"DIGNITY AND IMPUDENCE." 19

fervent attachment, at the feet of his conqueror-for the dog is
another St. Christopher.
 Under the influence of this absolute submission* to his
master, rather than from any mere superficial cleverness, such
as may be readily found in mere trick-performing dogs,
Wallace could be taught a variety of acquirements, and was
in the end so accomplished a dog that I fear I cannot call to
mind a tithe of his attainments. I believe he could sit up in
any attitude or assumption of character, or throw down his
body in any required posture, and remain so for a given time.
He could mimic swimming at the word of command. He could
constitute himself a pony for little children-indeed he was
not less than some Shetland ponies-and would carry them
decorously round the room or the garden on his back. He
could-and this was probably the hardest task of all-at his
master's bidding, lie down in a meadow where a herd of cattle
fed, and permit the whole of the oxen to gather lowing round
him, and even to lick him with their rough tongues, without
his stirring or offering the smallest resistance.
 Wallace was somewhat up in years before Dick came on
the scene. He also arrived at the farm-house a puppy, but
it was not at first intended that he should remain there. The
master of the house had kindly procured Dick with the inten-
tion of giving him to a friend, when he himself became so
enamoured of the little dog's briskness and pluck, and at the
same time so persuaded that these qualities would be wasted
 In addition to the instinct of obedience which in itself rendered Wallace
tractable, the great dog had a little weakness, of which I have heard his master
say he made use in conducting his four-footed retainer's education. "Wallace
wight would have gone round the world" for a bit of sugar-the usual reward
of a fait accompli.