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 NE of the remotest visions of my infancy-dim as the



 MY EARLY FRIENDS.

O NE of the remotest visions of my infancy-dim as the
 pearly dawn itself-is of two dogs called Flora and
Danger, priest-grey and brown-and-yellow terriers respec-
tively, which filled a prominent place in my baby regard.
They soon vanished from the scene, and some time elapsed
before they were succeeded by Fido-a small, sleek, short-
haired, brown dog, resembling an English terrier, which was
partly my own property, and, much more than any doll or
toy, the darling of my early childhood.
 I fancy Fido was not very well descended, and that his
small size was due to accident, or to some arresting process
practised in his puppyhood. But he was a well-made little
dog; he had a keen tiny face, with erect ears; and he was
amazingly agile in his habits. In fact his agility, together
with his audacity, brought about his untimely death-the
manner of which remains, at this distance of time, more
impressed on my mind than any incident in his short life.