Faithful Fido

“What shall I do,” said a very little dog one day to his mother, “to show my gratitude¹ to our good master? I cannot draw, or carry burthens for him like the horse; nor give him milk like the cow; nor lend him my covering for his clothing, like the sheep; nor produce him eggs like the poultry²; nor catch rats and mice as well as the cat.

“I cannot divert him with singing like the linnets and canaries; nor can I defend him against robbers like the great dog Towzer. I should not be fit to be eaten, even if I were dead, as the hogs³ are. I am a poor insignificant⁴ creature, not worth the cost of keeping; I don’t see that I can do a single thing to entitle me to my master’s regard.” So saying the poor little dog hung down his head.

“My dear child,” replied his mother, “though your abilities are but small, your good will entitles you to regard. Love your master dearly, and show him that you love him, and you will not fail to please him.”

[52]

The little dog was comforted, and the next time he saw his master, ran to him, licked his feet, gamboled before him, and every now and then stopped, wagging his tail, and looking at him in the most affectionate manner. The master observed him.

“Ha! little Fido,” said he, “you are an honest, good-natured little fellow!”—and stooped down to pat his head. Poor Fido was ready to go out of his wits with joy.

Fido was now his master’s companion in his walks, playing and skipping round him, and amusing him by a thousand sportive tricks. He took care not to be troublesome by leaping on him with dirty paws, nor would he follow him into the parlor⁵ unless invited. He also attempted to make himself useful by a number of little services. He would drive away the sparrows, as they were stealing the chickens’ meat; and would run and bark with the utmost fury at the strange pigs, and other animals, which offered to come into the yard.

He kept the poultry and pigs from straying, and particularly from doing mischief⁶ in the garden. If his master pulled off his coat in the field to help his work-men, Fido always sat by it, and would not suffer either man or beast to touch it; for this faithful care of his master’s property, he was esteemed⁷ very much.

He was soon able to render a more important service.[53] One hot day after dinner, his master was sleeping in a summer house, with Fido by his side; the building was old, and the watchful⁸ dog perceived the walls shake, and the pieces of mortar⁹ fall from the ceiling.

He saw the danger, and began barking, to awake his master; this was not sufficient, so he jumped up and bit his finger. The master upon this started up, and had just time to get out of the door, before the whole building fell.

Fido, who was behind, got hurt by some rubbish which fell upon him; on which his master had him taken care of, with the utmost tenderness, and ever after acknowledged the little animal as the preserver of his life. Thus his love and fidelity¹⁰ had their reward.

1 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

2 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?

3 hogs   

n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人

参考例句：

• 'sounds like -- like hogs grunting. “像——像是猪发出的声音。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• I hate the way he hogs down his food. 我讨厌他那副狼吞虎咽的吃相。 来自辞典例句

4 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

5 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

6 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

7 esteemed   

adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为

参考例句：

• The art of conversation is highly esteemed in France. 在法国十分尊重谈话技巧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He esteemed that he understood what I had said. 他认为已经听懂我说的意思了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 watchful   

adj.注意的，警惕的

参考例句：

• The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
• It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。

9 mortar   

n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合

参考例句：

• The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
• The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

10 fidelity   

n.忠诚，忠实；精确

参考例句：

• There is nothing like a dog's fidelity.没有什么能比得上狗的忠诚。
• His fidelity and industry brought him speedy promotion.他的尽职及勤奋使他很快地得到晋升。