ject within its
influence. A silvery brook ran from some distant hills, and, after
numerous windings, spread into a broad pond; then narrowing again, with
an abrupt fall or two, which made its pace the faster, it ran
noiselessly through some green meadows, where cattle and horses were
grazing, then made a bend into the wood, where it was lost to view.
Bruin's quick eye scarcely, however, watched its course, for his whole
attention was rivetted on what to him was of more interest,--the city to
which his weary steps were directed. It stood upon the margin of the
rivulet, just before its waters expanded into the little lake, and
seemed to occupy a considerable extent of ground. It was neither
handsomely nor regularly built, yet it had an imposing effect as a
whole, and in Bruin's eyes seemed to need nothing in the way of
architecture. Its inhabitants, I may observe in passing, were
principally descendants of canine tribes, with a few pussies, who, for
some worldly advantage, had overcome their prejudices to such society;
and a flock or two of birds: as the latter, however, were of a volatile
disposition, and were constantly on the move, they resided principally
in the higher portions of the city, so that they might come and go
without interfering with the steadier habits of the animal population.
Several horses and black cattle resided in the environs, but, with the
exception of a donkey or two, rarely entered the town, for they found
few inducements in the noisy streets to compensate them for the charm
and tranquillity of a rural life.

After contemplating the scene for some time, Bruin slowly descended the
hill, his confidence in his own powers somewhat weakened now he was in
sight of the spot where they were to be called into action; one reason
for this slight depression of his spirits arising, probably, from his
ignorance of the dwellers in the great city, for the intelligence just
communicated to the reader was at that time totally unknown to him. The
strange appearance, also, of every creature he now met, contributed to
abash him; for every one who had any pretensions to respectability wore
over the coats with which nature had provided them, clothes of a cut
that looked wonderful in the eyes of the untutored Bruin. His own aspect
was, meanwhile, not less odd in the opinion of the more civilised
animals. His untrimmed hair and beard, his ragged coat, his queer gait,
and the unrestrained gape of wonder with which he st