“How often do you wash him?” asked Uncle Frank.

“About twice a month,” said Edward, “I give him a bath in lukewarm water and with Castile soap.  I rinse the soap off with clear water, rub him dry, and let him have a good scamper in the fields.  I comb and brush him thoroughly every day.  That makes his coat clean and glossy.  Once when he had fleas I washed him with carbolic soap, and then took him in swimming.  I have been told that for a small dog the yolk of an egg is better than any kind of soap, but I have never tried it for Chum.”

“What does he have to eat, and how often do you feed him?”

He has two meals a day now.  Sometimes he has dog biscuit soaked in water or soup.  Sometimes he likes his biscuit dry.  Nearly every day he has a few scraps of meat or a bone.  He likes corn cake and brown bread and macaroni, too.  Sometimes I mix the meat and vegetables with mush made from some cereal.”

“I suppose you know,” said Uncle Frank, “that a dog needs vegetable food, and that he cannot keep well without it?”

“Yes, indeed.  I give him cabbage and potatoes very often.”

“Is Chum a good watchdog?” went on Uncle Frank.  “He didn’t bark at me when I came up the path.”

“It is just as well that you didn’t try to open the door,” said Edward; “he would have barked loudly enough in that case.  He barks at night when he hears a strange step, because I have praised him for that; but in the daytime he keeps his eyes open and lies still.”

“What is that yellow dish by the laundry door?” said the boy’s uncle, looking about the pleasant yard.

“That is Chum’s water dish,” said Edward.  “It is hard to keep tin or iron clean, so mother gave me that.  It is in the shade, you see.  Chum likes cool water as well as I do.  You have always found it there, haven’t you, old fellow?”

The dog looked up gravely into the boy’s face and panted a little from the heat.

“Why does a dog pant like that?” asked Edward.

“He perspires through his tongue,” said his uncle.  “That is why it is so cruel to put a muzzle over a dog’s mouth.  When he is overheated he suffers very much.  I hope you never take Chum with you when you ride on your bicycle.”

“No, sir!” said Edward with emphasis.  “Chum knows that when the bicycle goes he must stay at home.  I would never let him tire himself out by trying to keep up with me.  But we have long walks together after tea.”

Chum pricked up his ears at the word “walk” and laid his head lovingly on his master’s knee.

“There is another reason for not letting him follow your bicycle,” said Uncle Frank.  “It might seriously injure him to run so fast.  I am glad his ears are not cropped.  Sometimes a dog is made deaf when his ears are cropped.  They are very sensitive, and it hurts him to have them pulled or roughly handled in any way.”

“I wouldn’t have his ears or his tail cut off,” said Edward indignantly, “and no one has ever struck him.  He knows by my voice when I am displeased with him, and he will beg to be forgiven by wagging his tail as hard as he can.  Chum shall not be hurt if I can help it.