26 THE TERRIER AND THE DUCKLINGS.

they did not stray, and that no one stole them. No bad boys
dared to throw stones at them when Elf was near.

When it was time for the children to leave school, their
mother would say, “Elf, it is time to bring the children
home.” No sooner were the words said, than off it ran.

Yes, and more than that; Elf at last became so clever a
dog, that on a wet day it would carry an umbrella in its
mouth. Look at the picture, and you will see Elf all ready
to start for school. Sometimes boys in the street tried to
take the umbrella from it; but Elf was too quick for them.
It would run past them at full speed, and it always got
safely away.

 

THE TERRIER AND THE DUCKLINGS.

A TERRIER, which lived at Dunrobin Castle many years ago,
had a family of puppies, which were taken from her and
drowned. How she mourned for her offspring, and wondered
why her owner had been so cruel as to allow them to be
carried away! Her motherly feelings were as strong as those
of other creatures, and she felt a longing to exercise them.
At length she caught sight of a brood of young ducklings.
They were young, and required care just like her own dear
little puppies; so, seizing them, she carried them off one by
one to her cot, and would allow no one to take them away.
They seemed to understand that they had obtained a very
good nurse, and she watched them with the most loving care.
When, however, they made their way to the water and
plunged in, she showed the greatest alarm, believing that
they would be drowned, as her own puppies had been. No