And never,
except in early puppyhood, was he lonely. Never until the Master
was so foolish as to decide in his own shallow human mind that
the big collie would be happier with another collie for comrade
and mate.
After that, loneliness more than once crept into Laddie's serene
life; and into the dark sorrowful eyes behind which lurked a
soul. For, until one has known and relied on the companionship of
one's kind, there can be no loneliness.
The Master made another blunder--this one on his own account and
on the Mistress's,--when he bought a second collie, to share
Lad's realm of forest and lawn and lake. For, it is always a
mistake to own two dogs at a time. A single dog is one's chum and
guard and worshiper. If he be rightly treated and talked to and
taught, he becomes all-but human. Because he is forced to rely
solely on humans, for everything. And his mind and heart respond
to this. There is no divided allegiance.
One dog in a home is worth ten times as much to his owners, in
every way, as are two or more dogs. Especially if the one dog be
such a collie as Sunnybank Lad.
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