Bishop Stanley, who mentions the story, heard of an aged blind woman who
used to be led every Sunday to church by a gander, which took hold of
her gown with its bill. When she had seated herself, it retired to
graze in the churchyard till she came out again, and then it would lead
her safely home.
One day the clergyman called at her house, and expressed his surprise to
the daughter that the mother should venture abroad. She replied: "O
sir, we are not afraid of trusting her out of sight, for the gander is
with her."
When a poor despised goose can thus make itself of so much use, how much
more should you try to become useful.