MY EARLY FRIENDS. 149

restlessness and boisterousness were added the reflection of
the same qualities in a child visitor, the house seemed too
small to hold the two.
 William Alexander had a remarkable objection to seeing
any of his friends ill in bed, and on such occasions would
begin to growl as at a personal offence.
 The dog had a trick, in accordance with his species, of
bringing everything to his master. Once, when a pet canary-
bird got out of its cage, and began flying wildly about the
room, William Alexander caught it, closing his great jaws upon
it with a snap, so that it was lost to sight, and the spectators
never doubted killed on the instant. But when he delivered
up the bird to his master, it was uninjured save by fright.
 Poor William Alexander tried this trick once too often.
He was caught attempting to lift a baby, which happened to
be in the same house with him, by the breast of its white
frock, to take it to his master. He was conducting the opera-
tion with the greatest gentleness and care, but naturally the
baby's mother had an insuperable prejudice against the per-
formance, and William Alexander too had to be sent away.










 Marcus Ward & Co., Royal Ulster Works, Belfast.