32 THIRD KBVENING. be kept, however, from munching his finery, when he could reach it with his mouth. He was also rather troublesome in thrusting his nose into the meal-tub and flour-box, and following people into the dairy, and sipping the milk that was set for cream. He now and then got a blow for his imtrusion; but his mis- tress always took his part, and indulged him in every liberty. | Capriole’s horns now began to bud, and a little white beard sprouted at the end of his chin. He grew bold enough to put himself into a fighting posture whenever he was offended. He butted down little Colin imto the dirt; quarrelled with the geese for their allowance of corn; and held many a stout battle with the old turkey-cock. Everybody said, “ Capriole is growing too saucy, he must be sent away, or taught better manners.†But Sylvia still stood his friend, and he repaid her love with many tender caresses. The farm-house where Sylvia lived was situated in a sweet valley, by the side of a clear stream, bordered with trees. Above the house rose a sloping meadow, and beyond that was an open common, covered with purple heath and yellow furze. Farther on, at some distance, rose a steep hill, the summit of which was a bare, craggy rock, hardly accessible to human feet. Capriole, ranging at his pleasure, often got upon the common, and was pleased with browsing the short grass and wild herbs which grew there. Still, how- ever, when his mistress came to see him, he would run, bounding at her call, and accompany her back to the farm. | One fine summer’s day, Sylvia, after having finished the business of the morning, wanted to play with her kid; and missing him, she went to the side ot the common, and called aloud, “ Capriole! Capriole!â€â€™ ex- pecting to see him come running to her, as usual. No Capriole came. She went on and on, still calling her kid with the most endearing accents, but nothing was to be seen of him. Her heart began to flutter. “ Wh»