The Adventures of a Dog, and a Good Dog Too | Page 4

they had been executed.
My task will scarce be thought complete without a few words
concerning the personal appearance of my old friend; although, perhaps,
few things could be more difficult for me to describe. Dogs and cats are
apt to admire such very different forms of beauty, that the former often
call beautiful what we think just the reverse. He was tall, strong, and
rather stout, with a large bushy tail, which waved with every emotion
of his mind, for he rarely disguised his feelings. His features were
considered regular, though large, his eyes being particularly bright and
full, and the upper part of his head was broad and high.
But none who knew Job ever thought of his being handsome or
otherwise. You seemed to love him for something more than you could
see, something which had little to do with face, or body, or tail, and yet
appeared in them all, and shone clearly out of his eyes; I mean the spirit
of goodness, which made him so remarkable, and was so much a part of
Job, that I do believe a lock of his hair worn near one's own heart
would help to make it beat more kindly to one's fellow creatures. This

idea may be considered too fanciful, too cat-like, but I believe it
notwithstanding.
Such was the Dog whose autobiography I have great pleasure in
presenting to the world. Many may object to the unpolished style in
which his memoirs are clothed, but all who knew him will easily
pardon every want of elegance in his language; and those who had not
the honour of his acquaintance, will learn to appreciate his character
from the plain spirit of truth which breathes in every line he wrote. I
again affirm that I need make no apology for attaching my name to that
of one so worthy the esteem of his co-dogs, ay, and co-cats too; for in
spite of the differences which have so often raised up a barrier between
the members of his race and ours, not even the noblest among us could
be degraded by raising a "mew" to the honour of such a thoroughly
honest dog.
MINETTE GATTINA.
THE UPPER MEWS, CANEVILLE.

EARLY DAYS.
I was not born in this city of Caneville, but was brought here at so
young an age, that I have no recollection of any other place. I do not
remember either my father or my mother. An old doggess,[A] who was
the only creature I can recal to mind when I was a pup, took care of me.
At least, she said she did. But from what I recollect, I had to take most
care of myself. It was from her I learnt what I know about my parents.
She has told me that my father was a foreign dog of high rank; from a
country many, many miles away, called Newfoundland, and that my
mother was a member of the Mastiff family. But how I came to be
under the care of herself, and how it happened, if my parents were such
superior animals, that I should be forced to be so poor and dirty, I
cannot tell. I have sometimes ventured to ask her; but as she always
replied with a snarl or a bite, I soon got tired of putting any questions to
her. I do not think she was a very good temper; but I should not like to

say so positively, because I was still young when she died, and perhaps
the blows she gave me, and the bites she inflicted, were only intended
for my good; though I did not think so at the time.
[Footnote A: I have preferred adopting this word in speaking of female
dogs, as it comes nearer to the original, zaïyen.]
As we were very poor, we were forced to live in a wretched kennel in
the dampest part of the town, among dogs no better off than ourselves.
The place we occupied overhung the water, and one day when the old
doggess was punishing me for something I had done, the corner in
which I was crouched being rotten, gave way, and I fell plump into the
river. I had never been in the water before, and I was very frightened,
for the stream was so rapid that it carried me off and past the kennels I
knew, in an instant. I opened my mouth to call out for help; but as I was
almost choked with the water that got into it, I shut it again, and made
an effort to reach the land. To my surprise I found that, by moving my
paws and legs, I not only got my head well above the water, but was
able to guide myself to the bank,