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he left off being thirsty … which was not in the bond … or he could
not make up his mind to hear his little bucket drop back into his
well when he let it go： a shock which in the best of times had
made him tremble。 He drew no water but by stealth and under the
cloak of night。 After an interval of futile and at length hopeless
expectation； the merchant who had educated him was appealed to。
The merchant was a bow…legged character； with a flat and cushiony
nose； like the last new strawberry。 He wore a fur cap； and shorts；
and was of the velveteen race； velveteeny。 He sent word that he
would 'look round。' He looked round； appeared in the doorway of
the room； and slightly cocked up his evil eye at the goldfinch。
Instantly a raging thirst beset that bird； when it was appeased； he
still drew several unnecessary buckets of water； and finally；
leaped about his perch and sharpened his bill； as if he had been to
the nearest wine vaults and got drunk。
Donkeys again。 I know shy neighbourhoods where the Donkey goes in
at the street door； and appears to live up…stairs； for I have
examined the back…yard from over the palings； and have been unable
to make him out。 Gentility； nobility； Royalty； would appeal to
that donkey in vain to do what he does for a costermonger。 Feed
him with oats at the highest price； put an infant prince and
princess in a pair of panniers on his back； adjust his delicate
trappings to a nicety； take him to the softest slopes at Windsor；
and try what pace you can get out of him。 Then； starve him；
harness him anyhow to a truck with a flat tray on it； and see him
bowl from Whitechapel to Bayswater。 There appears to be no
particular private understanding between birds and donkeys； in a
state of nature； but in the shy neighbourhood state； you shall see
them always in the same hands and always developing their very best
energies for the very worst company。 I have known a donkey … by
sight； we were not on speaking terms … who lived over on the Surrey
side of London…bridge； among the fastnesses of Jacob's Island and
Dockhead。 It was the habit of that animal； when his services were
not in immediate requisition； to go out alone； idling。 I have met
him a mile from his place of residence； loitering about the
streets； and the expression of his countenance at such times was
most degraded。 He was attached to the establishment of an elderly
lady who sold periwinkles； and he used to stand on Saturday nights
with a cartful of those delicacies outside a gin…shop； pricking up
his ears when a customer came to the cart； and too evidently
deriving satisfaction from the knowledge that they got bad measure。
His mistress was sometimes overtaken by inebriety。 The last time I
ever saw him （about five years ago） he was in circumstances of
difficulty； caused by this failing。 Having been left alone with
the cart of periwinkles； and forgotten； he went off idling。 He
prowled among his usual low haunts for some time； gratifying his
depraved tastes； until； not taking the cart into his calculations；
he endeavoured to turn up a narrow alley； and became greatly
involved。 He was taken into custody by the police； and； the Green
Yard of the district being near at hand； was backed into that place
of durance。 At that crisis； I encountered him； the stubborn sense
he evinced of being … not to compromise the expression … a
blackguard； I never saw exceeded in the human subject。 A flaring
candle in a paper shade； stuck in among his periwinkles； showed
him； with his ragged harness broken and his cart extensively
shattered； twitching his mouth and shaking his hanging head； a
picture of disgrace and obduracy。 I have seen boys being taken to
station…houses； who were as like him as his own brother。
The dogs of shy neighbourhoods； I observe to avoid play； and to be
conscious of poverty。 They avoid work； too； if they can； of
course； that is in the nature of all animals。 I have the pleasure
to know a dog in a back street in the neighbourhood of Walworth；
who has greatly distinguished himself in the minor drama； and who
takes his portrait with him when he makes an engagement； for the
illustration of the play…bill。 His portrait （which is not at all
like him） represents him in the act of dragging to the earth a
recreant Indian； who is supposed to have tomahawked； or essayed to
tomahawk； a British officer。 The design is pure poetry； for there
is no such Indian in the piece； and no such incident。 He is a dog
of the Newfoundland breed； for whose honesty I would be bail to any
amount； but whose intellectual qualities in association with
dramatic fiction； I cannot rate high。 Indeed； he is too honest for
the profession he has entered。 Being at a town in Yorkshire last
summer； and seeing him posted in the bill of the night； I attended
the performance。 His first scene was eminently successful； but； as
it occupied a second in its representation （and five lines in the
bill）； it scarcely afforded ground for a cool and deliberate
judgment of his powers。 He had merely to bark； run on； and jump
through an inn window； after a comic fugitive。 The next scene of
importance to the fable was a little marred in its interest by his
over…anxiety； forasmuch as while his master （a belated soldier in a
den of robbers on a tempestuous night） was feelingly lamenting the
absence of his faithful dog； and laying great stress on the fact
that he was thirty leagues away； the faithful dog was barking
furiously in the prompter's box； and clearly choking himself
against his collar。 But it was in his greatest scene of all； that
his honesty got the better of him。 He had to enter a dense and
trackless forest； on the trail of the murderer； and there to fly at
the murderer when he found him resting at the foot of a tree； with
his victim bound ready for slaughter。 It was a hot night； and he
came into the forest from an altogether unexpected direction； in
the sweetest temper； at a very deliberate trot； not in the least
excited； trotted to the foot…lights with his tongue out； and there
sat down； panting； and amiably surveying the audience； with his
tail beating on the boards； like a Dutch clock。 Meanwhile the
murderer； impatient to receive his doom； was audibly calling to him
'CO…O…OME here！' while the victim； struggling with his bonds；
assailed him with the most injurious expressions。 It happened
through these means； that when he was in course of time persuaded
to trot up and rend the murderer limb from limb； he made it （for
dramatic purposes） a little too obvious that he worked out that
awful retribution by licking butter off his blood…stained hands。
In a shy street； behind Long…acre； two honest dogs live； who
perform in Punch's shows。 I may venture to say that I am on terms
of intimacy with both； and that I never saw either guilty of the
falsehood of failing to look down at the man inside the show；
during the whole performance。 The difficulty other dogs have in
satisfying their minds about these dogs； appears to be never
overcome by time。 The same dogs must encounter them over and over
again； as they trudge along in their off…minutes behind the legs of
the show and beside the drum； but all dogs seem to suspect their
frills and jackets； and to sniff at them as if they thought those
articles of personal adornment； an eruption … a something in the
nature of mange； perhaps。 From this Covent…garden window of mine I
noticed a country dog； only the other day； who had come up to
Covent…garden Market under a cart； and had broken his cord； an end
of which he still trailed along with him。 He loitered about the
corners of the four streets commanded by my window； and bad London
dogs came up； and told him lies that he didn't believe； and worse
London dogs came up； and made proposals to him to go and steal in
the market； which his principles rejected； and the ways of the town
confused him； and he crept aside and lay down in a doorway。 He had
scarcely got a wink of sleep； when up comes Punch with Toby。 He
was darting to Toby for consolation and advice； when he saw the
frill； and stopped； in the middle of the street； appalled。 The
show was pitched； Toby retired behind the drapery； the audience
formed； the drum and pipes struck up。 My country dog remained
immovable； intently staring at these strange appearances； until
Toby opened the drama by appearing on his ledge； and to him entered
Punch； who put a tobacco…pipe into Toby's mouth。 At this
spectacle； the country dog threw up his head； gave one terrible
howl； and fled due west。
We talk of men keeping dogs； but we might often talk more
expressively of dogs keeping men。 I know a bull…dog in a shy
corner of Hammersmith who keeps a man。 He keeps him up a yard； and
makes him go to public…houses and lay wagers on him； and obliges
him to lean against posts and look at him； and forces him to
neglect work for him； and keeps him under rigi