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])
5. Robert and the Marbles.
A little boy named Robert was having a game at marbles with a number of other boys, and it had just come his turn to play. He meant to win, and was carefully aiming the marble, when he heard his mother's voice calling, "Robert, I want you". Quick as thought the marbles were dropped into his pocket, and off he ran to see what mother wanted.