LESSON 16 THE DOG IN THE MANGER

THE DOG IN THE MANGER

man-ger ox-en corn-er

snapped plough-ing stall

your-self a-fraid snap

1. One day, a dog found his way into a cowshed, and lay down in a manger that was full of hay. This was so nice, and soft, and warm, that he made up his mind to stay there and sleep.

2. Out in the fields were some oxen ploughing, and when their day's work was done, they came back to the shed to be fed, and to rest. One of them went into the stall, and walked up to the manger where the dog lay, to eat his hay.

3. Up jumped the dog at once, and began to bark loudly, and to snap at the poor, tired ox, and this made him afraid to go near the dog.

What is the matter with you? asked he. "This is my stall. I have been hard at work all day, and am very hungry. Pray, let me have a little of the hay to eat. I shall not harm you, and you do not want to eat it yourself."

4. "Go away!" said the dog. "I was here first, and I am going to stay here. You must go to some other place for your hay."

5. The ox, however, tried to get some by going first to one corner of the manger and then to the other, but the dog was always too quick for him.

6. He barked and snapped at the poor ox so much that he could not get near the hay at all; so at last he lay down to go to sleep without having his supper. Turning to the dog, the ox said, "You are the most selfish brute I have ever seen. You cannot eat the hay yourself, and you will not let those do so who can."