The Two Dogs
By E. L. F.
Annotations by Kristina Bowers
It is a good thing for a child to have the care of domestic animals as far as possible; they learn patience from them, as well as the habit of thinking of something besides themselves; and their hearts, if they love the animals, are kept open by them to pity and kindness.
A little girl by the name of Fanny, had the care in her father’s family of feeding two dogs, one a spaniel, the other a poodle. She fed them both at the same time. She had taught each of them to wait while the other was fed. The spaniel was not very patient while the poodle took his portion, but the poodle sat perfectly still and never asked for a morsel till Fanny said “Fidele,” and then he gladly received what she gave him, and after devouring it, sat still again, looking as solemn and quiet as if he were at church. The spaniel on the contrary had now and then to receive a slight box on the ear for his bad behavior.
One day a lady dined at the house of Fanny’s father and was very much pleased at the patient way Fanny waited to be helped. Every one had his or her dinner except Fanny and her younger sister, and when her mother was going to help her she whispered to her, “Help Annie first, or I am afraid she’ll cry. I can wait, mamma.” The lady heard the whisper, for she sat next to Fanny, and perhaps unwisely praised her patience. The child replied, “I should think I might be as patient as our poodle, and he waits very quietly while I feed Rover. He seems to know that Rover can’t wait quietly, any more than little Annie can.”
These two dogs had spoken to her as wisely as Burns’ two dogs did to each other.
