[Illustration]

Shortly after that big wave intervened that separated her from us a happy chance put me in possession of a dog, the most affectionate and lovable of Skye terriers.

I named him Carry.

That dog, his qualities and virtues, and especially his musical gifts, deserve more than a passing mention; but, trusting that he, like every dog, will have his day, I will here only transcribe a letter of his that he wrote with the assistance of his friend, Arthur Sullivan, who, attracted perhaps by the gifts above named, had kindly taken charge of him during my temporary absence on the Continent.  Poor dog!  He is dead now; so that there can be no indiscretion in publishing his bark and its translation.  The former is best given in its original setting.  The latter, purporting to be a “Translation of the foregoing by A.S.,” runs as follows:—­

“MY DEAR AND ESTEEMED MASTER,—­My kind friend, Mr. Sullivan, who pretends to be as fond of me as you are, has taken me away from the enjoyment of a delicious mutton bone, in order to answer your letter; and as I cannot find a pen to suit me well, he is writing whilst I dictate.  I was very low-spirited the other day after leaving you, and appeared to feel the parting very much, but it soon wore off under the influence of biscuit, bones, and kindness; indeed, I must do Sully and his family the justice to say that they try to do the utmost to make me happy and comfortable, although they don’t always succeed, for sometimes I appear dissatisfied (hoping, entre-nous, by that means to get more out of them).

“I have several idiosyncrasies and failings, of which my master (pro tem.) is trying to correct me, but finds it rather hard work, for I am not so easily brought out of them.  I have a will of my own, but Sully says:  ’Train up a dog in the way it should go, and he will not depart, &c., &c.’—­and Sully is right.

“Don’t you think it is a bad plan to wash me with soap?  I think it deters me from licking my skin, and consequently from having those ideas of cleanliness engendered within me which are so necessary to every well-bred dog moving in good society!

“I want to get back to my bone, but Sully says I must first deliver a message from him.  You are to give his love to your dear parents (in which I heartily join), and tell them how grieved he was that he did not see them to wish them ’God speed’ before they left England, and how it hurt him to think that a long, long time would perhaps elapse before he should see them again.

    “And now, my dear master, I must say ‘Good-bye.’  Much love in
    few words, in which Sully joins me.

    “Believe me, ever your

    “Attached and faithful dog,

    [Illustration:  Carry

    X

    his mark]

    “F.  MOSCHELES, Esq.”

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