"Oh! I wasn't doubting it," said my uncle; "only it's just occurred
to me that as you understand the knack of these things, perhaps
_you'd_ like to come in and try _your_ hand on the dog? We can give
you a room quite to yourselves; and I'll undertake that nobody comes
near to interfere with you. And if--if," continued my uncle, with
that kindly thoughtfulness which ever distinguished his treatment of
others, "_if_, by any chance, you should miss hitting the dog at the
proper critical moment, or, if _you_ should get cowed and exhausted
first, instead of the dog--why, I shall only be too pleased to take
the whole burden of the funeral expenses on my own shoulders; and I
hope you know me well enough to feel sure that the arrangements will
be tasteful, and, at the same time, unostentatious!"

And out my uncle walked.

We next consulted the butcher, who agreed that the prize-ring method
was absurd, especially when recommended to a short-winded, elderly
family man, and who recommended, instead, plenty of out-door exercise
for the dog, under my uncle's strict supervision and control.

"Get a fairly long chain for him," said the butcher, "and take him out
for a good stiff run every evening. Never let him get away from you;
make him mind you, and bring him home always thoroughly exhausted.
You stick to that for a month or two, regular, and you'll have him
like a little child."

"Um!--seems to me that I'm going to get more training over his job
than anybody else," muttered my uncle, as he thanked the man and left
the shop; "but I suppose it's got to be done. Wish I'd never had the