Giftie

"It says 'Giftie' on her collar," Angel announced, separating the short, shaggy coat to read.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

So Giftie she was, and, for a long three weeks, our joy and our delight.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

Giftie, tired of sitting up without reward or encouragement, had trotted quietly out of the room.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

When Mary Ellen had wrested the shoe from Giftie, she crept upstairs, her heart in her mouth, and restored it to its place beneath the bed.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

We were quite prepared to see it stop before the large square house where Giftie lived.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

Giftie brought a woollen bedroom slipper from upstairs to worry for our amusement.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

There was not much light in the scullery so we could not at first distinguish what lay on the mat beside Giftie.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

Giftie, then, darted for the hamper, sniffed it, ran back to the other Scotty, and bit him so that he yelped.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

Giftie gambolling, mouse in mouth, ran through it and tracked it over the freshly scrubbed boards.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920

In a second I had Giftie in my arms; her little, hard wriggling body pressed to my breast; her little red tongue showing between her pointed white teeth.

Explorers of the Dawn Mazo De la Roche 1920