The doctor came to the door and said:—
"Don't mind David, Benny. You're early enough. But he's crazy about hunting, and wants to be at it all the time. It would be better for him if he spent less time at it."
"Father told me to give his respects to you, sir."
"All right, Benny. Now, boys, take things easy, or you'll be tired out before you see a fox."
ZABDIEL
As Davy and I skimmed along over the snow, the day began to break. We had only one dog with us, but he was a real good one. His name was Zabdiel.
"That's a good dog, Davy, but he's got the funniest name for a dog I ever heard. How did he get it?"
"Oh, I dunno! Father gave it to him. There was a doctor in Boston started this inoculation business for the smallpox. Folks were about ready to tear his house down; but he kept on inoculating, his patients didn't die, and finally people let up on him. Father thinks a heap of this inoculation and sets a store by this Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, and named his best horse and dog after him."
"But I should think we ought to have more than one dog with us, Davy."