LETTER VIII. 83 



get at the gist of the matter ; so, bothering him one 

 morning again, on going to church, the doctor told Mr. 

 John Coulter if he would wait in the porch after service 

 he would give him a most convincing proof, as every 

 other had failed. Accordingly, having disposed of his 

 canonicals, the worthy rector quietly approached the 

 porch, where John was waiting for the explanation. Mr. 

 Coulter was looking musingly into the church yard, with 

 his back to the door, when his pastor quietly approach- 

 ing, lent John such a kick in the rear as nearly to lift 

 him off his legs. " Oh dear. Sir, how you did hurt." — 

 " Well, John, it would have been a miracle if I had not — 

 are you satisfied now what a miracle is ?" — " Quite, Sir," 

 replied John ; " but next time don't ye kick quite so 

 hard." 



I was obliged to employ a similar argument once with 

 a second whipper-in I had, who was occasionally addicted 

 to taking rather more of aqua vitas than was good for his 

 health or understanding. My first whip being sent out 

 on business, Tom was left in charge of the hounds, with 

 strong injunctions not to leave the kennel until his return. 

 It was during the summer months, and rather warm 

 weather. Some gentlemen came to see the hounds, and 

 Tom, having performed the part of master of ceremonies 

 to their satisfaction, was by them invited to take a glass 

 at the public house, that they might suck his brains a 

 little about the hounds. Tom took a tolerable supply of 

 suction, as much, or rather more, than he could carry 

 home quite comfortably, and made for the kennels again. 

 Here, having little to do, he thought he would employ 

 his time in putting the old and young hounds together, 

 to judge himself how they would look. Happening to 



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