CHAPTER I. 



CONCERNING DOGS. 



TJITHERTO I have confined my remarks 

 JTl to reminiscences of my youthful life as a 

 keeper, just jotting down events as they from 

 time to time occur to my mind ; but now I have 

 had a gentle reminder from my biographer to 

 the following effect: "Look here, Wilkins, 

 these anecdotes are all very well, but if you 

 want your book to go down with the public, 

 you must not only make it interesting, but 

 also instructive." 



Now, when an old man like myself is set 

 down to write his life and adventures, he must 



