“Only one!” said he, sharply. “I should think that was enough. He's as big as an elephant. He filled the house from cellar to garret, and crowded us all out o' bed and yelled for more room. Say, what's he got on him?” '“Silver polish,” I answered. “Silver polish!” said he. “Well, I've read o' their puttin' dogs in a bath-tub, but I never heard o' their bein' polished before.” “He got into the basin where I mixed it.” My visitor picked up the dish of soft Sal, and held it near the light for examination. “Godfrey Cordial!” he remarked, “it's an awful-lookin' mess! What do you call it?” “Sal,” I answered. “Sal!” he exclaimed. “I'm sorry that you an' Sal ever lit in my family tree. You're a fine pair o' birds.” I explained to him that the hired man had promised to take the puppy out-of-doors, but had forgotten to do so, and he left me. I went to breakfast soon after daylight in the morning. When I returned to my room the Sal was gone. Some one had carried the bowl away with its contents. I went below to look for the proprietor. I found him shovelling dirt in the garden. “Somebody took my polish,” I said to him, as pleasantly as possible. “Yes, an' I'm about to bury it an' the dog, too.” “Is the dog dead?” I asked, with a pang of regret. “Yes; slain by his own deviltry! Oh, he had a busy night! Got to playin' with our ol' cat; he polished her an' she polished him. Her paws are all gummed up an' her eyes swelled an' kind o' shiny. He got at our shepherd dog an' polished him. That dog has got a sore mouth an' is brighter than he ever was before, The last performance of your puppy was to tackle one o' the hind feet o' my ol' mare; he didn't live long after that. The services have begun, an' I guess you're the only mourner. I've just prayed that I may never see him again. The sermon will be short. Don't ever take up any more room in the world than what you're entitled to.” So ended my first adventure in business. It taught me the wisdom of knowing how, and of being sure about it, and, further, that one is to be careful not to take more than his share of room in the world. ADVENTURE VII.--WHICH IS THAT OF CRICKET AND THE LOVER AND THE POTATO-SACK [Illustration: 9083] HE farmer in whose house I had spent the night was a thrifty man of the name of Ephraim Baker. My hope in Sal having been overthrown, I offered him my services. I had had enough of disappointment and uncertainty.