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THE CAPTAIN'S FUNERAL.

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his late master, made arrangements amongst themselves to supply him with his daily food: and as the season advanced, and the weather became extremely cold in this northern climate, a subscription was made to build him a comfortable dog-house, which was placed on one side of the grave of the late captain of the vessel. There was one very singular feature in the character of the affectionate Neptune: whenever a person was brought to the churchyard to be buried, the dog always went to the grave, looking earnestly into it; in his doing that we must conclude that he had a strong impression on his mind that he should once more behold his beloved master."

I have in my possession, at this time, a beautiful white Spitz hound or Pomeranian dog. His head in shape is like that of a fox, with large dark sparkling eyes, which express fully every passion that he feels at the time; his symmetry is perfect, and he carries his bushy tail exactly in the same way as a squirrel. Malbrook, for that is his name, has an unbounded affection for me. and always knows my knock at the door, and expresses his joy by constant barking until I come into the room; and even when I go out of the dining-room for a short time, not taking him with me, he makes a whining melancholy noise: he is my constant companion when at home by day and night, and when he perceives that I am going out walking he is my attendant. His joy knows no bounds, which is expressed in rather a disagreeable way, by unceasing barking and jumping upon me. If Mrs. H. should even point her finger at me, he instantly growls, and it would be a service of danger on these occasions even to touch me, for he would certainly bite her or any other person who took this

liberty. As we frequently go to visit our relations and friends for two or three weeks in the summer and autumn, I am sometimes obliged to leave Malbrook at home, for dogs are not always welcome visitors; although, to speak the truth, I have a very poor opinion of those persons who entertain a prejudice against these faithful, affectionate, courageous, and noble animals. On these occasions poor Malbrook for two or three days will go and lie at my bedroom door, and during this period he will hardly take any food; but when, on my return, the carriage arrives at the door and he hears my knock, his joy and pleasure is unbounded, and for at least ten minutes he jumps and capers about, barking all the time just like a mad dog, and his affectionate caresses displayed towards me are unceasing. It is the peculiar characteristic of the Spitz hound that they strongly attach themselves to one person, and it will be generally found that to this individual their love and affection is unbounded. It is chiefly owing to this peculiar quality that these dogs are such great favourites with the Germans; and formerly you might see one of the dogs sitting on the seat of a light German spring waggon which conveyed merchandise from Switzerland into Germany and into Holland. A daughter of mine purchased Malbrook for me when about six months old, from a gardener near Brussels, and he is now rather more than three years old. I have taught him several tricks, such as jumping over a stick, giving me his paw when asked, and when I tell him in French to kiss me, he springs up and touches my face with his tongue, &c.; and when I pass any person's house where I have been in the habit of frequently visiting, he always begins barking, as much as to say, "I conclude you are going

MALBROOK'S ACHIEVEMENTS.

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in here."* The great drawback in having an animal so strongly attached to you, is the annoying feeling that he may be either stolen, or that I should be deprived of his delightful society by some fatal disease. Although I go to London every spring for three weeks or a month, I never take Malbrook, feeling quite sure that the dogstealers in the metropolis, from my dog's great beauty, would contrive, by some of their many expedients, to deprive me of my favourite.

A remarkable instance of the strong affection of a dog for his mistress is stated by Jesse, in his "Anecdotes of Dogs." "The wife of a member of the town council of Brighton had been an invalid, for some time, and at last was confined to her bed. During this period she was constantly attended by a faithful and affectionate dog, who either slept in her room or outside her door. She died, was buried, and the dog followed his beloved mistress to the grave. After the funeral, the husband and her friends returned to the house, and while they were partaking of some refreshments the dog put his paws on his master's arm and expired!" The same author observes: "An English officer had a large dog, which he left with his family in England, while he accompanied an expedition to America, during the war with the Colonies. Throughout his absence the animal appeared very much dejected. When the officer returned home, the dog, who happened to be lying at the door of an apartment into which his master was about to enter,

* When my page comes to let me know that it is time to go to church, Malbrook immediately retires with his tail down under the table, being fully aware that he is not to accompany me. He displays the same intelligence when we are going out to dinner, and goes in a melancholy mood to the housekeeper's room, all his usual joy at dinner time being completely subdued.

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