A Terrier--deservedly a pet in the family for his gentleness and
amiability--was playing with one of the children, when suddenly he was
heard to utter a snarl, followed by a bark. The mother rushed to her
child, and believing it to have been bitten, drove off the dog. No
injury, however, was apparent. The dog retired to a corner, where he
remained, in an attitude of regret, till the inspection had been
finished. He then approached the lady, and with a touch of his paw
claimed attention. It was given, and forthwith he deposited at her feet
a pin.
The story was thus made plain. The child, finding the pin, had turned
the dog's nose into a pin-cushion. The snarl rebuked the offence, and
the pin had been taken by the dog, with his mouth, out of the child's
hand. No sooner did the dog see that this was understood, than he began
to lick the little fellow's hand, as if to assure him of his
forgiveness, and to beg him to make friends again,--which they were ever
afterwards.
I hope that the little boy, through his whole life, was always ready to
profit by the lesson of his dumb companion and to forgive injuries.