaiu' misti'csH, wlio will never, I am sui'c. part with
so l)eautif"ul a cat."
And I, sj^rcadinn- myself as wide as my coat would
stretch, in tall tones, said :
" Mrs. Mousihisa, wei-e I not of cham))ion stock,
were I not Mis. Mastiff's Lion, F would Ix' vour late
nohle, o-allant, unselfish, faithful Thomas ! '"
At this the parrot led the convention in lauohter
and cryinj;', while MousiVnsa pun-ed loudly and looked
at me ^'ratefully ere sprin<:fin«;" a<iain into the treean<l
to tlu.' company of our dear fi'iend, Mrs. Mouser, the
spotted cat, an< I of HlackTom,the spoile«l beauty from
the cit\'.
My mother having calle<l the ])arrot to the trvassy
Hoor of the jrlen, in bright and lively tones it said :
" Mistress Mastiff" and Mr. Lion, T have cmly onr
grievance, which is so small I can scarcelv see it, and
as the gloaming is upon us and my spectacles are not
in my pocket, I shall tell it to you and get rid of it at
once : so here it is : Amontj the one i^entlenian, four
JUK <;av i'akrot speaks at the convention. 1 1.1
thev,
.1:
l)isM :
l)\V A
with
()()ko<l
i'rom
irvassy
ai«l ■■
,ly one
it, ainl
are not
of it at
m, four
ladirs aii<l Leah, tlie maid, wliosr rcsidcniM' is l»i-io))t-
♦ mumI I)\- iii\' itrcscncr, not one of tliciii is a liiiiiuist.
Now. in my Spanisli home a man oi* woman with
only onr lan^'un^T would he considered }\ vci-y iit'ljtU'ss
creature indeed.
" The ladies of m\' familv miss innnerous tine sen-
tences from m\' eihicated hill h\' theii- ioiioranee of
m\' native toiiiiue : hut wlten I air the snatches of
talk the sailors taught me, and se«' the faces of my
lour
la<l
les aiilow with nm
th
■th, I
I t<
am amUHe<l to roars o
)f
lauHitcr, for I know fidl well that, did the\- inider-
stand sailor-S])anish, they would all cry, * Naughty
Poll ! Fie Poll !' instead of lauehin^'.
" But vou will })e olad to hear that when a ' l»and
of Mercy' hoy comes to visit us, I ne\ei' repeat thp
words the sailors taueht, me. No, indeed, not I !
The mannei- oi' my hecomin^' ac(|uainted with this
o'ood hoy was in this way : One hi'iyht mo)'innj; my
four ladies w«'nt out sho))])in^', tellin^^ Leah, the maid,
to watch my movements, as T was suiniiny- myself on
the ]>arlor window -seat. Now. the casement was open,
which I ;;i"eatly enjoyed, as 1 was ever I'eady, nay,
eaii'er, from tliis my favourite ])ei'ch, to call out ^aily
to tl
le passers-})v
If I
saM' a man plunnn^ hims»
'If
in a, new suit, I wouM call ' Tailoi's mxise
If I
saw
a man silly with <lrink, I would call, ' Soft calf !' — "
'• Wlioa, there 1 " cried Mrs. Cow Boss\'.
" I heg your pardon, Mistress Cow," said tlie parrot.
" Next time I shall substitute ' buttei*.' "
" Order ! order ! " said my mother.
" Order ! " echoed tlie gay parrot. " On this especial
*
1
i il
116
LION, THE MASTIFF.
I 1
I
ifii
ninrniii^^ T wms full n\' I'lm, amusing myself l»y seeinfj
lite uptni'iifd Taccs ol" surjO'isc nml ainuscnu'nt at my
personal remarks. At last my atti'actions were loo
maiiv for the lioiiestv of a hloate*!, (lirtv-fa('(Ml hov,
who stoixl and stai'ed at me, casting covetous glances
mv wav. WatchiiiL^ his ehanec^ when the coiistahle
<lisa])])eai'e(| aioinul the eoi'iier, this dirty, \ul}.;ar hoy
mounted our ste])s, and coolly and deliherately laid
hanrls on my heautiful yreen and red feathers. What
could I do, dt'ai- Mrs. ( 'hairman, hut hite him, which 1
di<l, unsavoui'y and all as his han<ls were — when I
bite, I hite — at which he lifted up his voice in an
unmusical yell !
"At this moment a Rand of Mercv hov, clean
as a new |>in, his silver hadj^e shining' like a star
upon his hreast, hastily ran u]) ou)' steps to the
rescue; at which I talked sailor-S))anish to the dirty
hoy as I reti'eated farther backwards on the window-
seat, and the dirtv hov hent hiniself flouhle as he
' at
tried to s(|uee/e the pain of my bite out of his
hand, all the time saying bad words, callinfj me
uncomplimentary names, which was excessively rude
of him, as I had oidv defended myself ajjainst his
dishonest attack.
" Ednnnid, as I have since horned to call my younfj
friend, put his ting-ers in his ears to crowd the bad
words out. At last he said :
" ' See here ! if you will ((uit saying naughty words
I will give you something.'
" ' I don't believ^e you,' said the dirty boy, doubling
himself up again as he descended our steps, Edmund
THE rJAV PAHKOT SPEAKS AT THE rONVESTION. 117
oimg
ip bar!
\\\
orris
ubling
kmund
t'ollowiii^j', after i'in;j;iM^' tin* licll aii<l telling' I^cali to
eloMf til*' window : l>ut li«'ali only closrd tlw inside
shutter, so 1 c(juld still see an<l hear, as Kdniun<l
«*ni|)tied Ids kidc'kerltocker pockets ^A' twenty-tliree
eents.a piece of twine and a small top.ahit of biscuit,
and a pencil. The dirty boy, leaving- Kdnnuid only
ten cents, carried oft' every other article. Wasn't tliat
mean, Mi's. Chairman, tiiou»;h Kdmund didn't think
so; lie looked so ])leased, and afterwards told us, in
his frecjuent visits to me, that the dirty boy wears a
clean face and hands now, and is a membei- of the
same ' Band of Mercy ' to which Edmund beloniis.
" So you see, Mrs. Chairman, what a oood influence
this iiood boy has ovei' everybody with whom he
comes in contact. I can answer for the l)oy who
wante<l to make his own of me, as also for my four
ladies and myself; yes, and throu^'h us tive, over our
one oentleman and Leah, the maid. I tell Pivtty —
that is my friend tlie paro(|uet, who resides in a cajje
next mine — that when Evadne, the new baby, orows
out of lon^;" white ^owns into short frocks, and is pre-
sented to me, I shall nevei- say a naughty Spanish
word within sound of hei- small, pink ears. But
Pretty laughs and tells me I will for^t't : and I tell her
that a little creature like hei', ^iven up t«) vanity, has
no iilea of the control a parrot has of its tongue.
" I have oreat fun with my four ladies, one iientle-
man and Leah, the maid. 1 I'oam at pleasiu'e by bill
and cla\v 'upstairs, downstairs, and in my ladies'
chamber,' I oiye our family many a lauoli and start.
I got up the other idglit at undnight, and softly
[! :ir
kl
1I.S
LION, THE MASTIKK,
i
m
n
: M
,S
*:^
ii|
■j
1
I
|i
11
f
i
! ■«!■
«;li<lLM| (the moon Jniiiint;' in tin- t'l'olic; hy liolitino' my
pntli). ^)y hill un<l c'hiw, down tli«' thickly cni'|)L't»'(l
stairway to tli«* miijsic room. At tirst 1 play«'«i tli«*
N'iolin : then I |)rom«'na(l<Ml tlic ivory keys of tin* piano.
I <li<l not try tlir oi<,^an, as I found it impossihit* to
pump and sti'ike at tlu' oiu' moment. At last I heard
stealthy footst«'ps and fri«;htened whispers ovei'heati,
when, in a trice, I glided from mv musical walk
and climhed a<i'aiu the mooidit staii's aud into mv
ca^v.
" Pi'ettyand I were neai'ly convulsed with lautihter,
which we wei'«' ohiiocd to stiHe, as, eacli clad in a lon<4*
white garment, we beheld oui' foui" ladies, one i;-entle-
maii and Leah, the maid, after havii"^ searched the
liouse foi' hurj;'hirs. Then peei'inj^ into oui" room they
iia/xMl into our caws to see that Prett\' and I wer«' saf«*.
At this most iiniocent act 1 could not contain myself,
but burst into laut^hter, while Pretty, feioning- sleep,
shook intei'nally.
*'<)h. Mis. Chairman, we liave ^ay times, I can
assui'e you. What with plenty of warmtli, bright
pictui'es and faces, a pretty blue arid red I'ug for the
draughty side of my cage, and goo<l food, for which I
am always ready, you nuiy imagine how happy I am. I
know the odour of all our dishes, and if one fo)- which
I have a particular fancy and of whici; I am eager
to taste has been oi'dere*!, I go softly down staiis,
enter the dining-room, climb to the Imft'et and touch
the bell to hurry cook. If she grows angry I make
her laugh l)y Happing my wings, aiul, as she says,
jabbering (a complimentary way of alluding to my
t(
THK OAY I'AKROT SPEAKS AT THE CONVENTION. I 111
S[)ani.sli). B>it I juii (juitr tiltovf taking oHciict' il' I
Nucceod ill liurryin^- up u fuvouritc diHli.
" I contide «'Vt'rvtliiiii>' to Prt'ttv.aiid soaniUHiiii'- am
I that iiiv laiiiilv could not live without iiu': «'v«mi on
rainv days our liou.sc is cIkhtv, so that I ot'tcii lu'ar
our IVicndH silinino- hyimiHor praise and secular s()ut;'8,
such as ;
" * Witliin (loois the live coals in the giiite
Are gli»\viiig nuMy ami wartii ;
AimI happiness sits at oui' tiiesiile
W'atehing the raging storm.'
the
tager
Dairs,
louch
iiake
savs,
inv
"'I'liev are all so liuinaiie thev would not hurt a Hv.
Bless you, Mrs. Chairiiian, I don't l*»'el ca*;ed. How
could I when the door of the ca«;e is always unfas-
tened f Mfii ami 'Women (ire p'<'vfidly rrunt iriia
hnprison llw deur hird'u's.
" I ol'teii \nsli men would make a law aiiainsl
imprisoning;" poor .soni;sters, and J lono- to see written
on the city walls :
" ' Is it nothing to you to see
That hea<l tlirust out tiuough tlie hopeless wire,
Autl the tiny life, ami the inatl desire
To l)e free I to he free ! to Ite free '!
Uh, the sky I the sky ! the w ide hlue sky 1
For the beat of a songliirds >\ inys."
** Yes, Mrs. (,'hairniaii. mv heart aches for the sweet
suni»sters, and throbs with thankfulness at my own
hrioht lot.
"And now, I fear I must leave you, as I promised
to return to our family, whom i have escoited in a
m^
120
LION, THK Mastiff.
^s
•».' .■:.
drive from tlie city, they to go a-nutting- in the
l>eautiful woods aV>ove us, I to come to your very
delightful convention: hut now I must rejoin them
lest they be anxious for my safety, as also I have
yet to provide niyself with a piece of bark, at which
1 love to bite.
" 1 am tremendously sorrv, Mrs. Chairman, to be
obliged to miss your lecture, and I hope to meet
Lion in the city: and wishing each of you, and Lion
in particular, the best of humane masters, good-bye,
all. Farewell ! "
And chuckling in a foreign tongue, she (piickly
mov^Ml by bill and claw up the trees on the side of the
ravine, our voices echoing with regret, " Farewell,
«lear Poll, farewell ! " until we lost sight of her bril-
liant plumage as she moved in the direction of a girl's
V(jice, who said :
" Why, Poll ! here you are at last I We were afraid
you were lost. You dear old pet, we could not live
witliout you."
h
MRS. MASTIFF LECTURES TO MEN AND TO DOGS. 121
CHAPTER XIII.
MRS. MASTIFF LECTURES TO MEN AND TO DOGS.
My mother Nellie was i'eceive<l with tremendous
applause, as with good-humored dij;nity she jumped
from the stump and trotted to the gi-assy floor.
You will, remember that I was seated witii m\'
mother in the chair, duriiif^ the speech by the <ray
parrot. Well, if ever one of the canine race was in
a (juandary, I was in one. Althouf]fh it had never foi"
one moment occurred to me that 1 should act as
chairman at so important a convention, still it W(juld
never do for the desc(;ndant of champion stock to
appear cowardly in the eyes of this immense assem-
blaj.^e by running' after his mother: so making myself
as high and wide as my well-fitting suit woid<l allow,
I waited to see if my mother woul<l a«ldress me as
chairman, which, jis soon as the cheers of expectation
had subsided, she did. Turning her handsonie brown
head to the stump (with a gleam in her eye oidy seen
by myself), in decisive tomes she .said : " Mr. Chai)'-
man and Convention."
Vou, the rej>ders of this \ny autobiography, will
therefore understand that this position of affairs was
not boldly assumed by myself, for it had been my
intention, if the selection of a temp(jrary chairman to
succeed my mother had been pu^ to the vote, to most
122
LION, THE MASTIB'F.
as.sni'e<lly oust mine in favor of Maxy, the St.
Beniai-d, wlio as a iiieinl)er of the Humane Society
deserved sucli pre-eminence ; but my wise mother
had s[)oken, and I would not disgrace lier })y rebel-
Hon. As soon as tlie cheers (which had ai'isen on my
motlier havino- named me as cliairman) had sultsided,
as if to accentuate my [)osition, she ai^ain said :
" Mr. (yliairman and Convention, the wonderful an<l,
in a measui'e, awful dream of our friends Grit and
(jJrip, the fox terriers, has sugj;'ested to me a thou«;ht
which 1 shall «;'ive ycm in this my extempore lecture
to the canine race, more especially those about U)
enter the service of man.
" 1 hope it is not treason to our masters to admit
that I caimot but think (li<l we do^s bui'st oui' bonds,
as in the dream of the fox tei'riers, that it \vo«dd
on the whole result in benefit to both the human and
canine races.
" Now, 1 do not desire you to think that this condi-
tion of things foi* all time would bt; desii-able. No!
a thousand timi^s no! foi" that was not the design of
the Ai'chitect of all creatures. We hear that man is
innnortal. We, thev tell us, have onlv this life:
thei'efore we must bow to fate in acknowl«'(luing
man oin- master.
" Hut what an awful resiMHisibility ivsts on man !
Alas ! we ai'e defenceless in the midst of barbarities.
Man does not as yet see that l)V I'eason of our
def«'ncelessness we have a right to humane ti'eatment.
" 1 often wonder that a great pity for us does not
fill man's heai't, unable as we are to <ri^'*' utterance
MRS. MASTIFF LECTlTRES TO MEN AND TO DOCiS. 123
St.
lety
bher
uletl,
b an«l
ovi<i!;bt
ecture
out t»)
I aduvit
\voul«l
[es\j;-n of
man is
his \iVe-.
on man '
LiuirUu'S.
L 1)1' our
Ivt'atint'nt.
»l(H'S not
luttt'»ani't>
(in liis lan«;ua^'e) to our pain, our joy, or at times
warn tlieni of impendint^ fbm^er, which we are
frequently cognizant of wlien tliey are not. We are
often cold and huuiirv, wearv^ ill, .sul)iected to neolect
in the mattei- of food and water, the recipients of
kicks, blows an<l of o-eueral ill-usa^^e, hut we have no
j'edi'ess, and are loving and faithful to our masters
throuiih all.
" ' Ves, thou, O (log ! whose faithful zeal
Fawns on some ruthan grim ;
He stripes thy euat with many a l)lo\v,
And yet tiiou lovest him.
" 'Shame, that of all the living chain
'i'iiat links creation's plan,
There is hut one deligiits in ])ain,
The savage monarcii — Man I"
"And yet we love (mi- iiionai'ch,an<l would not burst
our Ijonds if we could, at h'ast not foi" lon^': but I
would that we could be free to rule lor a week, a day,
and in that little while not to " let slip the dogs of
war," thouji'li many savao^es amonost our masters
would (leserve such treatment for the cruelty which
they per})etrate, and which is })eing fostei'ed by their
too often silent |mlpits, b^- their many silent scliool-
teachei's, and by their carelessly inhumane laws.
" Yes, I would that for one short pai'lianientary
session we couM have the di'eam of the fox terriers
realized, and that we couM secure our freedom and in
trenchant language insti'uct man in his duty towards
us: that we could in that day mete out punishment
on the men who train some of us to light — so brutal-
<n
n
124
LION, THE MASTIFF.
iziiig us and themselves. All < log-abusers we would
teach to be kind, by the enactment of strinj»ent laws
compelHng them to be humane.
" We would beg our masters to order that all
incurably diseased and aged amongst us be instan-
taneously and painlessly destroyed,
" We woukl pray them to see to it that, next to
their own, the comforts of all God's creatures sh(juld
be binding on those who owned them, and that those
who disobeyed such laws be severely punished and
compelled to forfeit such animals.
" When this was all accomplislied, we, my dear
ones, would return to our bonds with very different
monarchs in power. But as we may perhaps never
change places, 1 must to my tiisk and inform you of
the canine race who are about to enter the service of
man, what (if possible) to avoid, and what, in yoin*
treatment, to show unmistakable symptoms of joy at.
" But do you know, my friends," and my clever
mother bent her head in momentary thought, " the
strange dream of the fox terriers haunts me so that 1
feel constrained, with youi' permission, to altei- the
whole plan of my lectui'e. To explain: you are
aware, mv friends, that I am here to-night chiefh' for
the purpose of instructing young dogs, but owing
to the awful dream of our friends (Jiit and Orip, I
cannot divest my mind of the thought of the evils
that would accrue to oui' masters did such a catas
trophe (jccui'. Moreover, 1 ft;el sure that my whole
lecture should )te more one of instruction to man in
liis care oi the dog, than, as was my intention, to
rel
MRS. MASTIFF TECTURES TO MEN AND TO DOGS. 12.S
Liia
L\VS
uU
ban-
t to
ouUl
antl
dear
fereiit
never
V'OU of
^ice oi"
I yo\\y
joy at.
clever
" the
1
tliat I
er the
oil are
erty tor
owing"
drip, I
be evils
V catas
y whole
man in
itioii, to
instruct youn^ «l<)jr,s on onterin^^ tlu' srrvico of man.
Tlioreforc. il" this convention <loos not object, I sluill
ask the o])inion of Mr. Duke, tlie niastiH', and nj'
Mnxv, tlu' St. Bcrnanl, if tlicv will kindlv ])erniit
iiie to ^ivc s\ l(.'ctnre of instruction to both men an«l
flop's :* "
At my motlier's odd i'e<jnest tlie wiu)le convention
rose to its feet, and with cheers agreed to her wish.
Without a moments Iv sitatif^u. Maxv, the St. Ber-
nanl, at tlie recjuest of Mr. Duke, tlie mastifl', rose to
his feet and sai<l :
" Mrs. Mastitl* 1 am (|uite sure I voice the senti-
ments of tlie whole c<^nvention in saying that any
alteration you see tit to make in the plan of your lec-
ture will meet with our coivlial approval. Our only
regret will be that among your delighted audience
there will be no men : even our friend Mrs. Parrot
would be thrice welcome, for she would be of service
as reporter. Or.C' more, Mrs. MastiH'. allow me to
assure vou that, so fai" as Mr. Duke and I are con-
cerned, we shall lend attentive ears to vour joint
lecture to men and to flogs."
My mother, ri.sing once more to her feet and in a
please«l yet thoughtful manner looking around and
about the beautiful glen at her mi.xed audience, said :
"J feel that a word of explanation is due to the
sage members of this great meeting, as to my quali-
fication to lecture to men and to dogs.
" Some among you are aware that Dr. Moole's pug
dog Jack is one of my most intimate friends. I
regret to say that by reason of the illness of Jack's
^^^immm
m
26
MUN, THE MASTIFF.
iiiMst('i\ lie feels tlmt lie must stav more viiiilantlv on
yiifuvl at their lioiiie in the city, therefore is not witli
us to-ni;;lit. His muster is h'arne«l in patliolojiy —
that is, my youn^' friends, dojr diseases. ('onse-
(juently I liave leai'ned mucli fi'om .hick, wlio hstens
attentively to his masters lectures to hovs and men
on the pro])ei- way to treat do^s. Also, dear frien<ls,
in my frecpK'ut visits to .Jack the \n\\f dojr in the
citv, I hear for myself nnich instinctive talk l)etween
•lack's mastei' and lucMuhei'S of the Kennel CMuh, who
often call upon this humane doctor for advice in
])atholo^y.
"In this way I have become vei'se<l in this know-
led j^je : indeed, so much so that, were we doys free,
1 could H'l, without fear of <liseomtiture, a chair of
patholo^^y in any university in Canada. Ami you
know, Mr. I)uk(^ Mastiff', that I am not of a hoastful
Itreed, hut T have heard Jack's master sav that Jack
and I are \ery intellip'ut : so, <i^ood fi'iends, I ven-
ture, with the thouj^'ht of Gi'it and Grip's dream still
haunting me, to ^ive you a comhined lecture to men
an<l to do^s, with the hope that, in some way I know
not, men niav he instructed: and now to heirin :
" When you, little do^s, leave the kennel of your
m<»ther and enter the service of man, vour master's
first act will he to train you. I hope he will he
firm and kind, and that 3^ou will ohey without a
l)e'tting. If he is patient with you, you will love him.
and it will be then an easy matter for you to obey,
which you most certainly should do. He will be
patient if he will only rememlter that his language is
igi
MRS. MASTIFF LKCTUUES TO MEN AND To DOGS. 127
ih
se-
ans
»»'n
kIs,
the
:eeu
who
e ill
I'vec,
liv <>^
I von
astfnl
, .lack
ven-
still
(> men
kno^v
your
taster's
•ill he
Ihont rt
e him;
I) obey,
kvill he
|-nage is
;i F()j-«'iu'n one to von. How would 1k' hkc, were lir in
AfViea, to hv floo-jri'd und tortured because lie did not
oliey the savage, when he was inrnorant of the niean-
inu" of* the native's words ^
" Try, Hiy dear ones, to he perfectly clean in your
habits, an<l if you are a house-<lo<^, eiuleavour to open
the dooi* yourselves. I wish oui' nuistej-s wouhl all
t- ach us to turn a handle and lift a latch. We doos
art; easilv taujjfht mechanical deeds. Kut however
you manage, endeavoiu' to avoid the e]>ithet of 'dirty
heast.' 'J'his is tVeciuentlv iiiven us hv sei'vants un<le-
serve<lly, to ^'et rid of us — hav^e us sold, turne«l out,
anvthini: to iiV't us out of the wav. And thev verv
often succeed, which causes us many a sad heartache
at beino- compelled to leave a loved nwister
' Ah, how sad is our ilefenceless ])osition hy I'eason
of oui' inahilitv to defend ourselves fi-om slandei' I
But I woidil not ha\(' you repine at youi* lot. The
faithful love we hear oui' mastei' tlu'ough careh'ss
nej;lect or i^iiorance oji his ])ai't of what is due to
us in the mattei- of food, haths, exercise, and me(li-
cine — 1 I'ep/eat, our love for ou)' mastei- will never
fail him, nor cease to enable us to bear our hurdens
without a nninnur.
" And first, I shall speak of your /i<iflis. — Now, as
to your bein^- kept clean, as car<;less washin;^' and
indifferent dryinji^ ^ives us many colds and induces
numerous forms of disease, I feel sure it had better
he left undone than entrusted to the hands of the
ip'norant. Water with the chill off' is warm enouoh
for our blood, which is colder than man's: therefore
iW
ii
iii
ii ^^
128
LION, THE MASTIFF.
water that is tm\v warm to him is hot to us. Good,
plain soH]) sluniM he used, and you should he rinsod
of!' in clrar water. You rLMju' a ^'oo<l lathfrin^;^ and
ruhhinj;': the wliole, process should bo j^one throuj^h
(piiekly, T]\v little ones of our race ou^lit always to
be dried brfoi-ea tii-e,and one and all should have a run
after a bath, as well as a little wai'ni i'ocxi or niilk.
" Men and boys are sometimes cruel enough to
throw (nil- ynun;^' into water, to teach them to swim ;
but it is a shock to the nerves an«l should never be
done. Jack the ]»u^^ doo- and 1 often heard his
master say so, I hope none of ynu will be sent to
bed with a dam]) coat on. And a word here, my
youn^- do^j^ies: Do not waste your strenfjth by I'un-
nin^^ into the water over and over a|;ain after sticks
thrown bv idle Uien and bovs.
" As to your Ken nds. — While I sincerely trust you
may all hav«' the happy fate to be house-doj^s, if it be
your lot to live in a kennel, I most earnestly hope
that your mastei's will have it built a little off the
l^jround, just hij^h enoui^h for an cuiTent of air. Your
kennel should i»e as dry as his own house, ami com-
fortably wai'med by the sun's beams, with a slidinji
win«lovv to close during terrific stoi'ms. It should be
roomy and built of har<l wood : it should hav^e a
sloping roof, so that snow or rain would not lodge
thereon. The roof should be of tarred felt, with
sand strewn upon it while it is wet. The Kennel Club
men all know this. I wish that every man and boy
in the city could have heard their wine talk as my
friend Jack and I did.
ea|
rii
as I
be
«'SH
i! •'!
MRS. MASTIFF LECTURES TO MEN AND TO IMXJS. 120
,1
(l
to
II n
to
111 .
his
it to
uiy
vnii-
ticks
as my
" Now, as to your Bedding. — I trust your masters
will see to it tliat if vou live in kennels v'ou are o-en-
erously supplie<l with ^ocxl, clean l)e<ls — tinr shavinj^s
oi- oat straw, with a sprinkle of turpentine to keej»
the insects at bay ; or if you sleep in the house, I
hope you will have a warm corner.
"We dojis suffer intensely if compelle<l to sK'ep in a
\itiated atmosphere or in small closets. We i-e(|uii'<'
lij^ht, air and warmth. Had I the clever ton^j^ue of
our friend the yay parrot, I would cry continually to
our mastei's to kee]) at l)ay that foe of the canine
race, the drea<led damp, which inflicts upon us manj^c,
kennel-lameness, rheumatism, intlannnation and many
othei" dea<llv diseases.
" Exerci,se. — I hope you will have a o(M)d rujj cm^vv
day. If our master realized how nnich wr enjoy an
outinj;- with himself, he would he as ra|;-er for it as we
f»j*e, and would encoura^«* us to <;allop, roni]) and l>lay.
You should have at least an hour's exercise evei'V ilav
• *
in the oi)en aii".
" Playthviif/t-t. — I hope your masters will provide
each of vou with a ball. We love a ball or a rublxM-
rin^. In fact, we all require exercise an<l playthings
as much as children do, and vour masters shoidd not
be cruel enou«»'h to possess a do^' and neglect such
essentials as these.
" Next, as to your bein<^ ip'oomefi—W our masters
knew, as every owner of do^s should, how beneficial
a good brushing' and combing is for us, they >\'ould
not omit it : and when vou become used to it vou will
look for and greatly enjoy the |)i'ocess. It makes oin-
9
-,_-.. . -.dUi^-±
130
J>ION, THE MASTIFF.
liiiM
i,:!lt:i
v'4
U\^IH
coHts slock Mild keeps our skin licalfchy, as well as
(loiii^- away with tlic necessity of l"re(|uent liatliin*,^
Some iiioiiiIkts of this convention have observed the
beautiful condition of the coats of dot^^s owned by
Kennel Club men.
" Now, as to Conipfinionship. — I wish you to show
syni])toms of ^reat Joy if your masters make coni-
])anions of you by taking you out with them in their
walks aiul by talking; to vou. Avoid as much as
possible the bein<^ pulled or fondled by the ears, as
this silly, thoutj^htless practice, thoutich not in every
case pi-oducintr deafness, often induces it.
" As to the Clipphuf of your E(irs. — I trust your
masters will not clip vours any more than thev
would their own. My own master says that when
the C/reator made all things He pronounced His
works to be jjfood, that is, well done: therefore it is
very wront^ and cruel for men to dock the horses (jr
clip the ears of our race.
"Next, I must speak to \^ou of Chaivs. — And oh,
how I wish that in this my joint lecture of instruc-
tion to men and to do^i^s, our masters could hear me
and understand me as you do, as, if so, a world of
niiserv would be saved them did the dream of the fox
terriers come true. Though your home may l)e a
kennel, thougli you may be subjected to neglect yea,
and ill-treatment, all these ills will be as naught if
you are allowed an occasional run; for if so, you can
reach the glad free woods, where you will find a
mouthful of couch-grass (containing a vegetable acid)
Lion already knows to be so healthful. You mav
«fl
oM
'Spit :;
MRS. MASTIFF LECTURKS TO MEN AND TO DOrJS. LSI
11"
n-
•m-
u'iv
, as
^, as
vouv
1 His
it is
SOS or
also eoine upon a clear, running stream, or a l»lesse«l
Humane Society do^-trou^l), or, it" Innij^ry, perclmnce
come to a friendly bntchei". I was once amused and
pleased as with my master T went to purchase some
meat. A vajj^rant memher of our race entering was
kicked by the butcher from his shop dooi-, but the
man relented on the pool", huntrrv animal standing
ou his hind legs to beg.
" But to return to the mattei' of chaining, to us
who know anything of it a hon-ible thought ! I pity
you, my deai* ones, if you liave to e.\[H'rience it, for
vou are then at the mercy of man: and he who could
chain you, could neglect you and leave you without
food or water, without exei'cise and, what we so dearly
love, com])ani()nship, could and would leave you in
that abhorrence of dogs, a close, ill-ventilated, dam]),
unclean kemiel.
" I once heard a man say, that * in the dog is the
triumph of olfactory power,' and, my dear hearers,
I say proudly that that man was right, and the njost
infantile among you of the canine race have ]>roverl
this fact for 'ourselves. Your temporary chairman,"
said my mother, iilanciiiii' affectionately towards me.
"has himself frcipiently observed how much more
acute is this sense of smell in our i-ace than in that of
mankind. Men, women and little children sit in
apparent comfort in i"ooms from which we dogs are
wild to escape on account of the vitiated fitmosphere.
" Yes, friends, we dogs assuredly possess the ket^nest
olfactory jiower, as I heard a Kennel CAuh man say.
But I can only hoiK* that your masters will Ih; men
p
I.S2
f.InN. THK MASTIFF,
ii ■ !
ii
^^
lio luivr Mtt»'iHlt'<| Icctinvs on jxitlioloj^y, ami then
tlicN' will all Ileal', as mv friend tho
pujr
(i
r (If)!;- an<
1 I
liavt' lieaivj, that noxious ^ases allowed to <(enerate in
our kennels dehilitate the sensitive nienihi'ane of our
noses by filthy effluvia.
" Men say that this keen scent was oivcn to us by
the all-wise (Creator to fit us for the service of man.
as well as to assist us in our soareh for proper food.
"Next, niv deaj- doumes. as to vour Food. — And
>^^^
this ])art of my combiniMl lecture to men and to do^s
I shall <;ive you as neai'ly as p.ossible in the exact
lan^nia^e u.sed by puo- dorr .Jack's uiastej-. and just as
1 would deliver it were I in a cliaij* of ))atholo<4y i
n
one o
iMii s colleii'es.
f II
■' 'i'wo <>()od meals a dav are all that are necessary,
or indeed ^ood for you. ileinember that a glutton is
a beast amonn- men. while overf'eedinjif in our case
renders us unfit for ouy duties or foi' the companion-
ship of our master.s.
"I want vou to show your flisji'ust of oluttony by
re.strainint;' your animal appetite.s. Refuse to eat more
than twice a day, unless it b
b(
me, w
hicl
I is an
excellent i)laythin<;-, as well as p)od for your teeth,
>h
sharpennig them roi" wai
f(
1 1
ioj)e no one wi
11 be
mean enough to throw you a bone instead of a meal.
"Attention, doggies ! Jack's 5nas,ter was very par-
ticular about dog food, and said that a ])late of meat
well boiled, twice a day, mixed with I'ice, oatmeal, tri]>e,
Spratt's beet-r(X)t biscuit, with a cabbage in sunnner
as an antidote against mange, is excellent food.
" If you <lon't run nnich, meat once a day is sufti-
n
n
o|
ill
lii
til
MRS. MASTIKK lectures to men ANn TO DOOS. WA
[V V>v
more
lis an
Iteeth,
\\\ be
meat
i, tripe,
limmer
Is sutti-
fieiit. Sln'r|) s-lirad ())<)ilt'(l tlnvc lioiirs), cow's-lict'l,
ox-throttles, c'K'jiii paunelies, trip** uiul liver, all should
be well hoiled, with a xai'ifty of vcj^^ctahlt's, which are
very exe»'ll(?nt to ke»'|) you in health. A littlf salt
should Im' addt'd, uiort' t'siH-eialU' at't«'i' vou havt* reaeht'd
uiaturit\'. In the t'\»'Mt of sour hciiiii' i)rovideil with
\ t'i»vtal>lt*s imtM' a da\', 1 hoix* vou will Ik- i>"i\t'ii harlew
hidian-nical or oatnu-al |)ori'iil;;'e with milk foi- hreak-
I'ast, an«l a hit of Spratt's hiseuit as you <;'o on uuani
or to your ruj;* for tin* niyht.
"As to Wal,.\ — ir w«' could hut escape tVoni oui-
thrall, thousands «)!' the chained anionust our race
would make a mad, headlonu- i-ush for watei'. Water,
blessed water! Oh, the untoM suM'erin^s we have
endured for lack of it !
" Soft water is l»«'ttei- foi- vou than hard, and 1 can
only hope that none (jf you may ex[)erience the pan^s
of a hurnint;", inu|Uenchal)le thirst. '
And at the thought, my mother turned to look at
me with such a sti-anae look of unreasoniiiii' antjuisli
in her eyes that I uave vent to a whine of sympathy,
while she continued her lecture by sayin*;":
"And next, of Pafh<)lo</(j. — If your mastt'rs are
hapj)ily humane medical men, and [)eifoice opposed
to that toi'tui'e of the innocents, vivisection, it will be
fortunate for you, for they will urulerstand your ail-
ments. You will hear youj' master, if he lie a doct(jr
of medicine, sa}', as he ])i'escribes foi- you, that the
human and canine races have many ailments in ct)m-
mon, as also that di'Ui>s act in a similar manner upon
the two systems.
iilf
m
134
LION, THE MASTIFF.
»'■
" If you liavc a tit, or in a case of inflaiiiiiiation,
fever, costivenesH or (li.steiiiper, the medical man will
give you a (lose of ca.stor-oil ami olive-oil in equal
parts, from a teasp(tonful to an ounce per dose.
Powdered sulphur, oivdi fasting', is cooling. For
diarrho'a, voui* master will administei* lukewarm
castor-oil and a chalk pow<ier, whicli can be mixed
with youj' food, oi- with Hour and milk vvell boiled.
" If you sliould have rheumatism, a soft warm bed
with j)lenty of drinking water close at hand is neces-
sary, and at once. Then vou should lia\'e fi'om three
to ten gi'ains of l)ovei-s i)owder twice a day: vou
should be kept on low diet fo)' a day oi" two, then
given purgative.s.
" After nujtions of the l)oweis, you should be given
a pill— one grain calomel, one grain purified opium,
two or thi'ee grains jxjwdered root of colchicum, add-
ing syrup suthcient to form the pill. I am here giving
you my leai-ned friend's e.xact woi'd.s.
"After the medicine I have tol<l you of, your master
should rub a .soa[) liniment into the painful parts, ten
miiHites at a time : and hot baths should be avoided
for fear of insuthcient drying.
" For worms, S[)ratt's powders are excellent: and I
liope you will not be made to fast over eightee)i
hours.
"For coughs and the husk, m}' doggies, y(jur mas-
ter shouhl keep you dry and warm, and give you
milk that has had sm-t boiled in it: also a dose of
castor-oil, as well as some of the cough nnxture he
uses for himself.
MRS. MASTIFF LECTURES TO MEN AND TO DOOS. 1.35
nias-
le vou
lose ot
lie he
"As to warmth, I trust your master will remeiDbei-
to keep you warm, whatever your ailment may be ;
this we (logs know to be most necessary in any and
eveiy ill.
" If your mastt'i" be not versed in pathology, I hope
I'oi' your sjikes that he will call in a skilful veterinary
surgeon.
"As most likely you will all find homes and masters
in Toi'onto, I am u-lad to tell vou the Kennel (Mub
iiiHuencf has created and is fostering a lively interest
in our race, jukI brinoini:' amony' us some vcrv fine
doo's. Vou will see this for
yourselves ni yourwalKs
Ik!
oi- men who art
nuMnbers of that club love theii- dous
and often tak'* them out foi" a ruii.
" Ves, dear ones, there jii'e many good masters in the
city, and my hope for you all is thai you may be
so fortunate as to have the best.
1 must not forget to tell vou, niv vounjj" doiiiii
r^e->
es.
that a skilful an«l withal humane vetei'inaiy sur-
geon resides in the city, none f)th'.'r than my friend
Jack's ovv'uei-, who, as I ha\e told you fre([ii"ntly,
is also vei'sed in pathology, so that there will be no
excuse (jn the part of vour masters foi' neji'lectiuii' vou.
)-> .;
anv more than thei'e would be did thev do so if il
ness came
to tl
H'mselves (
»r those dear to them.
I am ulad to tell this convention tluit I 1
i « \
heai'<l men sav that there are in existenc in several
citii^s in Kui-one humam
V
hospit;
f
us tor i)ooi', SIC
^k.
w
eary animals : while in Englan<l, kin<l people
wh<i ))ity the dumb and <lefe)iceless amongst oui" race
especially, have publisheil a b(jok, entitled ' Thf Nine
130
LION, THE MASTIFF.
Circles; or, Tlie Torture of the Innocents,' referring-
to vivisection as practised chiefly upon dogs."
As n»y wise mother told the meeting of the hor-
rible cruelty of vivisection, the beautiful glen was Hlled
with giowls of angei" and loud barks of rage. Wheu
the righteous indignation subsided, Mi's. MMstitf con-
tinued hei' lecture to men an<l to dogs by saying:
" Voui- anger is only just, my dt?ai- fiien«l;s; but
let us not dwell upon it just now. And so I shall
change the subject to the simple one of wliat dishes
your masters should provide you with. If you aiv
wise vou will testifv in evtii'v conceivable manner
your appreciation of two graniteware dishes : one of
them — widt'-b()ttome<l, so that it will not easily upset
— for water, the othei* foi* your food. 1 hope yt)ur
master will see to your dishes himself, in I'eturn
for youi' sure and steadfast devotion. He shouhl see
also that your vegetables are cooked se[)arately from
your meat, as otherwise they may s«»ui- and make
your food unwholesome.
" Next, my friends, I implore you to bewai'e of
the narcotic ball in the vile hands of the d<jg-thief.
One of my audience, iMai'cus the pointer, tells mh'
many oF his friends have fallen into tlieii' greedy
hands. Beware, then, of them : T eiitnrat vou to be-
wai'e.
" beware also of exposur*' to the great heat of the
sun. Bewai'e also of the IVostv breath of winter.
Once more, beware of the shower-bath from the
clouds, when in a storm of anger tliey pelt their
drops to earth.
MRS. Mastiff i.EcTiTitEs to men and to doos. V47
ol
Llvu'i'.
im'
ly
•eec
bo ue-
inter,
tlveir
" Next come voiir coWtrs. I liO])e vour masters will
give you a coinfortalile throat manacle, and that they
will aee to it that it is removed at intervals, as the
collai' of a horse should he, in oi'der that perspiration
mav he i'emov<*<l In- scrapina" and oilinii'.
"It will ])e (me of your dutii's to k'ai!: tlu' sfcnt ol'
your mastei' and Ids family. Hut 1 hope, in merey to
you, that y<mr owner will i»ave his name «'ni»raved on
a metal plate upon yoiu' collar: for one of tlu' many
wishes 1 have for you who are deal* to me," and at
this my mother neai'ly hi'oke down, as she looked
anamd at me with a tear in her hrown eye, as she
eontiimed eai'uestlv, " this wisli of the many I have
for \'ou is, that vou mav never kn<Av the heai't-hit'ak
of heint:' lost ! Ves, the heiuii l<>«t and the beinu'
chained ai'»' trials which break the loviny- heaits of
oui' i'a(;e, and wh\' f Because we aie in each case
separated from our master, we are, what to our
•4Te«jai-ious natun^ is oui- ;^reatest ti'ial, loriely.
" 1 speak strongly on this point, my deal' ones, he-
cause one of my giratest clnnns some litth' time ago, a
beautifiil, I'tving, faithful ma.itifi', on a short chain,
brokf UiK heart with loneliness and neglect. Pool'
Sahib, i (.it'll heard him cry :
" ' ^V hat's left in my trough i.s all .slagiiaiil,
Matletl vvitli tufts of hair ;
My k«'iiiiel i.s iitlercd aii*I Hllliy,
I'd ratlit'r my kennel was Itaie.
" ' Auolhei' long, hjnely day to gel over,
Will noliody looMen my chain 'r
Just for a run with my mastei',
Tlien fasten me upagain'/'"'
138
LION, THE MASTITF.
||l?P
As ijiy kind mother told us tlie pathetic soii^- of
poor Sahil), everyone in the tj;'len erie<l : even <iyini>'
Bob moaned, while I, feelint^ doubly lonely, left my
cloak of dignity on the stump, an<l lunnin^" to my
mothei's side, whined in sympathy. It was some
minutes ei'e we i'e<»ain«'d outwar.l composure, when
my mother resumed her instructive lectui'e by
sayino- :
" Hefcjre pi'ocee(li:io- with my lecture, 1 desire tt)
thank you all foi- th nrivilcoe you so kin<lly accoi'ded
me in the alteiinjjj of ; plan of my a<ldi'ess. The
lesult is that my feelings ;i»e I'elieved in my instruc-
tion, not oidy to dot^s, but to theii- mastei's.
"A«^ain thanking' you foi- allowiii^' me to com-
min^h' instruction as 1 have done, bcfoi-e concludiniJ",
if it is youi' pleasui'e, I shall tell you of a few faithful,
lovinj»" and hei'oic deeds perfoi'med by do^s. I ask
vou, is it vour ijleasuiv ? "
" It is I it is ! <^o on I" cried all voices in the oleii.
" Thank you,"' said my mother, bendin*;' hei- tine
head, " Thousands of lives have been saved ))y dogs
in all lands and in many waters. Once \<pon a time,
Roma, a brave, intelli«;'ent and handsome Newfound-
land, was at the sea with his misti'ess, and hei* only
and nuich-loved child, a beautiful and fearless little
chap of nearly four years. With them were Eric's
nurse and foster-mother, as well as a son of hei' own,
a couraj^eous little fellow of Kric's ag'e. . One day,
while Ei'ic's delicate manuna indulge<l in a sleep in
a softly dai'kened I'oom at their cotta^^e, and Mary,
his foster-mother, had left their sunuiier home by the
til
y«|
ui'i
0\'|
th(
th.
MRS. MASTIFF LECTURES TO MEN AND TO DOGS. 139
»y
II V
leii
^>y
i-derl
'Hie
Lvuc-
com-
I ask
.V tine
(loos
li t'niu',
k'ouiul-
W only
Is \ittU*
[; KVU' S
t>r owu,
,^. (lay,
|l Miu'y,
\3y the
sliore of tlie great Atlantic to walk up to the village
for provisions, the little fellows were, as usual, run-
ning about with Roma, the Ne\vf(jun<llan<l, and having
a very good time gathei-ing shells to carry with them
to thei)' city h<jme, wh(Ui, espying a small sailhoat
drawn partly up on to the beach, they climbed ovei'
its side and seated themselves in it.
"'Oh, Heniy, let us go out for a little sail,' cried
Eric, clapping his small hands : ' but the N/niph is
tied to her moorings. Run up the beadr lieni'y, and
lift the iron ring oft* the hai'd-wood post, and as we
can't unfasten this othei- end of the i'o[)e tit^d t(j this
big ring in the l)ottom of the l)oat, you must cai'iy the
other end of the rope, with its iion ring, down with
you, and we shall give the two rings and the long rope
a sail with us.'
" ' Vei-y WH'll, Kric,' said Henry, accustomed to obey
liis foster-brother (as he invariably saw Eric's manuna
and his own mother do), ' tliat will be gicat fun !'
" ' V'es, it will,' i-eplied the little wilfid marinei":
' and I'll be captain : you, a sailor.'
" ' No, please let me be youi' mate,' }>egged Henry.
" ' Well, pei'haps, but run u]) as fast as you can for
the iron I'ing and I'ope : (piick, Hemy, you nnist obty
your captain, (^uick, I say, or tlie sej'vants will be
after us, just l>ecause thei'e are a few black clouds
ovei" thej'e : but I am no coward, lun (piick !'
" In a little \vhile Heiu'v I'eturned with the riny-,
the heavy i-(3pe trailing after him, and climbing over
the boat's side, he said :
" ' Mow, will you let me be mate ^ '
mmm
140
LION, THE MASTIFF.
Wi
ill ■
" ' Yes,' answei'ed Kric pruu<lly, 'I ain captain, you
are mate : Roma, my NewfoundlaiKl, is sailor, and the
two iron lin^s aie passen<i;;ei's. (iet out, n»ate, please,
ami shove the Nyniph «)ut a hit. Never mind getting
your stoekings an<l slippeis wet: sailors are often
soaking. Tiiat is i'iglit : oti' she goes, hut the wind
helped you, mate.'
" And sIk' did ii<), the hree/e tillinii' hei' sail and
taking" them in a minute several lathoms I'rom shore.
Now, this was uioie of the oi-cat sea than the\' desiied.
Still continuing out-hound, captain and mate moved
trouj side to side ol the tiny cral't, and hent their small
bodies (j\er the sides to s«'e how deep the gi'eat sea was.
'J'he sailoi* lioma, ilie Newfoundland, thoujih rrallv
alarmed, was tin* only (|uit't one in the boat, and
realizing the great danger threatt'uing his litth' master,
as well as Heni'V, as the Xi/mp/i i'ocke<| and tossed
upon the awful wave's, also seeing the gi'(jwing alarm
in the faces of the two little lads, he i"easone<l out a
plan to sav(! their lives. He knew then' was no chance
of Huccoui' from touj'ists itassing hv, U>\' theii' cottaue
was se.cluded. Kric s mamma <lesiring (|uiet, very few
strangers visited this part of the h«'acli. lloma feared
to lea\e his chai'ge, but it must })e don**.
*' ' Henry, mate, obey your captain. Don't let Koma
leave the boat: take that iron ring fiom his mouth !'
cried Ei'ic, brave, yet frightened.
"'He won't let me take it, captain. Oh, Kric, I
can't hold him. See ! lie is over and into the big
waves,' and the poor little mate's tears fell.
" ' Stop crying like a baby, Henry, or you'll make a
}u\
M
an|
Sh(
MRS. MASTIFF I.ECTURKS TO MEN AND TO DOOS. 14-1
iSt',
\ng
'ten
,'iii»A
au«i
liore.
■siieil-
loved
really
t, aiiJ
J \ aster,
tossei-l
alarm
I owi -^
eliauee
cottage
■vy few
V feared
[i Houva
mouth '.
Krif, I
the big
ll uiake a
coward of uu-,' said Eric, brushino- away his tears with
a very wet pocket-handkei-cliief.
" In the meantime, Hoiiia luid spi'un^" into the
jijreat waters, the iron rino- in his mouth, and tliougij
at first tlie Htth' hids had endeavoured to pull him
back by the I'ope, tlie}' soon ceased, as it was now
as much as they could do to hold on to each other
an<l to the sides of the boat to escape bein^' washed
overboar<
d.
"Off' and away swam brave Roma, battling;- with
storm-tossed waves, the henvy iron rin^' in his month.
At last he reache«l the shoi-e, the ro
|)e.
as he had
intellijijently foreseen, just comin^- to the beach. There
he sat on th<' wave-washed shore, a firm ^ri]) of his
teeth on tlu; rope, his eager eyes watching fo. someone
to conu.' to his aid in saving the children's lives.
" Fortunately, cook and Eric's mamma's own maid,
having seen a stoi'm coming up and nnssing the little
boys, at this moment reached the beach, breathless
from their hastv run. Without delav, cooi<, divestine-
herself of gown and boots, plunged into the great
Atlantic wav^es, saying, in frightened haste :
" ' I can scarcely swim a stroke : but, thanks to good
l^oma, we have the rope, with which, if you and he
hold it fast, I can kee]) above water until I lench
Master Ei'ic and Henry.
" Before cook, by aid of the rope, could cover the
distance, Eric was washe<l overboard, which watchful-
eyed Roma seeing, he at once spi-ang into the waxes
and out towar«ls the A'//?7i/>//, bringing him in to the
shore more dead than alive, but happily alive. For
LION, THE MASTIFF.
V'
it was he, ^rown tf) be a tall, sti'on^. brave youth, I
heard tell the story oF Roma's sagacious, loving act."
As mv iiiothei" concluded her recital of the New-
foundlaud's hi'avery, I criecl, eagerly :
" Please. Mrs, Mastiff", what became of Henry, the
mate ;* "
"Hemy was saved by cook," repli<'d my mother, "anrl
Ik how mate on a steamship. Master Eric is a mid-
shipman in the Royal Navy, on one of Her Majesty's
war-ships, and was home on furlough. He is a humane
youth, and thinks of exchanging to the merchant ser-
vice and sailing as captain, witli Henry as mate."
•• What of Roma ^ " crie<l all voices in the gh'n.
•• Roma lives an honoui'ed. ha})[»y life with Eric's
mamma, in England." answered my mother, in pleased
tones.
At this the whole comi)aiiy rose to their feet and
cheered.
•• I could tell \M>u." continued mv wise motluM*.
t t
])roudly. "of dozens of bi-ave acts perfoi'med by our
race: but it iirows late, so I shall mei-elv ii'ive vou
two or three pi'oving oui' devotion to our lovefl
mastei-s. and 1 shall first j-ive v^ou an incident in
which a trusty mend)er of our race met a painful
death in discharging his duty:
'• Watch was a mongrel of kind and gentle disposi-
tion, although as courageous as the best bred of us in
defending the property of his master. He was on
guard as usual while his master, who was a farmer,
and his family slept. It was a beautiful still night in
spring, and Watch, pnaid of the confidence his master
MRS. MASTIFF LECTURES TO MEN AND TO Dons. 143
,1
t."
\v-
sty's
K.ric's
leased
ft an«
\
\o
>y
tl^«"V.
our
. vou
love* I
Mit iu
)aini"u^
l\s\)«>Hi-
)V us iu
^vas ou
fanner.
lU^ht iu
L master
ha<l in liiin. went liis nnnuls Faitlifully. prick in;;; up
his ears at the slightest unusnal sound : sometimes
staying a minute to slack liis thirst at liis disli of
pure soft water, or to till his no.strils witli the seent
of the green things })eeping ahove grourid moist with
the dew of night. Watch went his rounds in placid
content through tlie narrow eartlien walks in the
fields and v^egetable garden ; tlience througli the
yards, and forgot not to take especial guai'd of his
good master's granaries. Thither he had again
wended his steps when, pricking up his eai-s. he
scented danger. A quarter of a mile from his
master's gi'anaries a rivulet ran through the farm,
over which had been a rustic bridge, which a sti'ong
and angry wind with pouring rain had. a few <lays
befoi'e. broken up and sw(^pt away as with a njighty
broom. The farmei" ami his strong son .lack had
thrown acioss the stream a thick stout plank of wood,
over which Watch espied a man come sneaking in
sheltei" of the dark of night. He bent his steps in
the «lirection of the granaries, when Watch, lifting u])
his voice, barked loud and long, seeking to rouse his
master : but daily toil in bai'u and field makes the
farmer slee[) soundly. As the thief drew near. Watch
bravely dashed towards him to defeinl the (juantities
of well-cured meat an<l bins of grain, when, in a i-agc
at the dog's lou<l and angry voice, the man let fall the
meat with which he sought to till his bag, and lifting
up a spa<le, with one strong, nnnnlerous blow, he broke
poor Watch's back. He never barked again, but tried
to crawl t(j sav^ good-bye to his younji' master Jack.
144
LION, THE MASTIFF.
who now, with his 'lyin^ cyt's, hv saw coinr rnsliin^^
from the house. Poor Wateh <li«Ml in painful a^ony,
l)ut Hv^mI to see thr tliief fly for his life over the swaj'-
\n^ plank that s))anne(l the rivulet, his master in hot
)ursuit.
Thus, my dear ones, vou have seen liow Wateh
^ave his life for duty.
Nol)le Watch : Itrave (lou
criei
1 M
I reus,
tl
le
)ointei'
"Poor f(!llow !" said Bruno, the St. Bernard, while
many of us cried because of the cruel death of faitli-
ful Watch.
"And now," contiinied my mother, gravely, " I shall
oive you a pathetic instance of devotion.
" Bobby was a rouj^h-coated but loving-hearted
Scotch terrier who had a master for whom he felt an
aflection that knew no bounds, that not even death
eouM sever. Bol>])v's master was poor. and. there-
fore, almost iViendless. Tt came to pass that this
little Scotch terrier lost his loved master thi'ough
d«'ath.
" Bobbv followed him to the prave. and when the
other moui'uers ha<l left old Grayfriars churchyard
(E<lin burgh), the\' called Bobbv to follow them, but
no, the place where his loved master lay, though
burie«l from his sight, was deai'ei- to his sad lieart
than a home in a king's palace, and thei-e Bobby re-
mained for fourteen vears, onlv leaving the sacred
spot for necessary food and water, which he got at
the house of the grave-digger neai* by.
" Yes, Bobby was not only faithful to the death of
tr,
aw
pe;
thv
he
" I
seaii
MRS. MASTIFF I.ECTrRES TO ME\ AND TO DOOS. 145
.t
W
tb-
hcvW
leiitb
hevc-
tbis
[oiigb
n tbo
a, Vnit
iiciu^b
heart
Iby ve-
Isacred
iirot at
Lat\i of
liis iMHHter, but In-vond it, ainl to liis own lil\ 's cinl.
Poor Hobby often sjii<l :
" * Ik time sae Ifing ? I <lii»iia rniml.
Is't f:aul(l ? I caniia fei'l ;
He's near me, thougli nii<ler the grouii<l,
And so 'tis vera weel.
*' ' I tliank ye a' tliat are sac kind
As feed an' niak nie hraw ;
Ye're unco guid, l)ut ye're nae him,
Ye'U no wile me awa.'"
At tbis we all cne«l uiid cheered U!itil we were
boarse, and obli^-ed t(^ cur*' tbe luni]> in onr tliroats
by la])|)in^f at tbe clear runninji' stream, my ^ood
motber jjjivin^ me a kind word and caress as we
w^alked on. A^ain mountinj^ tbe stump, my motber
continued ber interesting lecture by saying':
" Faithfulness is a very strong trait amon^ our race.
A traveller and bis Irisb setter Truro visited a moun-
tainous country in which wei'e ti'emendous precipices.
One day, after a lon<jj and fati^uin«jj ascent, tbe poor
travellei- in bis rapt ^Mze, now at tbe heights still
above bim, now at tbe awful precipices in tlieir cruel
depths bi'low, ^a'ew diz/y, missed his footing*, and,
awful fate 1 tund>led beadlonji^. striking I'ocks and
peaks, until, a manj;led corpse, be was received on
tbe led^e of a rock far beneath.
" Wild with grief, Ti-uro dashed an<l ran, tund^led
and fell, until, witb a broken leg and niany wounds,
be reached tbe side of bis poor master.
"A month afterwards a body of men, who had been
searching for the unfortunate traveller, came upon
10
' w
146
LFON, THE MASTIFF.
tilt' pitiliil sfMMU' ol' Tnn'o, in his iinldc t';titlil'nlin'ss.
scatofl Ity tlir (Iccayiiij;" and still lu'liAcd coj-iisc ol' liis
lllMStci'.
"A iuiiiiIm')' of (lead liodics (A' l»ii'ds ol' prey wcro
scattiTcd around. 'I'lx'V liad conic to feed on the
hodv, hut had hrcn I'ouirht and killccl hv' Tfurtt. '\l\r
Faithful sctti'i- was ('iiiaciatcd to a skcloton, and died
in a shoi't time ol' a hi'oken heart.
"And now I ask what kind ol" a master, think you,
wouhl that iiian niak«' who trains ouv lovin^^ un-
selHsh. I'aithl'ul I'ace to ti<^ht :*"
"A hiutal one," we all cried with one voice.
N\
" Y<'s," said my mother, indi»^nantly, " 1 am at our
ith \'ou — a l>riit(d one. Tl
H' man who could ui'm'
two ei'eatui'es to tear each othei* to pieces possesses
so wi(
ked
a nature, so mean a soul, as to rendei- it
unsafe, yea. dan<ie)"ous, to his own race, as well as to
all (lod's ei'eatui'es, to have such ;i one at larf^e.
" May the ('reator ^uard you all, my do^^'i«>K, from
fallinp' into the clutches of such a master, or of the
man who has so cruel a heart as to take out a ])atent
for his own diabolical invention, the wheel-like tread-
mill, on which our race are trained hv man to kill
each other. And mav vou l>e saved from sucli a
master as would take out a patent for a machine to
dock that nohle (|uadru])ed the horse; or from him
wdio would train cocks to ti«^'ht hy puttin<i^ spurs on
them an<l makin<jf them vicious hy the use ol* certain
foods : then ]iangin<j^ a poor c;it up to the ceiling in a
bag" for the cocks to fly at as the unfortunate animal
madly struggles for liberty and breath,"
t]
hi
d
UK
Ch
pifcj
i! I'.ll'H
MRS. MASTIFF LECTIJKES TO MEN AND TO DOCJS. 147
lis
you,
un-
it (>!»*'
ur^^'
\ as U>
K. fvoin
oV tlu'
^>at*'ut
1. tvea«l-
sueb fv
lbiu«' to
oin ^^^^^»
purs o^^
I certain
iing ^1^ ^
animal
"Excuse me, Mr. ('hainiiMri, I'or l))('Mkin^^ in u|»<)ii
our lionoui'cd spcjikcr,' said oui" IVicnd Mis. .Moiiscr,
the spotted cat, auirrilv. " I c-aii a.s.smv V'ou the crueltv
to our race V(ai speak of* is oidv too true, f'oi- in\'
friend I>lack 'I'oiii IVotii tlie city has infoi'ined ine
that a poor deserted cat lie knew well was huiifjj ii])
ill this manner, and, on the cock hein;^' trained and
her strn;:<^les almost stilled in the paiiiful <leatli ol'
suHocation, she was released. What I'or, think you i
'W) Ite skinned l>y cruel hoys while yet alive !"
At the contirmation oi' this horrihle cruidty, <rroans
Hlled the ^h'u, while niy mother e.\pi"ess«'d ^n*eat in-
di^niation at such barbarities, and in a Few minutes
resumed her lecture by saying :
" Mv heart aches for the whole defenceless world of
animals, oiilv to think that niaiiv of our i"ace have
unite recently bet'U tortured by baviiii:' had one
shoulder separated from the body by a shai]> knife,
'i'hus lacerated and sick at heart, we have been turned
into the vast and pitiless streets, to be stone<| oj- to
starve. A beautiful and noble member of our race
ha«l his four le^s tied together by cruel boys, who
then, making an incision in a sen.sitive ])art of his
body, tille(l the orifice with the burnini'' irritant called
Cayenne pepper."
" Terrible I terrible!" cried all voices. "Are we
never to know kind treatment :*"
" Our lot is indeed a hard one," continued my
mother, mournfully ; " but it gi'ows late. T must now
close this meeting by saying that it is indeed most
pitiful that man, endowed, as he is, with so many
148
LION, THE MASTIFF.
blf'S-sin^s unfelt by us, so much power, and such
marvellous, luio'hty speech, will ignore our cries for
considerate, lor Innnane treatment: will pass by on
the other side should he see a case o I' l)rutality prac-
tised upon us defenceless creatures, instead o^* raisin^-
his mighty v(jice, yes, and applying' his stick to the
oHemler.
"Oh, for a time to come, when the An^-el of r\vice
will dwell in every heart, in every home 1 Tlien, yea,
tlien, will luan abandon his cowardly meanness in — as
now — wiid\in«;; at the cruelties pi-actised upi^ai us, for
fear, forsooth, of ott'ei (linjj^ ba<l men who brutali/e
themselves and risin<j^ j;enerations ))y diabolical cruelty
towards pool' creatures ])laced in thrir care
"A horril>le iact was related in mv hearinj; ])v a
^ood woman the other day. But if I tell it to you, I
nnist Hrst have your })romise — which, bein^' of a
faithfid race, T know if you jiive it vou will hold
sacre<l — that after you have heard this hori'ible fact,
you will not seek to revenjre yourselves upon the sons
of man. Have I your prouiise T'
" Y(ju have 1 you have ! " cried all the do^s, bound-
in jjj to their feet.
" Very well, I trust yon," returned my j^ood mother,
vravelv. " I shall merely <rive vou the bare fact, as
did 1 dwell upon it in detail I could not answer for
myself, not bein^ bomid by a promise, as you all are.
Listen. In a neighbouring town there existed six
yeai's a*^o a society of boys, organized for the perpe-
tration of cruelty to ar-imals,"
On my mother's announcement of this terrible fact,
«e,
th
Villi
111(1
resi
MRS. MASTIFF LECTURES TO MEN AND TO DOGS. 14!>
OV
on
EIC-
yea,
fVS
uJiVize
uelty
r by a
you, I
(>V a
\ \xoV\
(. fact,
l-
ll)oun»
luotbev.
k'act, as
Ivor t^>i'
all ave.
IUmI six
perp^'-
)le fact,
suppressed orowlsol'wnitli rolled like thnMdei'thr()U«^li
the <^'leii : while Jack the biill-dc)<;-. unable to ivstraiii
his ra^e, caused some aiiioiii*' tlie tenderly niii'ture(l
Is to crouch in fear hy his dashini;' Forward and
sojinu
t'acin*;" my motlier, demandino- the place ol' abode ol'
the wicked lads. At this my mothei', much iMcnc*!
and eyeino- the bull-doiJ" solemidy, said :
" Jack 1 J. ck I reniember your promise."
"Yes, yt'S, your promise, your promise," eclioed
Maxy and Bruno, the St. Bernanls. Hut 1 couM
easily see many oF the dons wei'e oi' the same mind as
Jack the bull-doir, who retired to his seat, iiTowlinu'
aupri
ly tl
le ^\
hih
Aftfjra Few moments of troubled silence my mothei"
resumed her lecture as follows:
"In conclusio:i, dear doi»'s, mv fervent, heartfelt
')-.'^'
wish for you is, that each and all of you may fall into
the hands of humane masters. In the meantime we
nmst wish eac h other ij^ood-ni^ht, and travel through
these sweet woods to our honies."
At the conclusion of my wise mothei's lecture, I
leaped from the stump, an<l after joining- in the great
applause, said :
"Mrs. Mastiff", mother, will you obliH;'e me by a^ain
seating- yourself on the chair :* You must be very
tired standing so long."
" No, I thank you, Mr. (,'hairman," answei'ed my
moiher : ' it grows so veiy late that even our tempo-
rary chairman, Mr. Li(<n, nuist be weary. I therefore
move that we at once separate and return to oui"
respective homes."
150
LION, THE MASTIFF.
" One iiioiiient," crietl Bruno, tho St. Bernard, step-
pino- liustily forward. " 1 move a vote of thanks to
tlie .speakers of the evening, and trust you will
not deem it invidious to add, especially to Mrs, Nellie
Mastiff for her hi(>hiy instructive and interesting-
lecture."
"I have very o-reat pleasure in secondi- ^ that
motion," said Fritz, the black-and-tan terrier, in his
blandest tones.
" A motion, Mrs Mastiff, which 1 heartily endorse,"
remarked Maxy, the St. Bernard.
" Me, too 1" echoed Queenie, the toy black-and-tan
terrier.
" Carried, with tliree cheers, but no tiger ! " I cried,
leaping and barking simultaneously ; " for I can speak
for myself and affirm that I feel so wise and upgrown
since hciring Mrs. Mastiffs lecture to men and U) dogs
that my cofit is tocj tight for me."
" Order ! order !" said my mother, (quietly.
"One moment, Mrs. Mastiff/' crievLl Jack the bull-
dog. ' I just want time to say that my own experi-
ence, as well as the information regarding the cruelty
perpetrated upon us by man, of which you, Mrs.
Mastiff, have told us lead me to wish, yes, and to hope,
that the di'eam of our friends Grit and (Jrip may yet
come true, and," he added, showing his teeth, " that
we dogs may yet attain our freedom, and not for a
week or day, but for all time."
At Jack the bull-dog's awful words, some of the
dogs applauded, wagging their tails : others who had
good masters hung theii- heads in thoughtful medita-
MRS. MASTIFF LKCTURES TO MEN AND TO DOGS, lol
U
ie
^^'
lat
his
se,
-tan
ried,
peak
•own
bull-
:pei'i-
fuelty
Mv«-
hope,
' t\\at
I'or a
)l' the
lo had
liedita-
tioii, an oppressive silence tilling tlie glen : when Mrs.
Mouser, the spott «'. cat, relieved our disconiHture hy
saying :
" Permit nie a word, friend Nellie. I have atten«le*l
numerous conventions, hut at none have 1 lieard a
feline creature speak so fiuently or gi\e so much
information as Mrs. Mousibisa, the blue -grey Maltese,"
" A thousand thanks, Mrs. Mouser," res])onded
Mousibisa, ])ui'ring loudly. '' In retui'u for your kind-
ness, you shall never, no never, feel my sharp claws."
As we all gathered around my cleNer mother in
informal chat and congratulations, as we departed
from the beautiful Kew Mount glen, she sai<l in
earnest tones :
" I am well pleased at the success of our convention.
We have had passing gleams of happiness in the
nn'dst oi cruel realities. Such, alas ! is our life."
An'' with kind good-nights we departed to oui*
different liomes, to oui- humane or inhumane masters,
leaving Mis. Hack and her colts keeping pool' Mr.
Bob, the dying horse, company, as v.ith great pain and
difficulty he drew near to his last bre'ath.
TO MY DOG.
IIV ,) <J. HOLLAND.
" My dear, duml) friend, low lying tlieie,
A willing vas.sal, at nty teeL,
(iiad partner of my home and fare,
Mv shadow in the street,
152 LION, THE MASTIFF.
" 1 look into your gieat brown eyes,
VVliere love and loyal homage shine,
And wonder where the difi'erence lies
Between your soul and mine.
'* For all of good that I have found
Within myself or human kind,
Hath royally informed and ciowned
Your gentle heart ami mind.
" I scan the whole ]»road earth around
For that one heart which, leal and true,
Bears friendship without end or hound,
And Hnd the prize in you.
" I trust vou as I ti'ust tiie stars,
Nor cruel loss, nor scott", nor pride,
Nor beggary, nor dungeon hare,
Can tempt you from my side.
•' More playful than a frolic hoy,
More watchful than a sentinel,
By da}' arid night your constant joy
To guard and please me well.
" I clasp yoxn- head upon my bieast —
The while you whine and lick my hand —
And thus our friendship is confessed,
And thus we understand.
m'
mmh' I
" Ah, Blanco ! did I worship (»od
As truly as you worship me.
Or follow where my Master trod
With your humility ;
" Did 1 sit fondly at His feet,
As you, dear Blanco, sit at mine.
And watch Him with a love as sweet.
My life would grow divine."
I)
II
tl
rt
at
MY LOVED MASTER AND MY HOME.
153
CHAPTKR XIV
MV LOVED MASTEH AND MV HOME.
The partiiij^ scene witli my inotlier Nellie, whicli
occurred two «lay.s ai'ter the convention in Kew Mount
o-len, was so aH'ectino- I dread to recall it: you, my
I'eaders, will therefore please excuse its appeai'in*;'
in this my autohioorapliy. In considering' my own
feelinos in this omission, I am also considei-ini:- voui's.
For did I picture to you my motlier Nellie's sup-
pressed ♦•'I'ief, while endeavourino- to instil couraj;e at
oui' se})aration into \\\y sad heart, you would slied
many tears: suffice it to say, that ni}' mother Nellie
was finally sent with the Boston lto3\s on some pre-
tended errand, so that she should not he a sorrowful
witness to my stru«^^les, or hear my h 1 and ani»ry
N'oice when stran<»'e hands were laid upon me.
I can tell you nothing' of my first master, as all the
short tin»e I lived with him I moui'ne<l for mv mother
Nellie and for mv I'uns with her in the wooded
heights and to Bahuy Beacli, in the near vicinity of
my earliest home.
I fear I tried the patience of this o'ood man hy my
incessant fits of the blues, as I hitl under ])ieces of furni-
ture and refused to be comforted : and if he should
read this my autobiograpliy, I tender him my regrets
at my seeming moodiness while under his ro(jf-tree.
ili'ij^i
\V.\
154
LION, THE MASTIFF,
I would, 1 Ix'licvc, Iwivc ))in«Ml to <le;ith — tor we
mastitis arc caj)al)lo ol' very strong;' atfectioii —but tor
au incident wliicli I shall relate to you.
My first inastei" arran^vd to part with uie to a Mr.
Freeman, and the day previous to J(<)iny' to this lattei'
"gentleman's, I was fretting* myself sick near the door-
step of my temporary home, when, what joy \ who
shouM pass hut my mother and one of the Boston
boys ! They were very much shucked at my altered
appearance : in fact, 1113' kind mother nearly broke
<lown as she linj>;ered to say:
" Oh, Lion, try to be happy : try to love the new
master to whom you go to-morrow, or you will
pine to death and break my heart. (jlood-bye,
good-bye."
Her tearful, loving words braced me to bear all
things rather than grieve her, so from that moment 1
detej'mined to extract all the marrow 1 could from
the bone of my life : and have done soever since, and
have earned for myself tlie character of a lively,
happy, affectionate and faitid'ul dog.
On reachiuii' m\' new home, the faces and voices of
Mr. and Mrs. Kreeman gi-eatly pleased me, as also did
a deal" lady who was a house-guest, and who, 1 learned,
was Mi's. Freeman's nujther. J tried to be happy in
their company, and am pleased to tell you I suc-
ceeded ; they were all so kind and sympathetic with
me, a little strangei' come to dwell with them, that 1
would have been a churl, instead of a "cion of cham-
pion stock, not to have shown gratitude.
Mr. an<i Mrs. Freeman at once made a companion
ai
aj
al
cu
SUi
MY LOVED MASTER AND MY HOME.
155
iiud
vely,
rued,
svic-
NVltU
lUat 1
kham-
lauiou
of me, and we all, with the other lady, soon l)ecan»e
fast fi-iends, while 1 resolved to l>e faithful and
watcliful of their wislies and to guard them from
thieves, as my mother wcjuld ha\e done. These j^ood
l)eople have very kind heaits and would as soon have
thought of chaining- one of themselves as of fettering
me to kennel life. How shall I find words to tell
you of their humanit}' towards me and of my great
attachment for them !
Tliey at once gave me a comfortably-fitting collar,
to3^s to play with, and one generous meal of meat and
oatmeal e\ery day, with easy access to clear cold
water, with which my dish was well supplied. I had
many a sweet, juic*l' bone, and a biscuit when they
thought I should be so indulged.
When I grew older I was allowed a run by my-
self in the evenings after the small bo^'s were off the
streets. Ah, how often did my thoughts Hy to my
mother and her dread of the boys who were not
"Band of Mercv ' members. Well, well, one cannot
always stay with one's mother. Mr. and Mrs. Free-
man used to watch at the window until the bovs
were off the streets before they opened the hall door
to me for my run, for those boys used to tease me
and spoil my temper by pretending to throw stones
and sticks for me to run after, and when 1 starte<l,
alive and eager, 1 heard theii' laugh of mocking ridi-
cule as I f(jund no stick. I used to grow angry at
such rude behaviour, which caused me to think it a
pity a thoroughbre<l should be sport for ill-bi-ed chil-
dren. They would also thiow tire-crackers near me
If, Uim ' ' — -- — M
150
LION, THE MASTIFF.
1*11
to wet' me start, uiid i'n'(|n('iitly iii}i<l(! .stone-crackors
burst on my nice .smooth coat. At first my ixind
misti'css taught me to come liome in ^'ood time by
showint»* a bone to me and tellinu- me that I slumld
have it on my return il' I did not remain out too lon<;\
I soon leai'ned to obey, and enjoyed my scamper
very much, t'recjuently running" to the beautit'id, free
Queen's Park, and thinkino- of my o-ood motlier as I
ate coucli-^rass she liad taut^ht me the lienefit of.
One day my mistress and m^^self were out for a
walk, and seeing' a red colHe sitting- on Yono;e Street
sidewalk, lookin*;' very lonely and wearing" a lost air,
Mrs. Freeman said to me :
" Lion, wait a moment : I am goinj^ to speak to
this poor collie. He is, I fear, lost, and I know he
won't bite me. I understand the canine race too
well to think sucli a kind-looking-, solitary creature
would snaj) at me." And stepping towards him, she
said kindly, while patting- his head :
" What is the matter, old fellow / Where is your
master ? Are you lost ? I fear you are ; I don't like
to leave you sitting here foi* fear of doo-thieves."
At the words of Mrs. Freeman, I remembered how
my wise mother had implored of us in her lecture to
beware of the narcotic ball in the hands of the thief
of our race : and I hurriedly steppe<l back, as the collie
stood up hesitating whether to follow us or not, and
hastily gave him my mother's warning. At this
moment Mrs. Freeman turned, as she said kindly,
while again patting him :
" You may come home with us if you like, collie ; "
^v
ml
of
MY LOVED MASTKR AND MY HOME.
157
A
>y
^^■•
)er
ree
s I
)r a
reet
ail",
k to
W He
e too
tuve
\, H^ie
your
I'tUke
I"
ll how
lure to
l thief
collie
^t, and
this
audly,
lolUe ; "
which, like a sonsible «loo-, ho <lid, expressino- liis
^ratitufle as he followed us.
A few weeks after this occurred the collie's master
saw him with ns, and claimed him, callinjij him Sandie.
At the name u\y thoughts Hew on the winj^s of
deli<^ht to the story of Mousihisa, and on (]U('stionin^
Sandie I was ovei'joyed to find in "nim the IViend of
the departed ^reat an<l noble Thomas of the mottled
fur coat. We often indul(j^ed in lon^ talks about the
family of poor Mousil)isa. Hut to return to the
collie's master. On seeing' what a j^ood home Sandie
had with us, and how attached he had become to my
mistress, the p'utleman said Mr. and Mrs. Freeman
mi<jfht keep him.
San«ii(> havin<i; befriended Mousibisa's ^ood Thomas,
and being a thorouo-hbnMl with no mean ways, Iw
and I became fast frien<ls, were polite to each other,
never makino- free with each other's property — as I
have heard men say is too often the case amono- the
human race. Sandie never presumed to play with
my hoop, which I loved to toss in the air and try to
catch over my head : nor did he ever make his own
of an ancient sofa pillow Mrs. Freeman had given
me, and which I carried in my mouth wherever I
wished to rest my head, and so protect myself from
earache.
But Sandie and I often had a grand tug-of-war
with an old leather collar. We enjoyed this very
nuicli, and it was really great fun for us.
I heard a man say that very few people are aware
of how necessary it is that all animals should have
3BB
158
MON, thp: mastiff.
iiiliil
playtliiii^^s. ()}» ! liow wise my inothcr whs; slu'
kncM' this loiin- a^o. 1 licard tlic same man tell oF a
liumanc traveller who visited that <lreadfnl place For
animals — thi^ Zoological (Jai'dens at Lon<lon. The
trav(;ller was shockecl at the melancholy appearance
o(* the poor ca^ed creatures, seemin^jf es])ecially struck
with the moui'ut'ul aspect worn hy the rhinoceros: so
nnich so, in<leed, as to im])el him Forth to a toy shop,
From wliich he returne(i to those dreadFul gardens witli
a huj^e wooden hall which he bade the keepei" put into
th(» pooj- ci'eature's c.i^'e : when, to the delight oF the
kin<l traveller, th«' rhinoceros, showing' symptoms oF
joy, immediately pi-oceeded to I'oll it about with his
horn.
"One day the red collie an<l I escorted our mistress
to Sherbourne Street, an<l we thi'ee were excessively
amused to witness the Fun a ha[)])y nionj^rel (wlio
wore a black coat) was having, as he tossed, shook
and battle(l with an old boot he had Found. His
young mistress calle<l him Carl and seemed glad as
thev walked alono' to see him make merry.
HeFore the red collie was ado])t(!d by us, I liad a
playmate '\\\ a Persian kitten named Tot. '^Phe wee
creature was not a bit aFraid oF me. though I stood
(piite high and was growing wide. Tot was so prettily
saucv 1 Formive her many aiul many a time. She
would steal bits oF meat out oF my dinner with a tiny
paw From under my very jaws. 1 did not like to see
her eat the meat. It was not proper Food, not tit For a
kitten, but I w;is too soFt-hearted to snap at her.
Tot was very fond oF me, and I oF her. She wore
ii^
MV I.OVED MASTER AND MV lloME.
1 50
a
or
ick
so
into
\s ot'
I his
stress
Wely
(wbo
shook
Ihad a
lie, wee
st(U)<l
irettily
She
a tiny
li to see
it for a
iY.
lie wore
furs so like ])oor Moiisiliisa's that for this I't'asoii aloru*
I wouM ha\(' made a ju't ol' lu r.
Sometimes wlicn I had n I'lin aiul I'roh'c on the
hack' hiwii, oti desiring' to I'c-ciiter the liousc, lo, tlu'
«loor was rastmrd an<l I was ohiiucd to wait the
kiiowie(l{^'e ol* my deal" mistress that I was tlu'rc, or
the jdcasui'c of tlie maid to open it, so that Tot and I
came to an aon'cim'nt that on mv hark I'or entranec,
slu' shoidd run and ask someone to let me in. This
my small IVieiid in ^rey fur did, ncxcr lailin;; me.
I'here slie woidd sit, flattening- her })ink nostrils on
the cold window |)ane until she saw mc tii'ed (Hit and
ov(M'heate(l with mv I'aces an<l tund)lesamid the <fi'ass
(M- piles of snow, when off' she wouM run and scratch
the (;()wn of Mis. Freeman or the api'on of the maid
and m(!W her re(|uest, which was lau^hin^ly acceded
to and the door opened at once.
But, alas I too much incaf f/avf oar /tt't fits, and one
day, aftei- suflerin^j,' ^reat a^ony, she lay down and
died.
I mourned for ht>i'. I'efnsinir mv^ (jooil dinner for
two days. Poor, dear Tot 1
1 need not tell you that T had the run of the
house, of which I was co-;;uard with my master.
Yes, and I at times assisted in the culinary depart-
ment, as I could not endure ill-cooked food. 1 made
'I point, if at home, to look into the kitchen when my
dinner was cookin^-, and if there was a fear of its
not l)eing sharp on time or — horrible thou<i^ht ! — burnt,
I stirred it myself.
After the lamented decease of my little friend
160
LION, THF'. MASTIFF.
, I
Tot. I WHS f'onlVont('(| by anotlier <i^i-it'f. News eamo
to us that the Ijidy tor whoiri I Imd so strong an
affection — I allude to the inothei' of Mis. Kreenian —
was very ill at Detroit, tliat terrible di.sense men call
1(1 (frlppr havinj^ seized upon her. I did all 1 could,
beinjjf <lunib, to testily my sympathy. 1'hey f^^ave me
the ('nv(^lo])es of the letto's containinjj; news of her
illness, ovei- which I whined alcnul.
The niy'ht that interscnetl <'re we could leave for
the States to see Mrs. Fj'eeman's mother. I was in
a<(ony K'st she should di»i, and fretniently left my ru^
to stare out of the window and up to the sky with its
thousands of ^lowin^' hunps. For my wise mother
had told me she liad heard men say that a (j^reai :U)^
and a littler doj;* weic amono; the ccmstellations, and I
wondered if the dear lady had j^'one thither, and if
others of the canine rac(! wouM join company with
the ureat doj;- and little (\o^: and I whined aloud,
causin<( my master to start up in his sfeep and come
for a miiuite to pat m<» and to say a kind word.
After my master fell asleep I a^-ain cried out in my
lon^in<^ to know all about these awful things, and
whether, if I went away uj) aniong those shining
stai's, I should meet the kind-hearted lady, and my
master, my mistress, and my good mother; otherwise
I should not be happy.
The foll()wini>- dav Mrs. Freeman and I left Toronto
for Detroit, travelling with the utmost speed. Pjp*^
of our journey was by water, and an angry stoi
knocked our boat about and nearly blew it over into
the deep waters of Lake Ontario.
hi
)n|
I
sol
to
bul
a]
MV LOVED MASTER AND MY HOMK.
IGl
for
vu^
,h Uh
au«l 1
uul it
come
wor<^-
in my
s, au«^
hiniu^
1(1 my
er\vi«e
\)i-oiito
stoi
I WHS «l()\VTi with tiu' trunk ol' niv mistress and
tliose of tlu' otluT ])ass('nj,^t'is, and as tlic storm ^rcw
ill violence iiiv norvousncss iiifrcascd. Tliou<ditH
of hein;; dasliod into tlie <ijreat waters do not ;j^ive
courage to a do^" on ^^uanl of a trunk at midni^lit,
tossiMl aliout so, as I was, tli'st a;:;ainst ow trunk,
tlicn against anotlicr, wliile a swayin*;', Hic'kcrinjr
slnp's lantern made stran<^e sliapes a|»[)ear in every
corner.
I cried aloud, tliouiili bv natui'e l)ia\ e, and as I <lid
so the j)etite form of my mistn^ss apjM-ai'ed. Slie was
white as winter snow, an<l sliiverini^ witl» tlie coM, as
slie drew her heavy travellin<jj cloak about lier and
be^-^ed the ni^ht-watchman to be aUoweil to take me
to keep her company and to cure my nervous loneli-
ness during' the storm.
That fearful ni«:;ht at lentj^th ])assed,and we reache<l
Detroit in safety, at once driving to the address of the
poor sick lady: and so ^Teat was my joy to see this
kind woman alive, and strong enouj^h to stand up
to welcome us, that I stood up on my hind feet and
embraced her.
We took our patient out for many healthful drives
through tlu' beautiful city of Detroit, and were \iny
happy together ; and now that she was rapidly shak-
ing;' ott' that horrid l<t t/rippc, I threw oti' my habit of
it,..urnin<^ and welcomed the return of oladness by
so many wags of my tail as to cause my mistress
to L.a*ifhin^ly say she feared I would " wng; it off'" :
but I was so glad, 1 did not take offence at person-
alities. T onU'^ wagged the oftener, and knocked
U
162
LTON, THE MASTIFF.
Il
iiiMi
|fl« f!
about with joy, as Frisky, the S(|uiiTei, would have
done. Indeed, so clumsy was I in iiiy uiirth that I
knocked the spider-le^s from under a five-oclock
jifossip tablt', which caused Mr. Freeman to hide a
smile ;nid mv mistress to scold.
While at Detroit, we did not witness so many cases
of cruelty to the horses as we do at Toronto, and
during our stay there we wei-e informed that Chicago
has an ambulance for her pooi- sick horses. We were
pleased to heai" this, but soiry that any American city
knows what is due to that noble (piadruped the horsje
better than 1\n<)nto does.
Well time went on, and I became more and more
the companion of my dear master and mistress, both
at liome and in their walks. 1 have listened to many
conversations, when they thought "Oh, it's oidy Lion":
but much of their converse was very interesting to
me, though they frecpu^ntly said I was asleep, or they
thougiit I was paying no attention. One evening I
heard a friend say that, in his opinion, the canine race
ranks next to the race human : also, that we dogs, of
all animals, are man's faithful and constant com-
panions : tliat much as man may love other creatures
belonging to him, after their duties are over tliey
are dismissed to stable oi- outliouse, while dogs alone
remain : also, that (dl other animals lov, hcM to herd
with their kind, hut that fe do(/s lore best the society
of our masters. And T knew that this man spoke
the ti'uth, for at last I had attained mature growth.
About this time, I was ofi' one evening for a run
by myself, as Sandie, the red collie^ way too \^zy to
P
t<\
iu
thi
fr
cri
ripl
M\ LOVED MASTER AND MY HOME.
163
I
ck
) a
ises
anil
.vere
city
\U^
accompany me, ami whom sliouM I meet but niy
friend Marcus, the pointer.
We were in the n<'ar vicinity of Queen's Park at the
time, and stroHed tliither together, ghu! enou<j^li of eaeli
other's comi)anv, I can tell von. On our reachino- the
rustic pavilion in the centre of the park, and in rear
of the new stone buildiiiijf men n\ake laws in for them-
selves — not for us, as yet — Marcus an<i. myself met
many menil)ers of oui* race, nearly all heint]^ thorough-
bred, and some of them very fiiM' fellows, in<leed, as
well as beautiful specimens of different stock. The
evening' was lovely, but the park alnu)st deserted
by men for their better-loved haunts iu ci'owded
meeting-places, in fashion's salons, or in sonie study
corner. So haviuo- this beautiful roaminj^-place to
ourselves, we indulged in a j^raiKl ^ameof chase down
the elastic sod of the ma<j^niticent slopes adjacent to
the University: up and around the tine tall oak,
maple and beech trees, causing more than (me family
of robins hopping about after worms to tly (|Uickly
to the safe bough of a tree
Overheated in the chase, I slipped behind the trunk
of a wide-spreading maple to hide from Marcus, the
])ointer, and the other fellows, as well as to catch up
to my breath, which had gone too fast for me : when,
hearing a mother-binl talking to her young, my
thoughts immediately Hew to my mother Nellie's
friend, who ha<l been com])elled, by reason of the
cruelty of ba<l boys, to fly froin dangei', and looking
up into the great tree, 1 said :
" 1 hope we have not frightened you, Mns. Robin ^ "
IliiSf:
164
LION, THE MASTIFF.
mm\
pi
I
Ii I I
" YcR, und no, Mr. MastitiV' «'i<J replied, peering
with her pretty brijj^lit eyes through the leaves. " Yes,
and no: for I was just telling my family that I don't
fear you do{j;s nearly so much as I do the men nnd
})oys with tlieir murderous weapons."
"True, most true, Mrs, Rohin, nnirderous indeed,"
I repli(!d in low tones, lost my hi<ling-place should be
discovered: foi- I loved a (juiet chat, as my kind
moth(ir Nellie did. " Vvvy true, Mrs. Robin, but you
are not so badly off as the])Oor duck. I lie* r the
guns of the huntei- popping them off' in the early
juorning Ixd'ore the mother-birds are fully awake to
(hmger oi" Iuiao their young up to flight."
" Indeed I know it, Mr. Mastiff',' I'oplied Mi-s. Robin,
sympathetically, "and I fi-e(|uently tell my family J
am thankful we are not ducks."'
"You may well give them that crund) of comfort,
Mrs. Uo])in. I tell you what it is, when I see the poor
fluck servecl up, oi" sus])(Mide(l at the doors of many of
our city restaurants, I feel mad, I'ight down nta<l.
Just r?incy, Mrs. Robin, men pnying othei* men to
shoot down these poor bii'<ls in the clo.se season, fo)*
theii' stomach's sake. Tt is monstrous, monstrous ! "
" It is, indeed, Mr. Mastiff: I wish we ]M)or featlierecl
creatures w re not forced to live in terror of eith«s-
being shot flown to fill the stomach of the epicure,
or for the sake of (mr plumage, to trim the women
with."
Hvrr Marcus, tlie pointer, foun<l me, and was for
giving my hiding-])lace away, when I <piickly cried,
"Stop, Marcus, don't give me away; I don't care to
on
TJ
\'o
X'^:^— ^:_
MY LOVED MASTER AND MY HOME.
1(1'
I't
1 "
Ay
be
h\<l
y(3U
tb"
;e to
.ob\n,
iu\y T
ufort,
«
v\\ to
hs .
[tbi'Vt'tl
eitbor
hnciu'c,
Lvoinen
IvaH Vov
kr crietb
leave to
romp any lonjjjer. If you do, join the others ; if you
prefer a ([uiet stroll honiewanls witli me, come on."
" All right, Lion, for the sake of my memory of
your clever mother's convention I will remain with you
until those rollickers I'un ])ast, then we will be ott*."
"Speak low, Marcus ; there they j^o, and now we
will take this short cut througli the park: " and with-
out a word to the pointer of Mrs. Robin, I looked a
silent <'()od-night up to the cluster of leaves among
which she and her family were hidden.
Marcus and I now sti'oUed along thi'ough the ([uiet
park, talking earnestly of oui* respective masters and
homes.
On entering ji, short street adjacent to the lovely
park, with its cool, elastic sod so welcome to our feet,
ve soon came to the vicinity of the home of the
pointer, where we saw two I'vil-looking men skulking
under a large tree, on the boulevard, a small push-
waggon behin<l them.
We dogs <lid n(jt like the appearance of the men,
1(1 think ini!' them bui'ijiars, as we neai'ed them we
ai
jxrowled.
N'»w, though our gi'owls were (piite pro[)er, and our
bounden duty on coming upon suspicious characters,
yet I remembei" thinking to myself what a contrast
our aiiiirv voices wei'e to the; sweet notes of music
and woi'ds of son<i' of a l>antl of Mi-rcv, cominu" to
our eai's from the open windows of a pretty residence.
The hints chir[)ed in their nests in the tree, in the
sluulow of which the bad men stood, and the swe«'t
voices of the children sana' to the tune called ' Hold
166
LION, THE MASTtPP.
the Fort," which I liad fre((uently heard my mistress
sing, tliou^li the words were different. Tlie chihh'eii
sanj»' —
" Hearts of love with haiuls of mercy,
Hear our joyful song ;
Higliest liill ami lowest valley,
Roll the words along.
CiiOKrs.
".loin our Bands, the word is s[)oken,
Mercy is our cry ;
We will plead for voiceless creatures,
Victory is nigh !
"Cruel acts and dire oppression
Soon will l»e no more ;
We will Iiear tlie law of kindness
To the farthest shore. "
As we stoppe<l to listen, 1 sai<l :
" Marcus, you aii<l I see at a glance that those two
men skulking under yonder tree are bad, but do you
think, pointer, that if they had belonged to a Mercy
Band when little fellows they would wear such wicked
faces now { "
" No, Lion, I do not," re^)lied the pointer, thought-
fully.
Now, whetlier it was that the soft heart of Marcus
was moved to pity for those skidking wretches by
my words, or by the sweet voices of the children, 1
do not know : but 1 do know that on their speaking
to us in the sneaking tones of deceit, and throwing a
little cake of souiLiinng smelling deliciously sweet,
that I growled menacingly while moving .several
MY LOVED MASTER AND MY HOME.
U»7'
ss
'11
two
you
lluicy
ieked
|uj;Ut-
larcus
les V)y
Iron, 1
jaking
'\u^ a
iweet,
'veval
pacos off, for I reioeinbered my \vis(^ niothei's wMrn-
ing as to the narcotic l)all in tlie /ile haiuls of the
dog tliief. Not HO Marcus, wlio evidently had not
carried away as hvucIj of my motlier's lecture as vva»
<j;ood for liim, for lie still sniffed at the fatal ball,
vvhich was drawn by a strin<(, as was my ])oor friend,
evei' nearer and closer to those bad men, and alas for
Marcus, my loud bark of \varnin<j; fell on sleeping
ears. The narcotic had taken effect, and in the sweet
May gloaming, with those " Band of Mercy " voices
tilling the air, the wicke<l thieves secured their prey.
Drawing a sack over the sleeping form of my pool-
frieiKl, the pointer, and lifting him into the push-
waggon, they made off. Such conduct roused my
indignation, and I followed them, barking loudly.
But they fled at a brisk pace, taking many lanes to
avoid policemen, and travelling to the north-western
part of the city, tiring many stones at me in pursuit.
I am no coward, so the missiles did not frighten
me back, but the late hour did, for the hands of an
illuminated tire-hall clock told me it was 9.45, and,
though I was glad of my knowledge of numbers, I
was sorry at the lateness of the hour, for I knew
my dear master and mistivss would be alarmed for
my safety, and I still had a lengthy run south-west
ere reaching home. As I very reluctantly abandoned
pursuit for the home stretch, I could only hope that
Marcus would come to himself ere he was imprisoned,
and reveal himself to some passing policeman by
standing up in tlie sack and barking for hel]).
On reaching home, panting for breath and weary
168
LION, THE MASTIFF.
5^ .
! V 4^H
from the lon<( run, my kim] master scolded me a
little for being so late, while he rubbed my tawny
coat dry witli a rough cloth ; but my mistress, ever
considerate, patting my hea<l softly, said:
" Please (hm't reprove him, he may have delayed
to befriend some dog or man in trouble. Am I not
right, old fellow ^ Yes, yes, I see you are telling me
by that intelligent look that I have guessed aright,
so take this nice beef bone ; you will find many a
good mouthful on it. Now, go to your bed."
At my mistress's kindness I again wagged my tail
while looking at her gratefully. And oh, liow I
longed, as I told the I'ed collie of the dreadful trouble
])efallen Marcus, that 1 could tell my master and mis-
tress also.
Sandie, the collie, was very much troubled at my
recital, and that n^dit I had horrible dreams of vivi-
section, and saw the torturers satisfying their curiosity
and morbid love of cruelty by practising their dia-
bolical arts upon the body of the pointer Marcus.
I must tell you of two interesting conversational
incidents which occurred about six weeks prior to the
abduction of poor Marcus.
It was the end of April, with a suspicion of frost
in the sun-warm air, and a Hying snow-cloud now and
then forming a Heeting canopy to the busy city — ^just
the day for a brisk walk : so that the suggestion of
Mr. Freeman that he ,uid I sIkjuM accompany Mrs.
Fi'eeman from the west end, through College Street,
to Yonge Street, was joyfully acceded to. We enjoyed
our walk innnensely. My mastei* chatted gaily to my
f(
be
wi
nai
MY LOVED MASTER AND MY HOME.
169
a
my
ivivi-
«ity
dia-
i'rost
and
-just
Ion ol'
Mrs.
[treet,
joyOd
to n\y
mistress, and she to him, and both to me. Sometimes
a graver word was spoken, as wiieii we met a big boy
urging a brown curly-coated r<.'triever, by whi}) and
bad woi'ds, to draw him in a small cart. Mr. Freeman
asked the Ijoy his name, but he would not give it. 1
suppose he was ashamed of having disgraced it, or
perhaps he guessed that my master desired to report
him to the Torcmto Humane Society.
We next met two lads training two <l()gs — the one
a terrier, with a dark coiit anil sori'owi'ul eyes, the
other a dear little pug — to di'aw their great lazy bones
in small woodeii carts alonu: the sidewalks. The verv
pretty coat of the tired-looking pug had the i'ui- worn
off* in patches, owing to the constant rubbing of the
harness. Kach ot" those cruel boys had robbed the
trees of switches, with which they whipped the pool*
animals.
Oh, how thankful I was that I had not fallen into
such cruel hands !
Just then I saw a sad sight across the sti'eet. A
poor thirsty dog, when in the act of wetting his
parched lips at a small iron trcjugh filled with water,
had it emptied right under his nose by some school-
boys. I was thankful my master saw the cruel act,
for he ((uickly crossed the street Jind re))roved tlie
boys, while the poor thirsty <log ran for his life from
his enemies. When Mr. Fi'eeman again joined us, he
said wrathful ly :
"Those boys would be the better of a Hogging. I
wish we had Bijah, the Detroit negro, who whips
naughty children with a shingle. The mothers of bad
ffll
1
l||HIB|
m
Ifili
1
lUilMHHiH fjf
'11'
lit
I!'
170
rjON, THE MASTlPr.
children find liiiii usi'l'iil tlien;, and he would find
plenty to whip here in Toronto.'
At this juncture the truant-officer came alon^' an<l
coinpelled the; cru<'l hoys with the <lo{;-carts to ^ive
hi)M their names, which he wrote in a note-hook,
saying lie wouM sec^ that they wei'i; sent to school.
We passed more than one \ehicle on Colle<;e Street,
which the horses strained every nerve to pull.
The lively sparrows wei'e, as usual, numerous and
husy, and I stopped for a moment to see two of them
battling over a worm which the warmer sun of a
[)revi()us day liad awakened too soon. And what do
you thirdv, dear I'eader of this my. autobiography, two
])oys stayed their steps to watch lest I should hai'm
the hii'ds; but though for a moment 1 felt insulted,
right feeling bade me remember that those good boys
were not aware of how mv mother had trained me.
t.
" He looks too kin<l," said one boy, eyeing me criti-
cally, and tossing his school-bag more in the middle of
his back as he shoved his hands into the pockets of
his knickerbockers. " He's so big and grand-looking,
I don't believe he'd touch the sparrows, Victor."
" But he might. Alec : so we had better wait," said
V^ictor, pusliing his cap farther back on his head, as if
to mi.ss nothing.
Here a gentleman came along, and lingered a minute
to say, " I hope you boys are not setting this great (log-
on to the birds ;*"
" ISo, sir: we are Band of Mercy "boys," replied Alec,
tossing some luncheon crumbs to the birds, and so
])ringing a full dozen or more from the trees.
JVI
I
MY LOVED MASTER AND MV HOME.
171
' said
, iis ii
liinute
it (log-
Alec,
Lntl HO
" Oh I I be<^ your ])ar(lon, boys," said the man.
" You should weal" your Itadaes."
" Yes, sir, so teacher tells us, and all the other
hoys <1(): so would \V(^ if they were medals, even
coj)i)er ones: hut the}' are hi'(X)ches, aii<l we are not
^irls.
" Oil, that is your reason, is it T' said tlu' man,
smiling. " Well, l)oys, brooches or medals are, I see,
not necessary to remind you of yom* })led^e. (lood-
bye. / lift my hat to you, because I honour you for
heivg Band of Mercy hoy.s."
'' He's a brick," said Alec, in an undertone, while
lifting his cap.
" Yes, Alec," said Victor, " he's the sort for me. I
hope I'll orow up into that kind of man: not like
those j;'reat cowardly fellows that ti'ap and shoot
birds for what they call the fun of the thin«»-. But,
come on. Alec, let's be oti'. Gooil-bye, you dear old
dog. Go on after your master and tell him that you
are a Band of Mercy boy, too."
Mr. and Mrs. Freeman had walked slowly, then
stood to watch the little sparrow scene. They patted
my head and talked to me as I overtook tliem, and
we three walked happily to Yonge Street. Arriving
there Mrs. Freeman, complaining of fatigue, said she
would take a Yonge Street electric car down town, and
Mr. Freeman having many business calls to make, said
I might aceonipany him : but as we waited for Mi's.
Freeman's car I became detatched from them in the
crowd of transfers and others at this oreat railway
crossing for different city lines, and became so in-
172
LION, THE MASTIFF.
If
toiisely iiitei'«'sk'(l in tin- conver.siitioii of some KiMincI
Clul) men as to cause me for a tinie to t'oi'get to attemi
to my master.
But perhaps you, deal* I'eader, will deem the pui'-
port of the conveisation a suttieient excuse.
Tlie Kennel Clul) j^entlemen were in the midst of
earnest conversation at the doors of their club-room,
wlien my attention was di-awn by tlu*ir remarks on
my breed and fine points. They tlien continued their
chat as to the j^reat love of the ancient (Ireeks foi'
the canine race, and of Xeno])lion's attachment to his
j.(reyhound Horme.
Anothei- speaker, standin*;' tall and lillino- a lai'<^e,
brown overcoat, said in full tones:
"Oh, 1 nmst tell you of two very finely educated
specimens of the canine race 1 heard of while at
London, Knj;land : a man tohl me who had met them.
Their fortunate owner is a man named Leonard,
resi<lin<;" in a fashionable west en<l suburb, a man of
leisure. My narrator called u{)on Mr. Leonard, and
the two handsome Spanish dot;s were introduced as
M. Hi'ac an<l M. Philax, They bowed with exti'eme
])oliteness, and seated themselves upon chairs. Before
dinner tlu'V entei'tained their master's oiu'.st in various
ways, danced, perfoi'med a<^ile feats, and showed theii*
knowlediiv of coloui's and lunnbei's. After the two
iientlemen had dined, Monsieur Leonard ii'ave a choice
bit of meat to M. Philax and told him to hand it to
M. Brae, which he did: then M. Brae was oiven a
piece to pass to M. Philax, which was done w^ith the
utmost ])oliteness.
MY I.OVKD MASTER AND MY HOME.
178
(-1
m\
\v-
.of
Din,
on
lu'ir
for
) his
ar^-v,
N.^xt,
>IM
I irJiinc ol oomniot's was nronosei
prop
.1 iM't
Wrt'M
tlu; j>'U('Ht and M. Hi'ac. 'I'licv played tlic ^^anie <>n a
small talilc, i^rae scati'il opposite liis partnci-. Six
dominoes were dealt in the usual maimer to each player,
id i)lac((d standini»' on their sidt^s, snots t'aeinjr
an
V
players. M. P»rae, the Spanish do<r, havin;^ a douhh'
uund)er, connmnicefl th<' j^ame hy takin^- it u|) in his
mouth an<l })laeinji^ it in the middle ol* the tahle. M.
Leonard's oucst then played a piece, and so on, until
the six were exhausted, when others were (Icalt. The
man now, to test M. Bi'ac's ])owers, played a wi'on<^
number, on which the Spanish dojjj evinced surpi'ise,
stared verv «'arn»'stlv at his i^artner, then l)arke<l
angi
ilv. wlien, no notice })einti' taken of the wronji
play, with a low ^rowl he })iishe<l away the incorrect
nund)er with his nose, and took up a suitahle ])iece
from amon*.^ his own. The play then continued, Brae
wiiuiin^ the game.
"What do you men think of that?" asked the
o'entleman who had i-elated the incident.
"Think of it!" exclaimed a man in a coat like
ntine ; " whv it's tait of sii»ht for intelli<rence I "
"That fellow Leonard is in no end of luck," cried
another, covetously.
" I'll tell you wliat struck me most," continued tlu'
man in the hrown overcoat : "it was the wonderful
power of ohsei'vation and of reasoninjjf displayed by
Brae ; and I believe this tine felh)w here " (alluding
to myself) ' is hugely intelligent: see what an atten-
tive listener he has been."
That's so, Hall ; but tell me, did you meet an
ly
174
MON. TFIK MAST-FF.
wonrlcrlul tlo^s when nlu'oad !* " ask«'«l tlio man in the
coat lik(» mine.
" Yes. Lei'ov. I «li«l. Wliile in Italy I met a man
wlio ha<l listened to a (\o^ who could articulate <lis-
tinctlv no less than thirtv woi'ds!"
* •
" Who was his teacher. Hall f" in(|uired a man in a
lavender suit.
" A Saxony ])easant boy," returned the traveller.
" What breed :* " aske*! a keen-faced man, taking
out his note-hook.
" Ah, that T cannot tell you: my informant very
stupidly failed to ask. I tell you wliat it is, boys, our
fondness for tlu; canine race isn't a patch ujion the
affection a man over the water has for his dog. I
heard wondei'ful tales proving;' their moral (pialities ;
indeed, as often putting ours to shame. We kiioiv
of their <iff((chinnnt heinfj proof agaimM unkindvess,
nJtscnce und Dcr/lect."
" That's so, Hall : if we men were as constant a«
our dogs, it would V)e better for us and for our families.
Some of us are of very mean breed."
So intently had I listened that the pviise of our
constancy had not fallen upcm idle ears, and my
thouMits flew at once to my mistress. Had I not
been neglectful of my duties f
The trav<'lled man they called Hall 'now patting
and talking to me, I stood up on my hind feet — a
habit of mine— and end)rac6Ml him. And even while
he stroked my forehead, I had bounded from him.
again taking constancy and duty by the hand, as I
^endeavoured to get on the scent gf my master — my
,Hi
MV l-OVED MASTEFl AND MV HOME.
175
IV our
ll u»y
I not
[itthijJJ
fet — ^i
while
him.
, as 1
:— my
jnisti'css, not Ix'iiii:' Miiioii''' tlic O'owd Mt this luisv
crossinn-, must linvr IxtiU'diMl tlir clfc.'ti'ic th'cj- s«'vrrjil
iiiiimt«'s Ix'l'oi'c.
I was Mwarc that Mr. Ki'criiiaii was to f^n south as
far as (^)ut'('n StrtM-t. As a li^^ht snowfall, wliicli
fuclUMJ as it tell, with many t'()ot-])rints, had drstroyrd
thescont, 1 kept my nose to the j^i'oinid to no purpose,
so decided to make the nni to (^ueen Sti'eet. I went
at a rapid paee down Vonj^e, not stoppin;^" to sjieak to
Duke, a mastitt", nor ?'ritz, a hlaek-an<l-tan, nor evrn
to Nero, or to Maxv, the St. Hcinard : noi* did I
waste anv moments irazino- at mv mirrored retlectioPi
in the sho]) windows, as I saw many a hijx'd do, Tor I
was con.scious ot havniii' ncirlec
f h
'ted
mv <
luti
»'S w
hih
^Teatly <leli<;]ite<l and pleasantly excite*! l»v wliat I
had overheard tlie Kennel C'luh men say. I kept on
and on until, ji'oin<; into Simpson's, 1 saw ahead of
me a little lady, with hair the colour of sunheams
and wearino' a sailor-hlue fjown, enter the store.
That is Mrs. Freeman, I thouiifht, and ^la<l enough
I was, for the i-un from College to Queen Street had
sli^'htly fatigued me, and f lont^ed, as I ha.stened to
the door of the shop and waite<l for her to come out, to
feel her dear hand on mv head in token of foi'tjiveness.
I waite<l a lon<»" time at the door, but a man would
not let me enter. At last I was rewarded hy seeing
my niaster across the street. I harked, callinf^ him
over, when, with a few strides, he was Ix'side me,
sayinj^ kindly :
" So here vou are, vou truant. Is tijadie in here.
jjind are you waiting for \}er i"
76
I, ION. THE MASTIFF.
lar
My niastci" ami mistress iiivariahly sjm)1<i! to me
intcilim'ntiv, kiio\vin<r I imdiTstoofl them: ami s«»
at tlic (lucstioii, "Is Ka<li(' in Iktc :" " I \va;.(<;v(l my
tail ami st('))}u'<l eagerly to the dooi', whieli Mi\ Free-
man entered. Ijiddin*:' me wait outside. In a few
miiHites he j'etnrn"(l, tel!in«;' me that he ha<l seen the
littK' lady with ^oldcin hair and l)lue ^'own, but that
she was not our
Kad
le
a<l<nn<''
"Come alonjj^. Lion, wi- shall find her at home,"
r tlien eseorte«l mv mastei', who talked U: lae as we
wall<e(l, and to whom I was verv attentive an<l watch-
Jul of his e\ «'i'V moNement.
On ivachinii' home I was scolde(l a little and for-
(j;iven a «;"()od deal.
Ojie day I wa n «;;uard. the house Itein^' completely
deserted. Kven Sandie. the re<l collie, was al)sent, and
for diversion's sake 1 entei'ed the drawin^jj-room, and
standine" at the window, my hind feet on the tlooi",
my paws on tlie sill. ;;a/ed forth U])on the busy
scene. I freciuentlv induljied mvs<'lf in this wa\- if
1 was alone. If mv mistress and her m(»lher were
p)"es(Mjt. w«' had tjivat fun I'ecoe-nizin^- jtassin^
acfpiaintances they with ])i'ettv smiles and hows;
I, h\' wav'ii'inii' "'V tail, oi" sometim(>s h\- a ul;«<l note
of recojinition.
I fre(|Uently watche(l foi" tlie return of .Mi-. Free-
man from town. Mrs. Fi'eeman savinu', I-.ion.
don't foriret to watch for \-our master
an(
I
as
I invariably e\ inced *;-reat joy at his ap|)roach. niv
mistress knew who was connn*;, (mi my makine- a
break from tlu' win<low foi- the hall, often throu<xh
u\v
li so
IIIV
t.
that
IS \V«'
{itcli-
i'or-
lotelv
t, ami
I, and
fl
(Kjr,
biisv
were
uss'm^
]k)\vs ;
1 note
I'l'C-
l^ion
I
n<
as
li. mv
luii:
ivoiil;;!)
th
•MV /,0V
EJ. MASTER AVf) ^y „
f>ME.
17?
'Utaiinl
♦'iiiciif (,!'
w
'•" ^'x' floor l„.|
S ()
liMiid
Hut
I'fl
to
w]
K'll I
'■'"tinii to tl
•l Strillo- ;,|t,,..|.,,| J
""«"'"^- to a hit or
'"'-I^Jlskcts,
'• '•« I '-1 1 1 of
Of
w
[>\-
oo
icr.
lis
"^tofki,,,
in til
l''"""tiVijIai ,|
X'lllo- ,,1 ,
CI
"■'■ '"oi- loiicl
'^y ill •iiicsh"
•OIJSc
<-|M(|
Aiifl ol
IIH>S,>
'. ^vIlat
(>'
"'^' Ultll I
tl
IV;it
"' \vill(|ou-
lie oC ,,,^. I
;n-<l
on
a\()ui-i(,.
M,
'i>i iiiastcr, f
,l<>\-
ireiis. t)i(
'•''•'•''I. and 1
Mir tl
ii('\
I'ointci-. W
Was s(, o|.„j f
rs
as
I
J I'lislu'd tl
(•liitcl-
•"^''W IIIV ()|,,..f^
iii.-istifj
•' N("r til.
^•ross the stivet,
Walk-
Mile
'latr.l U'irju]
■^ '<iv a soft-)
<'^ that I
poor i'vW
K'art.'d
aiK
<' o
r d,
'♦'III out ol'
''■'iiiiplcd tl
.11 M
'>!■ 'Il\- ,,\
'••ivijs; ,.,„d tl
"'.^' ^vay i„ (..,|(.|
"^\ out of
'*' '•iii-tai/is
a/>o
•''■wroiinlit ^-^,^^1
"'II. a,'
""^- .•! last
"^ til.. .|<..s,.,-ted I
inn-s, i I
••' N;ih-t\--x;i|
<'a
tl
Th..,, J
i"^<' had I
at d
lOIIS.' |i|,
^*' •'' .i^T.'at „,
I
IK'll
''""'" fl'i"l<. H.nv.li.n
'■<'S()In-,v,| f
•■••"•tx -\ai\(.
''^''' 'i"'l honn.(..d
''''O' "lon-n.
'•' ''^<-'i|)elV<,„,
>^lioid.|
-•id\(>ntu
o
"^'•■'" "l'<'ii liiiii in iu
lit 1
OI-
K'S.
'" nni. an.l )
KMC hi,
'''•'"'";4-. H li..,i I
M !
/..^" tJx' ivt,n„ or
""''<'. r toM J,,
'''•ouiit hi.'
<-olli<. Sj
ti
oi;r
on of M,
which
•'isa|)|„,i„t,.,|
"•'•IIS to tl
^'iuiiilv,
■itt.rth
<'S(
■'^'•^'^'•' ''v th.. ,v,|
•'IK'WS of f)„
viu.fi.. ^va
"' ^■"•"l>'"iionshi,, of I
|-"st
or;|-
>< no .loiiht
m\-
III,.
MI.U'C
oonl.l
'l""'t u-avof
^ •'•■:■ ;^-I.-i'l ],ut I
IIS (llaSt..,-. ;,,
I hn<\ .1
not font,
'"'••iiit.Ntino- J, I
''"">iistrativ.. d
••' al\\;M.-
'•'^position I
'III lll\S(. IC
<MSU)V
»\-
I-
»iit
o
on..
^iViit.
Ill tl
an.
"'','inVt h.»i
' 'i'^ipcd an.l I
N "11 I
low J
'•^"'"" ^^.<tehino•th
»<^ini.|('d
as
point«'i-
17S
MO\, THE MASTIFF
S;m<li<'. I ( rird. • will \-<ni t,*(nii(' onl with n!;> T
or
I!'
I ; ■:: i:
!\ \'\u\ tills rvcnhi;:*:' I ;nn j-oiiio' to ''all U))(>n the
1
i>iiit<'
\c, i thank you, I. ion. I am tiled to liMipncss."'
" Hut. Sandir. \ aijain plcadcMJ. " ai'c nou n(it ♦'ai'rr
to hear all }d)out those wicked thieves i*"
' Yes, IJoii. f am : hut you are a ^;()od leeitor, and
will tell me all on y(jur return. I tell you what, it is.
Lion, I haven t a le^- to stan<l on, nnich less tour. I
hope cook has a ;^'o(m1 hone lor me. '
'"See hej-e. Sjoidie." I a^idn Ix-en-ed, " it" vou will
conte, I will iiix'' \-ou mv next hone, ' and nivthouirhts
Hew to M. I'rac and .M. Phila\,and theii* politeness in
passine- hits ot meat.
" No, Lion, a whole sirloin roast would n<»t tempt
me out a<j;'ain this e\rnin^"; so jdease don't hother me.
I am cross and tired, hut will watch For youi' return."
And thus it was with Sandie (,n \mimous occHfsions.
I think the dear collie was a wee hit la/,v.
That e\enine" mv kind mistress, ohserxinir m\
im])atience to h" o'one. on o|>enine' the hall door t'oi-
me iialt' an hour eai'lier than usual, patted my head,
saviuii' :
" Lion, IJon, whv so ea<:er to he otf ' Whither ai-e
VOU homid, you dear ohi lellow ! See. here is the
hone you shall have on youi' retuiMi. 'I'here, there '
do'i't toHH my t;()wn : oti' with you."
I found the pointer on ^^uard in the vestihuh', the
outer <loor ot" which was wide ojk'U. He c>ilif*d out,
on seemi'' me
H
ello. Moll
a
lA
III".
ol
/"or
Mn
<<s
you
am a lucl\ \ <loi>
Vf^l
\,f\
ore
:^i:^^'ems:
)!0 for
y, ami
it it is,
)ur. 1
»\i will
()ii{::)its
ness in
, t«'iii]»l
luT inc.
rrbivn."
cMsinns.
iii;j; my
looi' tor
iv Ih'jkI.
tluM- Ml-f
<• is tlif
Mile, tlif
jj*^<l out,
49 ^tfA'orr
you had
"V LOVED MASTER AND ,,V HOME,
i'roui tl)c sU
"" fil)out tl
p;jss».,J. .M
I7n
<'|)S.
(
y Ui;i,st,.,> i
OKlc I
"^ "Ut. so I
•('1*0
" Hell,), M
C'niie out to src
"'■^<' liornM .|,,o-.M
/
"•" '»f'liiu^- to ff
(''HI not stir
llCNcs
\'n\]
a reus
[
<'i'i('(|
•"'««t<'r this aft
•^"^\' \'ou pass ,,„,. I
yo'i .••!•,. j„st the .luH- r
a w
hole s)
<''■'>'>">!. a IK I wa
lousr with \
'<IM that I (;„„M
S S(» (r
our
^^'>^'''<'a.I. How,Ii,|
t'l t(
sea !•(•(. cuitai
^''t so fast. L
\'oU
r^''^- "-'""'.t «.,,:,:::;;:'?.:'!• ^:''''''^''
whol
take rifl
"Al't.'r I
cotic hall,
''scajx' .^
'""• 'vpli,.,| th
> >^«'<' you with
•• Mi\s('ir
Sf)
M)\\ I fajv,!
<' I'OIDtri-
How [
M'l- ot
US t
" I"('i< a hoiM
"«• to tell
as i< wouM
■^•''»' < ' to Hn.j
lavin^- l..'('ii soft
y^»" i-cnx'iiil
iii\-.s«'If
on
liU (.1* tl
•t rj
'aUl, ;i||,j i,,
"'."T'"">^'.M.|||ha( „,
'■•'('<»\('r('<| ,
Ntn,.||in-,.,.|h,r
"'»•. Lioii, I
'"<*' lll\-S('||
'"',". f'""-"";^i.l.r,.| au.l I
;""'''''".^-^^'^'''fiv.oflHM-.|
oirs.
laNnio- I
\V
♦ 'IK
lui-cd
''••' 1 f<. (I'll
"'''" trapp,.,!
yo" of th,
'" that rtlfl
siiH
< 'nil us
we
^^•^'"tof',Mnv,|n„|<
'y-Nii,rlli„o. don ,,r fl
six ,|
(,n-s
ahovo all. t|
'""• ^\'»iil(l notm.t i
ni^^'-watcr
rood
>N'\,>s. fop
(.
"' ''"'"panionship „r
'lourishi
"<'Ht, and,
nio-hf. Tl
K'lr
A;<'t Moino to-ni(rhf
•"!»• master
"•>. iior to-m
ofth
*' f'annio rac
^"""- ^va,s to ,t,al valuahl
""■ o'lr iV(.,)v,>i-\-
•'I"'' then to fl
"111 offi'red
Vo'l.
orr()^v
•' specimens
•■<'\vards
A I
M
xaiiinahle wretd
les
•'ivus, and phvise
I <'xcl,
- '<'''<>c'.<)us ...s any ladl-d
*'ou HUtt'ert^d."
"^^on't apol
''"^■^''i'^'' iiiv into
timed.
But (.■
oon.
< (( I"
Wh
'''■"I'tion. r,,r I i\.^.i
'" I til ink- .,r wl
lat
"^•i>^t', M„n; / hd.
\e
y^'uall tiiehott
cr I
or
180
MON. THE MASTIFF.
■■1,1 f.
■ J;
-^1' (I
your sympnthy. An«) iinw to my story. At last
wfieii iii\' licnrt wns \vrll-iii(>li hi'okcn, I wn^^ it
storod. tln*<»Ui:"li m conrtMln-iitr ol' the tliicxt's, to Jii\
iiiMstiM", oil liis ])Myiiin' tJic sum ol" H\r tlolhirs. Hut
wlifit think you. Lion I those audficious men stoh' mr
a second time ! "
" Marcus, tlie pointer!" I exclaimed, startin^^ tomy
Feet: "you never wei-e fool enoue'li to smell that
abominahle ujuvotic hall a second time!"
" \(), Lion. I am not <|uite so soft. Tliey cau^lit
me a second time l>v a Iteautil'ul i»it of meat, a lasso
«
find a whip: and on tlieir <iran-uino- me throue-h tin-
dark streets, two policemen ((uestioned them as to
their I'ieht to my detention and lash oi' tlu^ whip,
and in hotli cases. Lion, tluy had the insolence to
declare that they liad purchased me from a man wlio
sold me because my temjx'i' was so vicious he fearej I
would hite someone, so concluded to sell me. What
do N'ou think of such a liixd on me as that. Lion f "'
" Outrageous, Marcus, outraecous !" and I stocxi u|t
in the vestibule and shook myself in impotent wrath.
" Vou mav W(dl .^av so. Lion: outra^'eous is the
woiHJ, for you know that insteail of my hein^- vicious
I am the easiest goiuj^; doo- in the Queen (Mty. Well,
well. w<! ai'e accustomed to lihej, and have Mterally no
i'edi-ess. The thieves draetj^^ed me once more to (hir
ance vile — vile, \es, intolerahl\- vile. ( )the)- tliorouiih
Itreds of oui' race were held 1»\' those I'ohbers foi'
I'ansom.
W
e were snauM
'full
y neylei
ted.
esiieciallN'
wiien they had won a j'ewai'd for the i'eco\t'iy of oin
nd)er — when those l)ad men feasted an<
ol our nu
;4ot
heai
SOI 1 1
NUffi
'Voiii
\vn\h
•niotJ
'lave
Vt last,
vnw ro-
, to my
s. Hut
tolf UK'
n- t() my
«11 that
CMUi,
•1.1
UL
III
a iMsso
as t<»
h'lK'c t<i
115111 \v1h>
fearcj 1
. What
ion f
stood ti]'
it wratli.
[1
IS IS
U'
V1C1()U>
Well
ur
e to '1
horoiiiili
iDei's
foi'
('six'ciallv
rv ol oiii
isted uii<l
^IV l-OVKD MA
•*<'''KH AND Mv
'''';"'<- 1<' uttn- ro)-,.vtfi,i
"OMK.
181
•itioii for I
lilt
'N |)()(>i- cvMtl
II. 'ss ,,r |',,,„|
y, stiiff\' (.,.||,
n'
"'•'^ on short e)
^vatcr or \,.|||,
'-■•"IS. in (j,,.|,.
'Jut at I,
»>i^ wv ha. I
was II,, ,.,„j ,,|- .^ |,
'""■ '""V'-no,, (),„. ,,^
"■^'•q""«- IVom til., hack d
''•^•'^'■^'■•"•'•y .-'..I tinnhl., hi.l
i\- tl
It'l'C
o\ cr th
il
<' n.iji
oor o
u:
Tl
r tl
i'i;H' and
ai>o\(. ,,,s ; I]
''•'^^■" to our o.j„nl
iciv wa.
"' Wivtcla-.l 11
"'" on to th
•■* stradx' tv
(Jii
M'
rickct
V stai
nil). (,r j-,.,.f
hi -St t
"'I.' diiii
no-
•''■""■^ prison, ul
'■^\<-iy I. 'a. Ill
I'''
w.'in-u-ino- <„„• tail>
our
■■'Pt'vitv. hound,..|
"'" w<', I'or th
pol
"■^'""*". wlio talk,., I
^•" ^^'t'' Aila.l harl
to oil)- f,.,.(
sS \\r
^\h<) had not
aiiorilv
to tl
aw tl
lie
.'sca
an. I
• nastj.rs.
|"oii,| of
<'o'uniaii,Jinu- th,.,,! )
!'•'•'• '>id.lino. tl„.ni I
IOS(.
o
f tl
I.' li'ano'
I tell
'••th t.
"oscn oui- ,.J,ai
IIS,
\'OI
o
Niat ,
V
ur hi
' what it is, I
'•<'st,,r,. IIS t
U(.-(.,,at,.,|
-.Ion, w,.
■^ ^ivat i-fvcn.
'^<-<"t. JJut, t.
O OIII-
.|uit..
Ul.'. wasnt
Wi'lV
<'.s. \-,..s
oar
Dllt
K O
.|o\'
a pita I
(
••M>''tal:"J(.nV,|
Wl
lo
.'a
^^■^^'i-i:
M
'" "". point.. r, h
l»ut the poJicvon tl
:'^'uoa u-Ja,|
''''' ^^"'v tlu'v h.nn.l
"'"• f'-'il'" 1 ask.-d
Ai'ot tl
hcai-d
ion.
y inast,-!-. [^
'<' sct'iit i:i tl
'■•'tui-ne.l M
'^''<'us, j.)-ou,lIv. • h
.erallyiK' I soni,. aftcj- [
'"" '''»"^Ii ahoiit it
"■' ;^AV- an.l I l.av,. |
aiff
'^'■"»;t,'- fj-oni tl
H
was an-ain stol
re
•' sa\-s I
i(Uentl'
K' \va
s so
10
<'n. an, I |
loilc-
I'oni
iia.
I t
walls a
J'oatiiM.nt. that I
■^'•ui,. hoi-rihlc ,|
••'•'I •inn- J ,va,>
'^•"'"•'. as \\,^j]
anoti
'■('Ward I
H' au-ain ,H,sf,.,| ,,n ti
as
»^'»' of th
""• '"v ivcovery, which I
«•" cjt\-
I k
•' ^'ano- \v|,
uow \\|i,.r,. J
<» said
a-oiioht al
• 'ni«
na\
•' five dollars j
<a- t
.)
an oet yoiij-d
l^*'t hijii."
'^' •^"■. ''Ut J iniiMt
Oo
r
I • ■■!■
If I
18i>
MON. THE MASTIFF.
m
ft,'
ill!
" ' You'll not f^et u cent tVoin iiic,' snid my ninstt'i'.
Inittoniuo- uj> his coat, ' jukI wluit's inoit*. it' you kloii't
say avIkhv my doo- is, III call a policeman, who will
soon ii'et it out of vou.
At tliis the thief skulk«'<l towards tlie d(
)oi-
sav'inii'
" ' Don't he hard on a [ujor man, sii', who is tiyiiii;-
to earn an honest nennv. I II take twct Hftv and oet
him I'oi' you, sir.'
" ■ No, \'ou won t, said m\' master
)assini
»ra\el\' : and ii(>in<'
'• cons
tahh
e, wno, on
to the window, he haile(| a p
ent«'rino-, standint^" with his hack to the clo.sed dooi',
said to my master :
'"Well", sir."
" Only this,' replied my ma.ster, ' that I have reason
to suppose this man to he one of a ^an*;" of do;;-
thieves who have het'ii exti'actinii- larj>(' I'ewards fi'om
sevi'ral men in the city, as w»'ll as my.stdf. foi' tlu-
r«'tui'n of their animals. I am just ahout sick and
tired of ijavinii" rewards into tlu' hands of the iiantj'.
so J desire you to deal with this fellow who has tlif
im])udent cheek to ask for another five."
W
tl
WW is this o'entleman s (iot>
th
d(
llKlUlltMl
th
i)oliceman.
' ' I duniio.' i-epliecl the thief, sulkily.
"Don't tell anv of voui" lies to me,' I'etui'ned the
constahle. 'I have had m\' ev«' oJi \'ou for some tim«'.
I' • (
and knew xou wei'e uj) to no ii'ood. What did \'oii
trap this j^enth'man's do«^ foi' { '
"' 'Cause he broke into my hen roo.st and ate one of
laiy Stettin hens." answer»Ml the thief.
w
MY LDVEIJ MAStEU AND MV HOME.
IK.S
rv.
mi
A-ill
« )()!',
11), on
s l*nm>
or the
(.•an--.
|n' tinu'.
L out' i»^
" What do you tliiiik of that, Lion, tor an insult to
a .s])ortin^- tU)<^ '.'' said tlic point*'!', indignantly.
"HorriMe!' 1 said dis(rust«'dlv, 'Hut what did
vour niasttT sav ? '
" He lauj^luMl iniuiodi'rately, savin*;':
"'Oh, this is too iiiufli. Listen, othcci-. he savs niv
sportin*^ do^' Mai'cus. the pointer, ate his c'hicken.s.
\'
oui' iiaint' IS i)
•laviMJ,
ni\' man.
I
liivt' vou in chaiu'*
ai
u
tl
w
id, otficcr, sec to it. })lease. that the ^'an^' is hi-ok<'n
p and sent to dirt'crcnt pi'isons ii" one won't hol<l
U'ln al
' And thus it w^as. Lion, that the dm of «loo-thi«'Vt's
as riiidt'fj, and I was auain restored to in\' hrase
mastei".
' Three cheers t'oi- him, .Maieus I" I cried, leapinj^and
liai'kino- For joy at the discomfiture of the do*^' thieves.
" And now. dear ])ointer, I must bid you ^'ood-ni^ht.
I am achinii' to recount vour adventures to Saiulie,
the I'ed collie. The nioj'al of all this for vou is to
l»evvare<jf a narcotic hall in the hands of strant^e m»'n.
And now, t^ood-ninht a^ain, Mai'cus, o-ood-nio-ht."
Good-ni<rht, Lion. Sorrv I can't leave the d(
)or
step to s<'e you part of the way honu'. Come anaiu
soon.
If e\('r a doi;' made a swift run I did on that even-
iiiH'. And the red collie, whom I found on the step.s
at our dwelling' waitiiiii' for mv retui-n, eiiioved full
wt'll m\' recital of the hi'cakini!' ui) of tlu' do<^-thief
I'-aui''.
\V(
«' made \er\' merrv o\er tiien' down
1'
th
d<
ifall.
am
after a hone and hit of Sj)i-att's hiscuit from th«' kind
hands of our mistres.ses. we went happily to bed
184
LION, THE MASTIFK.
J^ii
CHAPTKK W
■11'
I AM lost: stakvkd: and alonk:
\'(tl'. ih'nv \-vm\vy ol* this the last ('li;i))(t'r of my
jiulohioniapliy, will please osei'look its rra*;iiientMiy
toll)
as
I I
ia\ e
)eeii \('i'\' ill aii«l scarcelv aide Ik
recount my late sad exj)erieiice aii<l <lnlet'iil state tn
the kiml tiieiid who writes I'oi- me.
Oil the (Itli of .Imie, iiiv dear N'ouim' Jiiistiess and
J stai'ted I'oi- a walk. It was a iK-antilul mornii)''"; Ji
cleai" Mile sky with no cloud at home or abroad to
warn me of imj»endin<;' e\ il — to waiii me to keep close
to Mrs. Kreemans skirts : nothiim' t
o warn me o
r th
traiiic ending" to m\' Itri^lit dav; no note of warnino'
to avoid a six weeks' last in my li\inu' toiid), a vacant
sho)> on Kinj;' street, of tiiis city.
Mv misti-ess and I walked alony- hlitheand iiaw I
was in s|)lendid liealth and condition, weiohino- l;{:>
I
)ounds, and wonden'd if the sitarrow we noticeil on the
liouse-top sint^int;' to its youn^' was nearer ha))|tiness
than I. Ijion, the thorouehl)re(l mastift".
The citv was al've and throniicd with pe(lestrians,
wjio som«'times came, in the luiriy of life, lietween me
and tlie skirts of mv mistress's liiiht sunnnei' iiown.
The asphalt pavement iileamed in its newly cleansed
I AM l.osr I STAUVIhl AM) AI.ONK
1 s.-
l
\:V1
iint'ss
•ians,
In u\»'
vn.
|\nst'<l
wliili'iit'ss. wliicli cyclists liowlrd nvi'V with tlic swil't-
iicss (»r wiiiu'iMl l)i)-(ls.
(iail\' caitfirisoiicii sti-nls drew iiioiicxcd citi/ciis
Nvlio. ill most cases. c;iit(| naii^lit Inr tin- InituiiiiL;'
iiiakc-uj) <)
tl
M'lr liorsfs.
s(» tliat {lic\ wcif ildcUcd
ami (>vcrcliccl\('il to tiic lit most extent of lasliionalile
cruelty, as poor Nest(»i' ami l)ol» had heeii lortiiretj.
My l\iiid mistress tall\ed often to me as we \\all<ed,
and it seemed to me as thtuuli I had iiescr hecn
laiiltiel'
M'l
W
e saw a n-i-ocerx- wa''L''oii drop a !>lass arol pick
and a la<l\' weaiine- ,i iJuml ol' .Mei'c\- l)adi'e ste]»
ia)»idiy a spirit of kindness-— and ])ici\ the hrokeii
;4laNs in hasty fashion from out the liorses' patli.
We were full of pity for some poor hl'okell-klieed
street-car horses we saw on side lines, and i^lad at the
tlH)neht of the complete elec'ti'ic ser\ice soon to he
the r«'lief of these much-aluised animals.
We met inniierons tliirstx' menil)ers of the canine
race, and 1 staved a moment to watch with what io\'
one Ol' more lapped Irom l)lessed, nne.xjiected Humane
Societx' doii-ti'oiliihs.
We met dozens of thirsty-lookine', tired-appearine-
children of the ))oor and I'ich, and we lon^^ed for the
milk-o-jirdeiis of Frankfoi't, Kni'ope, of which I ha<l
heard my mast»'r speak, to he estahlishecl here for the
dear little childi'en.
On we walked, .Mi's. Freeman seemine' as happy in
my escort as I in hei' coinpanionshi)). ()ii and on we
went, e\er iiearini'' mv horrible doom, m\' heartreiid-
r
18(i
LION, THE MASTII'K.
V,^h
I
'i
' I, '
iiio' a;^()iii('s, my liiiMci-ino-, tojtiiiiii;^ illn«'ss IVoiii tlu*
t't'arl'ul |»jiii;;s of starvation and a^oni/iiij^" tliii'st.
Ill tVoiit ol' a slio|) (jii Kiii;^' Strrrt sonic n*])airs uimc
iM'iiii'' «'X»'(Mit('«l. 1 iM'canic nionit'ntarilv <l«'tac*lit'(l from
my niistiCHs. One ol' tlir workmen wliistled. I hc-
canu' contnscil, and, always brave, followed witliout
feai" into tlie vacant sliop, tliinkin^i' my mistivHs must
liave enteied wlien, in the twinkline' of an ev*', I was
alone — alone, and, alas for me, shut and locked up in
a dai"k I'oom at the hack of the sliop.
The remaindej" of that summer day, which had
heen so full of ha|)piness, was intensely lonely : hut
1 conti'olled mvself as well as I could, lesoK iui:" to he
patient, hopinn- that the men would retuin and liheiate
me before it ^rew late.
I tried to solve the nieaninii' of m\' unlooked-for
imprisonment, wondei'int^- if the men were cr«iel
enou<;,li to lock me up in the lio[)e of securing- a
reward for my ivcoverv, as in the case of dear Mai'cus
the ])ointci-.
I told myself that at most I would surely be libi'i'-
ated
ni
th
le mornino- and makini"- new j'csolves
to b
patient, as my friend Sandie would be in a like misfoi*-
tune, I sti'etched myself out on the hai'd plank Hooi',
(leterminino- to keep awake in the hope that I mii;"ht
hear the welcome voice of mv lo\ed masti'i" calliiiij'
me to home and liberty.
At this thouj^ht I stai'teil once more to my feet.
Iistene(l an<l walked about, until wear\' and heart-sick
aii'ani
la\' d(
'l>
tl
own ui)on tlie woo«leii nooi
H(
I AM lost: htauved: and ai.onk
187
■ for
(>• iV
reus
hw-
st'or-
\«)or,
no-ht
-sif'k
Ni;;ht |)jisH('(l, til*' noises of day tolliii;;- uw tliMt
iiioi'iiiiijj' held coiiit', l)Ut it hiouiilit no iilcaiii of sun-
sliint' in ni«', onlv n liiilitt'i- nijilit. I)V reason of laded
lieanis itoniin*'' to nn- tlu'ou^li fre\ iced walls.
With the new day came, alas, no delivei'ance.
room in which I was iminisoned was stiliinj''.
T\
le
As another day and nij^^l't wor«'on,and vet another
T 1
)ecamc nervous a
nd excited. No food, no watej-
no companionslii]), and I he^an to icali/e that I was
in i\vvi\ and in truth lost.
<)h, the ^I'ier this would cause my deal" ones; and
on thinkiiiii- of m\- loved master and niisti'«'ss 1 woidd
hui'st into a terrihie bark of entreaty and despair.
Ovei" mv hodilv sutiei"in<:s. ovei* mv mental a^oni
es.
in |)itv tor the sorrow of the inmates of mv^ Ntved
home, I nnist draw a veil. Starved and imjjrisoui'd !
The words speak foi* tlu'mselves : hut on/// a don ''" "
redlr.e tlw imi/uln/t of se/mratlon from n lored rnuafrr
or lu/isfresH.
At last, after lono- davsand drearv nights of tortui-
inir
pai
n and terrihie loneliness, a fevered hrain was
my portion, and in the vitiated atmosphere I became
delirious. When this left me I could scarcely crawl
about, and was reduced from the .splendi<l condition
in which I had entered this mv livinijf toml) to a lack
of bones. My poor, weary, lieart-sick bi-ain at last,
at intervals, mive way. I would awake to sanity, not
alas, with a start, for to stai't betokens some sticnoth.
I would awake to my horrible fate from delirious
dreams of my mother Nellie and of hei* liasini;'
Ai
i>
^
^^^«>
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V
iV
H>^
LV
o"^
II i
m
%
ho
III i
I'll''
ISS
I.ION, THK MASTIFF.
wisely (jUottMl tli.-it ill the (l<jo- is tlic Iriuiiipli of
oltactoiy )»o\vri'. I would uwiikc to \\\u\ inys.'li' in
tliu \ii(' !itMios])li('i'(' ol" tliis hnck-i'ooni prison : would
awjiKc
I'oni Urranis ol
ilellu-htl'
ul
runs with nei
th
tliroUi;'li the W(.)ode(l hci^-hts of Sfarhoi'o', or down
Beufli Avcinu' to the shore c^l' the e-ivfit Lake Ontario :
iui<l as we ran, our i'eet Hew up IVoin the elastie, loamy
soil, and I would awake to find niyseH' a prisoner in
niidsuiiuiier and starvini:'.
A
li'ain wou
Id I
awaKi
from flreanis ol* home eoml'oi'ts, and in an a^ony ol'
fear 1 would dwell upon tiie terrible thouo-ht that
was dailv Ix'C )minL!' a niiihtmare to me, that 1 should
die ol' a ^'reat loneliness, never seeiiie- a^ain the ]o\e<l
laces ot* my dear mastei" or mistress. Then 1 would
fall into a terri])le, trance-like stupor, tToni which I
tried to rouse mysell" to some reiiiainino- spark ol'
life in mv intense lonii'liiii' I'or home.
At last 1 hear my prison doors open, hut only see
strange faces : perhaps tliey come to slay me. No,
they ^aze and mutter of the do*i' who had been shut
up by their hand forty-two days ago: tiiey trembK'
as they talk in scared wliispers tog(>ther of tlie wori'y
mv loss has caused mv master.
Ah I then, my j^ood master had searched for me 1 I
new lie wou
Id.
My cai'eless jailers and unthinkiu}:,' liberators still
stared aghast at eacli other, while expectorating the
tiltliy prison odour from out their mouths. Tliey then
mechanicallv unfastened the door leading to the sliop,
with its large window facina" the crowded thoroutih-
I AM lost: starved: and alone
180
lO,
riv
kill
the
[op,
M-ll-
h\ro — l»nsy Kiuj;' St rrrt. Rrnsoii toM nic tluit I iimst
rxci't iii\' liist iTiiiMiiiiiiii' sti'diiitli tnci'MwI witliin view
of tlic passcvs-hy. Til*' Jitiiiosjihcrt' Ix'iiit;,' less \itiatp<I,
toffetluT \vitli tlu> hope that I iiii;;lit ]»<'ivliaiKM' he
seon ))y my master ov othci's dear to iii«', lent me
momcntarv sti'ciio-th to (li-an- iii\' ixxa- star\<Ml IxxK-
thitlier. In a \'v\\ moments an idle, cni'ions crowd
had ^'atliertMl. J saw the survixal ot" tlie saxap* in
manv
I'i
ices, as with one voice tlie\- cned out to a
th
))oliceman to come ami shoot me. Hut the humane
element was there also, a man calling- out in pitiful
tones :
" No, no I the poor doo- is not mad. I heseedi you
to spare liim."
"He is mad," cried the crowd, "and will jump
throu'di the window and hite half a dozen of us.
Fu*e, officer : tire ! '
And even a« liis arm is uplifte<l, a man has Hown
IVom aci'osH the street and shoute<l, just in time to
save me :
" Hold, constable ! Stop! This is Lion, the thoi--
ou^'hbred mastiff', who has been lost. Poor felhnv !
let me get to him."
i\.nd dashino- throuo-li tlie crowd, he rushed hv the
back door to my succour, liftetl me up in his strong'
arms, out and through the ga])ing multitude, and
carried me across the street to his veterinarv dental
surgery.
Ah ! if my good mother Nellie had met me then.
But I have this cruml) of comfort, the only one I
90
LION. THE MASTIFF.
I
havt" had for loii^, lon^ weeks, thai she rli<i not see
inc.
Mr. T.jnic-e, the (hMital surgeon — for lie it was who
eanied m\v fVoiii iii)' hite prison — immediately put me
inider treatment.
Many kind peo])Ie called to inijuire for me, and T
ha<l the n;'reat joy of havin<;' my loved master, my
mistress, and her mothei" with me that very day.
They wept tears of joy at i-e^ainin^' me, an<l of ^I'ief
at my horrihle sutt'erinns, my mistress crying' over
me. as she said :
" It was I who lost you, my poor «lear Lion, on the
6th of June. It is now the ISth of Juh' that vou are
lihei'ated from your awful prison. I love you so, my
dear o!.i doi,^ an<l y(;t it is all my fault."
It j^rieved me to hear hei- sorrowful tones, so T
looked at he)-, heseechin^- her to be comforted, aivl
tried to wa^' my tail.
" Mr. Lance," said Mi*s. Fre(;man's mother, as thev
])repared to leave me, "tell me, I be^ of you, that
vou will atten<l to him vourself and <lo all in
your power to restore our dear doo- to health and
strenj;th :""
" Yes, madanie," he re])lied, earnestly ; " I shall ])re-
sci-ibe for him, as well as mve him his medicines, rest
assured of that.
" But
master.
can
vou cure him, Mr. Lance :'" asked mv
Hd
Yes, sir : I both can and w^ill," replied the dental
suraeon.
' AM \A)tiT: 8TAIIV
r
W;is Nci-v s(
K^' AND alone: 1
91
"•'■y to so
Nurt
'Jfir .|r;ir OIK'S ,\
''pai't an. I
M
H'.v l)nn,ai
H3
t*'Hii(' to sec
p(!OJ)l
'.V' '>nt t)'i\..| to }„> I
tl
">'i«-litful
»»!(', a
,'; ''•' ^^'''i 'IN Konn,.J Clu]
mwi'
iii(>
'"' '^I'-- Lance. tJie I
"'> iMcn.
"♦>'J;;-Ji to ),av
At last, aftei- I |,a,l
<' IIIO
■^"'•^■•'(,1,'s, ;uul in tl
'"«t Ill's advice
I
phot
'f>'«0 (I(M)tist.
was
>wn tlirec ,J
tak
'^' ^''•••^' '>'■ this skilF„|
'>;^i"apli('«|.
•V'^ at tl.f. ,U.,,tni
•' "K' llOln(3
'"V iiiastci- and
'"an. iiiucli
"iistrcss decided t
<)
'la I,
Mr. L
I
''^»- care
fuice
.>''>'! 'lon't kill I
' 1 vvisi
<"'^t^ hini with
' y<ni would tal-
"'"' ^\•ith kind
"<'Ns." said
'»n h
'"<' a week h,,
'«' >ny a, hi
Ol
iiie
I)(
IS le;.s hy that ti
''"^^- ^^'^^ »"hst take I,
lyei",
ce and
will havf. l,i,„
a'' oJd do^r
Mm
Won't von
y<>" M-ill ^-et uell
cried
'"v 'Mistress.
'/nicker wit)
And I
1 ns.
looked
^V'lir^eil n.y tail
as
decide to d
" Mi^s. F
"P '»» "ly master's f,
^^'*'" '^s J could, whil,
'o.
ice to h
Hr wliMt he would
t'hou^JitfuII
f «"»^tn is, I think, riirht
said
Mile
■» we leave I
will take 1
iini.
ns also, j)Iea.s(
Atthisfiatlo-reatly,,
»ot refrain f'ron, stretcl
riage window in w
on. old fellows Ves we
your prescriptions with
Don't
>""• Mr. Lance, and
I'njoiced, and
'^"""rvvaylcould
I am 1
atchin^
""^^myheadoutof'th
for "}
and offer larcre
.. 1.-.. ' I •> ' ^"OUPfn Stmilfr.. ..^..,, _
e eai-
I j»
•A- -.n.« to exhibit ,„e. fo. ^ei,
»^«' men come
fast
as
tW^
192
MOV, THF MASTIFF.
i
I
m
&':'•>
m
■mi
ijf i .
Hi:
iimu>
I 1
l(';ir lllt'in s;i\', llJIS H('\('l'
iM-f
ore orrinTf'd in
I
»fitlM»l<i<:"\', .-iiiil is not likcKto occur aiiviin. Hut 1 ;iin
II UK
Ic )i
iMl)i>v in
i])]
that
no sum woi
;1.1 t(
nipt
n I \'
iml
master and mistress to ])art with nif.
Hu|)py, tlirice ha])|)y am I in tlieir att'ection tor me.
thon^'h I rciil so weak tliat tlie hope of re(!0\ei*v is
fast e])])ine' awa\', and I feel as il' I wei-e d\'ini:'.
^^'t I am lia))py, tor wliat a pai-adise is this reunioji
witli my (h'ar ones at'ter wliat J liave. cinhired.
A ladv memhei' of ttie Toronto Humane Societx"
* «
lias otten come iml)ued witli sweet pity to ask and
care foi' me, l>rin^in<4' me stren^'tlienino- dainties.
But I am vei'v, verv weak, and I ti'v to swai
low
heat-up e^-e-, (h'ops of l)eef-tea, oi* anything tliey give
me
Hut is all the loving caic bestowed upon me going
to make me strong and healthy again ! I feai- not ;
and 1 see a great sorrow foi' me in the eyes of the
friend who is writing this my autobiography, as she
sees with wdiat ditficulty 1 make known my feelings
to her. But my great longing foi' I'ecovery is keeping
me from sinkiim-. Sandie, the re<l collie, who has
pr
oved himselt* a true friend, lies beside the soft old
lounge my mistress has given me, and we two dogs
talk to each other at intervals during the day as my
enfeebled condition will i)ei-mit. lie savs mv friend
I 1 »
tl
16
poi
nter has l)een looking" about the neiiihbour
hood for me. At this news I feel iilad as I wl
11
sper
to the collie that a sight of my jovial chum Marcus
would almost set me on my feet again ; and 1 tell
I AM LOST : STAKVKl) : AND ALONK
l!»:
n
\>»
1.1
' is
ion
it't\-
llow
tnvc
not ;
f the
s she
has
a old
SMudiV Mir next time lu- scrs iiiv old coinrfn
ilr 1
(I
ioo;s
I
IS my
[rient
Ibonv-
[lisper
iarcus
ll tell
call liiiii in, as 1 am l()n;4,iii;i" to liaxr a talk with liiiii
a))()nt a (•(tncourst' ol" doo's in anit'i'i'X' inectini'' wlini —
nay, must I say if — 1 shoidd I'eeover. At this the
collie d('cla)-('s that I iinist ^vt well.
( )n this the oiHith dav since I fciiainrd Mcsstvl
tV»'('(l()ni, I hrcathc with <^reat difhcultv : hut l»v con-
trast witli what I have sufiercd 1 do not mind, tor I
am in the midst ol" mv lovcc] ones.
«
I think tlu'V understand wliat thrii- comjtanionship
is to me, as I raise my tire<l eyes to their laces heforr
I (^o to sleej).
'i'hey talk ol" my medicines, and hope Mr. Lance
will soon cure me. Mrs. Freeman's ^'ood mother,
seatefl Iteside the louime oil which 1 lie, lavs herliand
ri;ently on my ])oo)" a,chin^' head, while on my lace
a teai" Tails I'l'om the we(M)iniJ" eves of mv mistress.
M\- master also stands sorrowfullv hv, to whom 1
try to wa^^ my tail, while I hope that, cond'ort may
come to him, that eveti il' Mr. I^ance dot's not cut'e me,
I die ha]»py in this peaceful reunion. Fo)- I must hi<le
my i^rief at a possi])le ])artinj;-, lest they mourn.
With an app^'alin^; y;lance at my ainanuensis, which
she un«lerstar.<ls as a charge to wai'n all (>wne)s of
doos not to lose them foi' fear thev suti(>r as 1 ]\;\\r
done, and a last look at nty dear niastei-, a drowsy
feelini:" creens niton me, whicli will, I think, hi'inii'
ps U[l
welcome sleci)
V
At the souikI of strange voices [ open my tired
eves, to see the re<l collie scatetj close heside me, and
I a
ri '
y>
a.
I
^o find tw
lAMLO,sT:sTAKVEn:ANDAU>NK:
in.5
♦^ '"cn with u-(,o,| f
"•HNkT a„.I ini.st,,-(.,ss I
As tlie men continue to
": «eein^ a n.ore pc.te.fnl
sices M-azi
;4Hzirjo-. .,,s ,](, ,
('S«M- opposite pag-,
»'0"i ni(. to my phot
•e.)
»y
f> in
«>riv,.i-.se, I „,,„ co.„forto,|
''•!r«ftheunaltcmblocon.-!^ll'"?''-""'^^
thin I.
th
Kcr a
(')•('
'''' "^''>'<" Immanit
co.ivicticm hel.I by the .1
i« 'I future h'f(
ci-eatu
^i-iHM. Ayassix. in i\
i-cs.
other
''xists for n
'^blc hy his C
'" «ome form, Foi- cj
CO J)
lat
'H'si(|(.s the eternal \\h
us.
These
•^»;': as also that man will beheld
•^t;;'-. and ou,-s, for his tr
I seek to con
woi-ds fill
'•^J- do^s and
that assuj-ediv
Hccount-
'f^Htment of
but
good-night.
Vfy to
y ';yoli,|s droop. I think I
'"" "''"^ l'"«-'^f"l eontont, ,vl„,
my liuiNtor in „„oth,., i„ . |„^,^;
ich
halj ',
figain sleep, so
F
'rom your faithful f
Viend.
Liox, THE Mastiff.
15:.
'\ I
h'
m
m
APPliNDIX,
It liHX iiig been deplored tliat ( «. H. P«Mnl)e)-, M.A., iiiitliiii'
of " Animals, theii* Past and Kutine," lias not adde(l
a chapter on vivisection t(» his cxoeedinoly interesting-
hook, it has come to me as an al'ter-thon^i'lit to seek to
enliohten adult i-eaders of " Lion, the MastiH'," as to
s(jme of the diaholical ^*x])eriments practised i]i the
name ol' science upon «^uiltless and deienceless
animals.
Before doin^" so, let me oive you a few of the
many o[)inions of emiiient men who <lenounce the
cruelties perpetrate<! by the modern school of vivi-
sectoi's :
I. Sir William Ferii'uson says that " vivisection has
done nothing- for suri;ery or foi" medicine, "
'2. Sir Charles Bell says: " Experiments upon animals
have nevei- been the means of discovering truth, but
that, on the contraiy, they have IVeiiuently led the
surt^eon asti'a}'."
8. Lawson Tait, F.H.dS., says: " It is now nearly
half a centurv since anaAsthetics were introduced, and
we are still unsettled as to which anaesthetic is the
safest and the best, and the uncertainty is dut; solely
to the introduction into the (juestion (jf experiments
upon animals. The only conclusion derived from
them is, that anaesthetics do not answer upon dogs as
10.S
AJ'CENIUX.
I
III
I
m'^
W
lA-Ji-n
i]u'y do wpoti catH, and upon ncitlior as tlu'V <la upon
man."
4. Dr. ('. Hell 'I'aylor, the cininent surj^eou, say.s
ivlVrrin^- to vivisection, that " I'oi- liis own part In-
must say — to pai'otly Mi'. Disi-arli — that lie is ;,a the
sitle of the animals." Kurther, that he "cordiallv
detests the horrid system of cuttinj^ open living',
«|ui\'»'iin<j;", sentient bodies, as sentient as <jiir own, in
the sii])posed interest of seienc**, and lie does .so on
three orounds : tir.st, on aeeount of the iireat erueltv
involved : next, on aeeount (jf its demoralizing;' iiiHu-
eiiee : and lastly, heeause the results obtained were
so very unsatisfactory, so v«'ry niea<4're, so con.stantly
mishuulin*;'.'
i). Lord Shaftesbury, in a speech, said : " Whether
vi\'i,section isc<jn<lucive to science, or tlitM'everse, there
is one <;reat preliminary consideration : On what
authority of Scripture or any other form of revela-
tion do they (the vivisectors) rest their right to
subject Ciod's creatures to such unspeakable suti'er-
ings ;* "
0. (^e(jrge Macllwain, F.R.C'.S., says : "Vivisection
is to my mind a desecration of the highest objects to
which the scientific mind can aspire, to the lowest
and most barren modes of impiiry."
7. " Better that J and my friend should die," says
Professoi' Henry J. Hij;;elow, "than protract existence,
through accumulated years of torture upon animals
whose ex(|uisite sutt'ering we cannot fail to infer,
even though they may have neither voice nor feature
to express it."
AI'PK.VDIX.
!!)!>
)1i
,'s
w
lu-
ll V
ill
on
My
itlu-
ntly
•tli«'»'
hen-
svliat
vela-
it to
iti'er-
letiuii
ks to
|)\vest
says
Deuce,
iimals
lint'er,
lature
H. Frances I'owei' ('olthe sM\s: " We stuiid ii) tiutli
I'jiee t«» t'aee with u new \ iee — new, at least, in its vast
niodei'ii development and tlie passion wherewitlrit is
jau'sue*! — the vice of scientific cruelty. It is lutt the
old vice of ci'ueltv for cineltv's sake : of that even the
worst pliysiolo^ist may jtrohaMy he ae(|uitted. It is.
iu strict ethical <l«'finition, the fault of inditt'ei-ence to
a n-i'(>!tt moial considei-ation, namely, that of sutt'ei'in^^s
caused hv oui' actions, raise(l to the iaid\ of a vice h\'
the enormous extent to which it is carried. 'I'he \ivi-
scct<jr ou;;ht to he sto|)|»e<l in piu'suin;;' his 'otherwise)
lawful end of advancing;' physioloo-icil scienci l»y the
(tonsideiation that his means of advanein*;- it inxijlvc
a nioi'al offence (theolo<;ically viewin<.jthe .i) ol cans
iuLi" tortui'e woi'se than death to miiltless cre;>ture.s.
T]
us conSi
ition, as has he( a said, ouir
rhi <
I ) st< )] )
I>
him. 'ust as any other man ou«i;ht to l)e stoppr 1 in
pursuing" any le<^itiiiiate end (e.g., tlie advancement of
the interest of his cianitry and family), if lie find he
cannot carry it out without employing;' immoral means,
deceit, rohhery, persecution, treachery or any other
unrighteous mode of action."
}>. Mi's. Penwick Miller, in a speech delivered at
Prince's Hall, London, Kui>land, in Mav, 18114, savs :
"A truly humane, loving, teiuler fellow-creature, such
as you want to coin*' to you in the hcjur (jf sickness,
would never go thi'ough vivisection studies to heconie
vt)ur doctor."
10, Rev. Dr. Haughton, of the Royal (commission,
says: ''I would shrink with lioi-ror from accustoming
large classes of young men to the sight of animals
2()()
AI»PENI)IX.
\v~
tr
!:■
9
i
1 i
■ i
iiiuU'r vivisection. . , . Science would <.j{iiu iiothin*;'.
an<l tlie world wouM have let loose upon it a set of
vountj devils."
And now, witliout connnent on such valuable
opinions tVoni valued scientists, the followint*; are some
e'xtracts from a I'eply of Hcv. Canon Wilberforce to
one Henry Sewell, who had taken offence at vivi-
sectors having been allu<led to as " inhuman devils '" :
" Our contention is that the jmblic has been blinded
by scientific dust thrown into its eyes, and that multi-
tudes ai'e unaware of the unspeakable and tiendisli
ci'uelties that are pei'petrated in the name of science.
The public is taught to belie\e that vivisections are
rare, that animals .subjected to tliem are under an;es-
thetics, and that the discoveries ma<le by the ])rocess
are of infinite V'alue. The public has not realized that
thive thousand doctors sijxned a memoi'ial declai'inj'
that an important series of experiments could not be
carried through while animals are \nider anjesthetics :
that the arch-vivisector Schitf' has been honest enough
to say, ' It is nothing but hypoci'isy to wish to impose
on one's self and othei's the belief that the (rurarised
animal does not feel pain.'
" Let us glance at tlu' so-called ' experiments,' and
iu<lm' whether men endowe<l with ordinary sensibili-
ties and imaginations could po'form without tempo-
rarily transforming themselves into ' inhuman devils.'
. . . They include baking, iVee/ing, Innning, p<juring
boiling oil on living animals, saturating them with
intlanmiable oil and setting them on fire, starving to
death, skinning alive, cutting oti' the breasts while
APPENDIX.
201
aiul
libili-
viis;
with
ug to
oiviiio- milk, uou^in<;- out tlu' eyes, lai'dinn' tlic Fert
with nails, t'orcino- broken j;lass into cars, intestines
and
muscles, in
akiniT incisions ni the skull and twist-
Iv
bile
in^- about a bent needle in the bi-ain, etc. — Vide
' The Nine Cii'cles : oi-, The Toi'tui'es ot* the Innocent.
Swan Sonnenscliein, l^itei'noster Row, })ul)lishers.
" One ol" those ' pivictical physiolonists ' whom yon
estimate so hio'hly, desired recently to ascertain
whether it was possible to pour moulten lead into a
nuin's ear wlien drunk witho\it causin*i^ him to shi'iek.
For this purpose he procurecl .several d()<4S, and the
repoi't says 'he administered an anfbsthetic, composed
ol' chloral and morphine, to reduce tlu' do^s to the
su])|)osed condition ot" a druidven num. In spite ol"
this precaution, it appeals that when the moulten
metal penetrated the ear ot" one of the animals, accom-
panied by a i"riz/lin<^" sound, the wretched beast
strujj'^led violently, and its liowls were .so dreadful
that (A'en ihv (/(ircoiis du /a/>o7Yt^oirfj, accu.stomed as
they are to painful spectacles, weie stioiitily atl'ected.
The second do*"', thouiih similarlv ana'sthetized, was
SO hoiriblv torture(l that it actualU' i»urst the thonus
that bound it to the torture-trouiih.'
" Aii'Miu," asks ('anon Wilberforce, "could aiu'oiu'
but an ' inhuman devil ' perform the followiiii;' {
"At the l.'ite Afedical ( 'oui^i'ess Ih-M at IJerlin, a
('hicauo professor performed, before the asseiidded
doctors, some expeiiments u|)on a do^i'. \ Fi'eiich
journal in dfscribinj^' it, says that the professor
roared out, • Han<l me ovei* that dou." The unfortu
uate aniuial was brouii'ht into the room carefully
■HI
202
APPENDIX.
f:l,,ii
m
I ■■■■'' 1
•■■n .; i
If
I'' < ■
muzzled, and with its Ic^s tied down. The professor
then proceeded U) pump the pooi' beast full of sulphur-
etted hydrogen }.»'as. ' Now, Gentlemen,' he shouted,
' the }^as will issue from his mouth in a stream and I
will set fire to it.' A lij^'hted nuitch was set to the
doo's mouth with no result : a second, a third, a whole
boxful, and nothing" came out of it but bvn'uint;' the
hair on the dog's jaws. Then came the secon<l pai't
of the e.xperinjent. ' Now, i;entlemen,' said the pro-
fessor, 'you will see th«' ett'cct when the «;as has been
pumped into the bowels when they have been
wounded.' He then ])i'o(hice<l a loaded ivvolver and
tired a bullet into the wretched animal's abdomen.
The dog y(!lled piteously, and the blee<ling creature
was subjected to a repetition of the gas injection.
T'he rest of the story was too horriVtle to tell, e\'en in
the pages of an English meclical journal." — Pliiln-
dciph'ia Led(/('r, l)ecend)er Kith, ]81)().
Canon Wilbei-force gotis on to say that the list of
\h: Hrovvn-Seipiard and M. C'hauveau's expeiimeiits
on the spinal marrow is too ti'rrible to describe in
e.ifi'iiKo. The following will serve as a sample:
" To ascertain the excitability of the spinal maii'ow,
and the convulsions and pains pi'oduced by that
excitability," the studies were made chietiy upon
hoi'ses and asses who, he says, " lend themselves mar-
vellously thereto by the large volume of theii* s[)inal
maiTow." M. Chauveau accordingly " consecrated
eighty subjects to his purpose." "The animal," he
ways, " is fixed on a table. An incision is made on its
\^Hck of from thirty to thirty-five centimetres; the
Ain»ENDIX.
20:^
of .
nits
in
'( » w ,
that
Ipou
|i\ar-
kiiuil
lite* I
1' he
ii its
the
vertel)i'ae are opened witli the hel]) of a cliisel, a inalh't.
and pincers, and the spinal niairow is exposed.
" Sev^eral experiments siniihir to the foivooin^;' are
descrihed. In some the spinal cohnnn was hurnt
throu^li witli I'ed-liot wire. The electrical stimula-
tion was increase<l, tin* spinal marrow tetanized {i.e.
convulsed) during three minutes, and the vagus sev-
eral times stinuilated. The o[)erations on tlie ral>hit
exten«led over eleven days. The wound in the hack
had suppurated, ami the stinndation of the exposed
nerves was added to hv electrodes heino' fastened to
each hind leg, causing tetanus (i.e., convulsions) of the
])ack extremities." — Pff tigers Archives, 188^, ]). -10'^,
et seq.
Again : " Fifty-one dogs had poi'tions of the ])rain
hemisphere washed out of the head, which had been
pierced in several places. This was repeated four
times, the nnitilated creatures and their behaviour
having been studied for months." — Ihid., \). 415.
"Do you imagine," contiinu's ('anon Will»ei'f(jrce, in
his I'eply to Henry Sewell, " that J should consider
myself under an obligati(jn to apologize for stigmatiz-
ing the dastardly perpeti'ator of the following abom-
ination an ' inhuman dt^vil ' :*
" Pi'ofessor Goltz savs that It was marvellous and
astonishing to find that adog that had sei'ved I'oi- some
seven experiments, and whose hind (juaitei's were
completely paralyzed, and whose spinal nuu'i'ow had
been completely destroyed, the animal sutfering besides
from fatal peritonitis, was still capable of maternal
feelings foi" its young. She unceasingly licked the
m
204
API'ENDIX.
It'll';
It;,
living- and tlir dead l)n}>j)y, and tivatefl tlie livinu-
puppy witli tlic .same tenderness as an uninjui-ed
do^ niij^ht do." — Pjfui/ers Arch ires, Vol. IX. p. 5(14.
"I contend," says Canon \V^iI))ei'f()i*ce, "that the
hin^ua^-e does not exist in which it would be possible
to be ' uncharitable, unjust and libellous' in speaking
of such as Heni'V Sewell declaivs is a ' labouf to elicit
truth for truth '.s sake.' "
h\}Y Paul Bert's reports of his dis^iisting experi-
ments, see Gomptes de la Socif'tf' de Biolo(/i(/'ae, Pai'is,
1888, p. 195.
Pei'haps you will say that these expei'iments were
performed by foi'eiu-ners. 'I'hen let me refer you to
the repoit of tln' Royal Humane Society, bS()5, pp.
31 -(j(), for an English experiment, which is only one
out of thousands :
"A terrier was deprived of air by plunuing its head
into li(|uid pla.stei' of Paris. Respiratory eflbrts com-
menced at one minute, thii'ty-tive seconds, and ceased
at four mimites, the heai't beating till Hve minutes.
On examining the lungs the white plaster was found
throughout the bi'onchial tulies." Seventy-six of
these ex})eriments were made.
An<l the following :
" Dr. Angel Money repoited a series of experiments,
in which he irritated the biains and intestines of a
nund)er of ' aiuestlietized, curariseil animals' by elec-
tricity, sliced away their brains, and ma<le 'windows'
in their bowels." — Brilish Medical Joarual, August
4th, 188;-{.
In Mr. K. T. Heed's speech in the House of Com-
APPKNDIX.
205
inons, Api'il 4tl), ISSo, rcrn-'-ii:;^- to Kn^lisli <'X])rri-
'iits,
i>r a
'lee-
IjVVS '
luUst
iiu'iits ol' (liMbolicnl crurltv, lir snvs
TIk
result ol" tln'se cxnciiniciits was siinplv notliiiiL^ nt a
lu'CflUsc those wi*otcli<Ml Ix'jjsts were ])1;hmm1 in siifli
circmustances — tlu'ii- ('ondition was so altiioi'inal —
that the onlinarv ami univorsallv rccomii/cMJ rti'cct of
woll-know]i (h'uos wms not produciMl."
Kcv. Canon WillxTt'orcc, after ^ivinj;- many otJicr
reports of e\])erinients, as also jLjivin^^ mueli inl'ornia-
tion I'espectinn- the nietliods ol' M. Pastenr, conclnHes
his able repl\' to Henrv Sewell livsavinir:
" You sav 'the imestio-ators are eonvineed ol" the
npcessitv ol" such e\]ierinientation.' I i-eply that an
incrensinj;- nunihe)- ol" intelligent Kne;lishnien. unde-
terred by what has been well termed (I belie\»> by
the late Lord Shal'tesbuiy) ' the iusolenee of physiolo-
gical science, " jne convinced oi' the ini<|uity, the use-
lessness, and the p(>ril to the human race of such
experimentation, an<l they are determine^l to «lo their
utmost to render the ])ractice in this c<tuntry, at least,
wholly illegal."
In i'ei>lv to an in(|uirv by the writer as to his views
on \iv'section, Mi'. l)ono\an, Editor of the Kennel
( 'lul) (fd/icffe, ex])i*essed himself as "uttej-ly opposed
to it."
As the compiler of the foreguiit^' exti'acts the writer
would ask —
Who, ])()s.sessing a spark of humane I'eelini^ or the
remotest idea of justice, but will (juestion (tur ii*;lit
to t(M'm the creatures in oui' care as a lower o'eation
.f
wlnle l)eniii:s or our own I'ac aic vivisectoi's
206
APPENDIX.
1^
sal' ■-
m
i;
i!:
m.
Arc we losing;- our fii^rasp of what is morally rij^ht, ?
Arc wc to tort'urc the innocent, actuated by the
l)ascKt motives in tlie so-called interiNsts of science, for
a supposed self-interest i
One more experiment, on a pool- little bird, and the
compiler will gladly lay down her pen, for the subject
is a painful one :
" I have on two occasions seen little birds «lie of
pain. ]n these birds I had passed a rough, coarse,
silken thn^ad through the pectoral muscle for the
pur])ose of inducing artificial inflannnation. Death
was instantaneous, and was caused bv sudden faihire
of tlie heart's action." — Mantegazza, F'wiologia del
Doiorc, Fhnvnce, 1«80, p. 49.
With the foregoing thoughts in our minds we are
lnnnl>led, aixl deem ou)- superiority of race but an
empty boast. Tn our ignorance of our moral trust
we resemble the drovei* who, being brought before
the magistrate for having knocked out a poor animal's
eye, excused his cruelty by pleading, " But, your
lionoui", it isn't cruelty if you don't hit 'em where it
marks the meat."
Yours faithfully,
A. G. Savigny.
C(JPJE,S ov TESTIMONIALS.
"iticK neautv. "
""'"--'' «" i»ti. oi,, ..,„, ,„;,';;;"« ""- »n„„t ,. ,„„ ,, j;^;:
^''^•ifs tiulv,
'*«'-!) ><«.>- L. H„.,„„,,
""'''«».,■„««,„,, ;■ .f' '■»- .' line f-,„„.l„,i„„ ,„ V '
BLACK BEAUTY:
The Autobiography of a Horse.
IIV
m
ANNA SEWEI.T..
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