or, The Silver Skates 241

a milk-dog, he invariably put on airs and growled as he passed
him. Even the dogs of the huckster-women, lean and hard-
worked enough, poor things, had sufficient spirit to champ and
snarl while their mistresses were squabbling. Sometimes a
milk-dog would recognize an acquaintance before another milk-
cart across the street; and then how the kettles would rattle,
especially if they were empty! Each dog would give a bound,
and, never caring for his master’s whistle, insist upon meeting
the other half way. Sometimes they contented themselves
with an inquisitive sniff; but generally the smaller dog made
an affectionate snap at the larger one’s ear, or a friendly tussle
was engaged in by way of exercise. Then woe to the milk-
kettles, and woe to the dogs!

The whipping over, each dog, expressing his feelings as
best he could, would trot demurely back to his work.

If some of these animals were eccentric in their ways,
others were remarkably well behaved. In fact, there was a
school for dogs in the. city, established expressly for training
them: Ben probably saw some of its graduates. Many a
time he noticed a span of barkers trotting along the street,
with all the dignity of horses, obeying the slightest hint of the
man walking briskly beside them. Sometimes, when their
load was delivered, the dealer would jump in the cart, and
have a fine drive to his home beyond the gates of the city;
and sometimes, [ regret to say, a patient vreww would trudge
beside the cart, with fish-basket upon her head, and a child in
her arms, while her lord enjoyed his drive, carrying no heavier
burden than a stumpy clay pipe, the smoke of which mounted
shyly into her face.

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