A DOG OF FLANDERS. 21

Patrasche was but a dog. Before he
was fully grown he had known the
bitter gall of the cart and the collar.
Before he had entered his thirteenth
month he had become the property of
a hardware dealer, who was accus-
tomed to wander over the land north
and south, from the blue sea to the
green mountains. They sold him
for asmall price because he was so
young.

This man was a drunkard and a
brute. The life of Patrasche was alife
of hell. To deal the tortures of hell on
the animal creation is a way which
the Christians have of showing their
belief in it. His purchaser was a
sullen, ill-living, brutal Brabantois,
who heaped his cart full with pots