Friends and Helpers | Page 8

and vegetables with
mush made from some cereal."
"I suppose you know," said Uncle Frank, "that a dog needs vegetable
food, and that he cannot keep well without it?"
"Yes, indeed. I give him cabbage and potatoes very often."
"Is Chum a good watchdog?" went on Uncle Frank. "He didn't bark at
me when I came up the path."
"It is just as well that you didn't try to open the door," said Edward; "he
would have barked loudly enough in that case. He barks at night when
he hears a strange step, because I have praised him for that; but in the
daytime he keeps his eyes open and lies still."
"What is that yellow dish by the laundry door?" said the boy's uncle,
looking about the pleasant yard.
"That is Chum's water dish," said Edward. "It is hard to keep tin or iron
clean, so mother gave me that. It is in the shade, you see. Chum likes
cool water as well as I do. You have always found it there, haven't you,
old fellow?"
The dog looked up gravely into the boy's face and panted a little from
the heat.
"Why does a dog pant like that?" asked Edward.
"He perspires through his tongue," said his uncle. "That is why it is so
cruel to put a muzzle over a dog's mouth. When he is overheated he
suffers very much. I hope you never take Chum with you when you
ride on your bicycle."
"No, sir!" said Edward with emphasis. "Chum knows that when the
bicycle goes he must stay at home. I would never let him tire himself
out by trying to keep up with me. But we have long walks together
after tea."
Chum pricked up his ears at the word "walk" and laid his head lovingly
on his master's knee.
"There is another reason for not letting him follow your bicycle," said

Uncle Frank. "It might seriously injure him to run so fast. I am glad his
ears are not cropped. Sometimes a dog is made deaf when his ears are
cropped. They are very sensitive, and it hurts him to have them pulled
or roughly handled in any way."
"I wouldn't have his ears or his tail cut off," said Edward indignantly,
"and no one has ever struck him. He knows by my voice when I am
displeased with him, and he will beg to be forgiven by wagging his tail
as hard as he can. Chum shall not be hurt if I can help it.
"The other day a great bulldog got hold of him. We tried almost
everything to make the fierce dog let go, but it was impossible to
separate them. A man came out of a house with a pail of water, which
he threw over the bulldog's head. The dog immediately let go and ran
away. "A sudden dash of cold water," the man said, "will almost
always break up a fight."
"That is a good thing to remember," said the boy's uncle. "It is your
thoughtfulness that has made Chum such a fine dog. You have not
overfed him; you have given him plenty of fresh water and a
comfortable home; you have been patient with him and willing to teach
him. Best of all, you have never deceived him or been cruel and unkind
to him. No one ought to have a pet unless he is willing to take some
trouble to keep it well and happy. See how Chum watches you when
you talk! He has doubtless learned to understand much of what you say.
He seems to think that he has a good master, and I think so, too."

STORIES OF DOGS.
One of the great men of history was William, Prince of Orange. He is
to the little country of the Netherlands what George Washington is to
us. One night he was asleep in his tent, and a small spaniel was lying
on his bed. The guards, faithless to their trust, were sleeping. Suddenly
the dog sprang up, barking wildly. A small band of the enemy was
approaching, unheard by any of the men. There was just time for the
Prince to escape, before the Spanish soldiers were in his tent. To the
end of his life, William of Orange kept a spaniel of the same race in his
room, and in the statues of the Prince a little dog is frequently seen
lying at his feet.
A dog was once left in the room alone with a baby who was learning to
creep. On the hearth an open fire was smouldering. Suddenly there was

a bright little flicker of flame and the logs blazed up once more.
Pleased with the sight, the baby began to creep towards the fire as fast
as he