Perrier-Jouet Botanica Province, a yellow Labrador retriever who belonged to Lil Province of West Tisbury and Edgartown, reached the end of her long and happy life on Dec. 15, with her owner by her side. Perri was born on Nov. 26, 1994 and had been Lil’s constant companion since she brought her home as a pup 15 years ago.

Perri is best remembered through Rudyard Kipling’s poem, Four Feet:

 

I have done mostly what most men do,

And pushed it out of my mind;

But I can’t forget, if I wanted to,

Four-Feet trotting behind.

 

Day after day, the whole day

through —

Wherever my road inclined —

Four-feet said, “I am coming

with you!”

And trotted along behind.

 

Now I must go by some other

round, —

Which I shall never find —

Somewhere that does not carry the sound

Of Four-Feet trotting behind.