LESSON XIV.
1. Once on a time a miller had a large shaggy dog called “Mungo.” He slept at the mill nights, and took care that no thieves came about.
2. He was very fond of the children, and, when baby pulled his hair with both her hands, he looked pleased and would not let anybody know how much she hurt him.
3. In the morning, Mungo would place himself on guard at the upper doorway, while the miller went to look after his work in the lower part of the mill.
4. As soon as the miller came up, Mungo, without being told, would start for the house to gethis master’s breakfast. He made two journeys, bringing a pitcher of milk and a dish of oatmeal tied up in a napkin.
5. One morning there was a flood in the river, and a little dog living near by fell into the stream and was carried down yelping with all his might.
6. Mungo was coming with his master’s breakfast, as usual, when he heard the cry of the little dog. He set the dish down by the side of the path, and dashed off down stream as hard as he could run.
7. When he had got well below the little dog, he sprang into the river, and swam out into the middle of the stream, just in time to catch the helpless dog as he was swept down.
8. Mungo seized him by the neck in such a way as to keep his head above water, swam with him safely to the shore, and dragged him high and dry out of the water.
9. After shaking himself, he cuffed the little dog first with one paw and then with the other, as much as to say, “Now, you little dunce, keep away from the river.”
10. He then went back to where he had left the dish, and carried it to his master as usual.