A lady once had a dog of which she was very fond. The dog was fond of
his mistress also, and loved to romp by her side when she was out
walking, or to lie at her feet as she sat at work. But the dog had one
serious fault--he did not like to be washed, and he was so savage when
he =was= put into the bath, that at last none of the servants dare do
it.
The lady decided that she would not take any more notice of the dog
until he was willing to have his bath quietly, so she did not take him
out with her for walks, nor allow him to come near her in the house.
There were no pattings, no caresses, no romps, and he began to look
quite wretched and miserable. You see the dog did not like his mistress
to be vexed with him, and he felt very unhappy--so unhappy that at last
he could bear it no longer.
Then one morning he crept quietly up to the lady and gave her a look
which she knew quite well meant, "I cannot bear this any longer; I will
be good".
So he was put in the bath, and though he had to be scrubbed very
hard--for by this time he was unusually dirty--he stood still quite
patiently, and when it was all over, he bounded to his mistress with a
joyous bark and a wag of the tail, as much as to say, "It is all right
now".
After this he was allowed to go for walks as usual, and was once more a
happy dog, and he never objected to his bath afterwards.
The dog could not bear to grieve his mistress; and how much more should
children be sorry to grieve kind father and mother, who do so much for
them.
(Blackboard.)
=Why= we obey:--
1. Because the "Good Voice" tells us.
2. Because we do not Know the Way.
3. Because it gives Pleasure to Father and Mother.
(READY OBEDIENCE.[2])