1. "I think that we shall have a heavy fall of snow before long," said
the landlord of the little wayside inn, at which I had called to get a
morsel of bread and cheese.
2. "Very likely it will snow," said I, giving a glance at the dark
heavy clouds, and stopping to listen for a moment to the moaning wind.
3. "And in that case the sooner I start the better, for I have a long
distance to go, and the light will fail early, in such weather as
this."
4. The landlord turned and looked at me, as I began putting on my
great-coat. "Do you think that it is wise of you to venture across the
moor, when it is likely to be so stormy?" said he.
5. "It is a rough road at the best of times, but on a bleak night with
snow there is real danger. The trap will take you over in no time when
it comes in, or as soon as it is light in the morning."
6. "My friend," said I, "do not think of such a thing. I would not be
away from home to-morrow for all the world. It is the birthday of my
only little girl, and she would think the day quite spoilt if her
father were not there.
7. "I shall step out briskly, and be at home long before dark. It is
not three o'clock yet," I added, pulling out my watch.
"Well, I wish you a safe journey, sir," said the landlord. "And also,
many happy returns of to-morrow."
8. "Thank you, landlord," replied I, in the same hearty tone. I shook
hands with him, for his face was a beaming and kindly one, and I had
known him since I was a boy.
9. As I went towards the outer door, the landlord just behind me, his
man darted forward from a dark corner, and began to bustle out in front
of me.
10. "Get out, you brute!" he said, in an angry voice, as he made a
savage kick at something which was crouching in the shadow of the
doorstep.
[Illustration: POOR DOGGIE.]
11. An instant after, with a dismal yelp of despair, a forlorn dog
slunk away from the door, and ran to hide under an empty waggon which
stood in the middle of the road.
12. "Get out! Be off!" again shouted the man, and he made a pretence of
stooping with great fury to pick up a stone. The wretched dog, wild
with terror, left his hiding-place.
13. With his drooping tail between his legs, he crept to the gate of
the yard, where he again lay down and blinked his great sad eyes at us,
licking his hungry mouth as if to beg for food.
14. I was deeply touched at the sight of this poor creature's distress,
and I could not help thinking how warm and well fed I was myself, as
well as the other two men, while this wretched dog, for no fault of his
own, was starving.
15. "Poor thing!" I said, and turning to the landlord, added, "Do pray
let some one bring him a few scraps and bones from the kitchen. I will
gladly pay for one good meal for him."
16. "Oh no, oh dear no!" cried the landlord and the man, both in a
voice of horror. "If we gave him food in this yard we should never get
rid of him.
17. "We should have a bother with starving dogs here, all the year
round, sir. Pray do not give him food here, I beg."
* * * * *
_Write:_ A man saw a hungry dog at an inn. He wished to feed him, but
the landlord said that he should never get rid of the dog if he had
food there.
Questions: 1. What sort of weather was it when the man was
at the inn? 2. What did the landlord advise him to do? 3.
What did the man answer? 4. What did the traveller see
outside the inn door? 5. What did he wish to do for the
starving dog? 6. What did the landlord and his man say?