按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
set about it。
〃Oh； yes；〃 said the man； cheerfully； 〃very simple thing； training a bull…
dog。 Wants patience； that's all。〃
〃Oh； that will be all right；〃 said my uncle； 〃it can't want much more
than living in the same house with him before he's trained does。 How do
you start？〃
〃Well； I'll tell you；〃 said next…door…but…one。 〃You take him up into a
room where there's not much furniture； and you shut the door and bolt it。〃
〃I see；〃 said my uncle。
〃Then you place him on the floor in the middle of the room； and you
go down on your knees in front of him； and begin to irritate him。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃Yesand you go on irritating him until you have made him quite
savage。〃
〃Which； from what I know of the dog； won't take long；〃 observed my
uncle thoughtfully。
〃So much the better。 The moment he gets savage he will fly at you。〃
My uncle agreed that the idea seemed plausible。
〃He will fly at your throat；〃 continued the next…door…but…one man；
〃and this is where you will have to be careful。 _As_ he springs toward
you； and _before_ he gets hold of you； you must hit him a fair straight
blow on his nose； and knock him down。〃
〃Yes； I see what you mean。〃
〃Quite sowell； the moment you have knocked him down； he will
jump up and go for you again。 You must knock him down again； and you
must keep on doing this； until the dog is thoroughly cowed and exhausted。
Once he is thoroughly cowed； the thing's donedog's as gentle as a lamb
after that。〃
〃Oh！〃 says my uncle； rising from his chair； 〃you think that a good way；
do you？〃
12
… Page 13…
Evergreens
〃Certainly；〃 replied the next…door…but…one man； 〃it never fails。〃
〃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 ifif；〃 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 dogwhy；
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 d… dog
now！〃
So； religiously； every evening； my uncle would fasten a long chain to
that poor dog； and drag him away from his happy home with the idea of
exhausting him； and the dog would come back as fresh as paint； my uncle
behind him； panting and clamoring for brandy。
My uncle said he should never have dreamed there could have been
such stirring times in this prosaic nineteenth century as he had； training
that dog。
13
… Page 14…
Evergreens
Oh； the wild； wild scamperings over the breezy commonthe dog
trying to catch a swallow； and my uncle； unable to hold him back；
following at the other end of the chain！
Oh； the merry frolics in the fields； when the dog wanted to kill a cow；
and the cow wanted to kill the dog； and they each dodged round my uncle；
trying to do it！
And； oh； the pleasant chats with the old ladies when the dog wound the
chain into a knot around their legs； and upset them； and my uncle had to
sit down in the road beside them； and untie them before they could get up
again！
But a crisis came at last。 It was a Saturday afternoonuncle being
exercised by dog in usual waynervous children playing in road； see dog；
scream； and runplayful young dog thinks it a game； jerks chain out of
uncle's grasp； and flies after themuncle flies after dog； calling it names
fond parent in front garden； seeing beloved children chased by savage dog；
followed by careless owner； flies after uncle； calling _him_ names
householders come to doors and cry； 〃Shame！〃also throw things at dog
things don't hit dog； hit unclethings that don't hit uncle； hit fond parent
through the village and up the hill； over the bridge and round by the green…
…grand run； mile and a half without a break！ Children sink exhausted
dog gambols up among themchildren go into fitsfond parent and uncle
come up together； both breathless。
〃Why don't you call your dog off； you wicked old man？〃
〃Because I can't recollect his name； you old fool； you！〃
Fond parent accuses uncle of having set dog onuncle； indignant；
reviles fond parentexasperated fond parent attacks uncleuncle retaliates
with umbrellafaithful dog comes to assistance of uncle； and inflicts great
injury on fond parentarrival of policedog attacks policeuncle and
fond parent both taken into custodyuncle fined five pounds and costs for
keeping a ferocious dog at largeuncle fined five pounds and costs for
assault on fond parentuncle fined five pounds and cost for assault on
police！
My uncle gave the dog away soon after that。 He did not waste him。
He gave him as a wedding…present to a near relation。
14
… Page 15…
Evergreens
But the saddest story I ever heard in