A carter in Strathmiglo, Fifeshire, had an old horse, which was as
familiar with his family as a dog could have been. He used to play with
the children, and when they were running about between his legs he would
never move, for fear of doing them an injury.
On one occasion, when dragging a loaded cart through a narrow lane near
the village, a young child, not one of his owner's family, happened to
be playing on the road, and thoughtlessly ran directly before him, when,
had it not been for his sagacity, it would inevitably have been crushed
by the wheels. On seeing what had occurred, the good old horse took the
child up by its clothes with his teeth, carried it a few yards, and then
placed it by the wayside,--moving slowly all the while, and looking back
occasionally, as if to satisfy himself that the cart-wheels had passed
clear of it.
In all his duties he was equally steady and precise, and could be
perfectly trusted.
That is just the character you should aim at deserving. To merit being
perfectly trusted, shows that your talent is employed to the best
advantage--that you are labouring, really and truly, from a conscious
sense of duty. Only thus will you labour honestly.