e went to the 11 service. After
Church we went a little way up the road, and I did a sepia sketch of
"our street," Rex sitting by me and groaning Hebrew. It was gloriously
sunny, and such a lovely sky, and such an exquisitely calm river with
white-sailed boats on it. I have enjoyed it immensely....

_Fredericton._ 19th Sunday after Trinity, 1867.

* * * * *

I wonder if I send it by next mail, whether you would have room for a
very short Christmas sort of prose Idyll suggested to me by a scene I
saw when we were hunting for a sketch the other day. If I can jot it
down, I don't suppose it would be more than two or three pages. If I
send it at all it will come by the Halifax mail. It will be called
"The Two Christmas Trees."...

TO H.K.F.G.

September 29, 1867.

... I have fallen head over ears in love with another dog. Oh! bless
his nose!... His name is Hector. He is a _white_ pure bull-dog. His
face is more broad and round--and delicious and ferociously
good-natured--and affectionately ogreish--than you can imagine. The
moment I saw him I hugged him and kissed his benevolence bump, and he
didn't even _gowly powl_....

TO MRS. GATTY.

[_Fredericton_, 1867?]

... Talking of stories, if I only can get the full facts of his history,
I think I shall send A.J.M. a short paper on a Fredericton Dog. Did I
ever tell you of him? He has the loveliest face I ever saw, I think, _in
any Christian_. He knows us quite well when we go up the High Street
where he lives. When he gets two cents (1_d._) given him, he takes it in
his mouth to the nearest store and buys himself buscuits. I have seen
him do it. If you only give him _one_ cent he is dissatisfied, and tries
to get the second. The Bishop told me he used to come to Church with his
master at one time; he would come and behave very well--TILL the
offertory. Then he rose and _walked after the alms-collectors_, wagging
his tail as the money chinked in, because he wanted his penny for his
biscuits!!! He is a large dog--part St. Bernard, and has magnificent
eyes. But (my _poor_!) they shaved him this summer like a poodle! There
is a bear in the officers' quarters here--he belongs to the regiment. I
have patted him, but he catches at one's clothes. To see him _patting_
at my skirts with his paw was delicious--but I don't like his _head_, he
looks very sly!

January 2, 1868.

... Indeed it is hard not to be able to see each other