gh with a bad cold, escaped
the learned Pig: it was his last! for, when Bruin raised himself up, he
found his late employer perfectly motionless; nor did all his efforts,
such as pulling his snout, and shaking his trotters, and twisting his
tail, succeed in producing the slightest impression. The bear was
puzzled. He squatted down beside his old master, and, sucking his right
paw, whilst he scratched his pate with his left, gazed long at the
prostrate body. Meanwhile Tom drew nigh, and guessing at the truth from
his companion's attitude and the pig's breathless quiet, raised his nose
to the roof of the dwelling and uttered a long and dismal howl of
sorrow. Again and again, at brief intervals, did the faithful servant
thus deplore his master's fate, till Bruin, angered by the noise, threw
the broken drum at the unconscious mourner, with such effect, indeed,
that the shattered extremity alighted on his crown, and for the time
completely buried him, his voice sounding singularly sepulchral from the
depths of the hollow instrument. It effectually stopped the current of
his grief by creating a flood of irritation, which only respect for the
dead prevented his giving vent to, for he would otherwise have little
heeded either the strength or ferocity of his antagonist.

Bruin, who had betrayed no feeling of any kind at the sight of his late
benefactor thus converted into pork, now returned to his own bed, and
was soon again in a comfortable snore; but the faithful Tom still sat
beside the body of his master, and patiently watched there till
daylight.

The sun rose, and many neighbours, apprised of the event, made their
appearance; some urged by curiosity to see how a dead pig looked, some
stimulated by avarice, hoping there might be a trifle or two to pick up,
and a few from a higher motive--the wish, namely, to show respect for
the memory of the deceased, by assisting, if necessary, his survivors.
Herr Schwein, however, had come amongst them alone, nor was it thought
that he had kith or kin; for no mention of any amiable _frau_, or sow,
no syllable of any interesting piglet, had ever issued from his learned
jaws. He died as he had lived, among strangers; and, alas! all the
learning he had acquired was destined to perish with him: for, with one
exception, Herr Schwein had never committed any of his thoughts or
experiences to writing. I have said, with _one_ exception; for the
occasion is worth noting, as it was on a matter int