The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-16
Old Dog Grim.

Our minister was to preach to the chill
dren, one Sunday afternoon, and all the lit
tie people were invited to come. Even the
infant school children were told that for once
they should understand a sermon.
Little Matte was one of the smallest boys
"a bright, blaek-eyed fellow of FIVE years
old. He was his mothers darling, just as
all of you dear children are; but, even while
yet so small, he had one very great fault
He was a lazy little boy. He was very fond
of dogs, too and, soon after the minister
began to talk, Matte whispered, go, NAM
ma, it is a sermon about dogs; 1 am SO
glad" and directly he began to listen, with
his eyes, and ears and mouth all wide open,
and was sure to hear every word.
The minister told about very cold coun-
tries, where they used dogs for horses. He
said men 90 to these countries in ships, and
often they get fast in the ice, for the sea is
full of it and sometimes the ships are broken
in pieces, and the poor men starye or freeze
on the great dreary fields of ice.
Once an Englshman, Sir John Franklin,
went with two ships to those frozen seas to
make some great discoveries; but never came
back. After waiting many years, other men
and ships went after these, to see if they
could learn what had become of him. This
last party came home safely, and wrote d
book, telling wonderful stories Of their life
in the Arctic seas.
Sometimes they left their ships fast in the
ice, and, taking sledges with dogs for horses,
travelled for many days over the ice. One
of these dogs was named "Grim. He was
a great strong fellow, and could draw a
larger load, catch a fox quicker, and eat
more than any of the rest, and was a very
agreeable, intelligent dog, as you shall see.
He went with them once or twice, to help
draw the sledge on their land Journey, but
they found that, with all his strength he was
the first dog to lie down when they came to
a rough place; all the dogs did this, and the
men had to unload the sled and carry it over
the bad places, and then the dogs would pull
again. But old Grim was the first fellow
down, and the last to start again.
The next time they were about leaving
the ship, Grim was nowhere to be SEEM
When he found them getting ready for an
other sledge journey, he quietly took himself
off, They looked for him as long as they
could spare time, and then had to start with
out him. After day or two, Grim came
back to the ship, looking very innocent and
very hungry, having had nothing to eat in
his walk.
The next time they started they called
him to harness him, but found the poor dog
was very lame. He could walk only on
three legs, and seemed in great pain. Of
course he was of no use, and so they left
him again. By the time they were out of
sight, old Grim's leg grew quite well, and
he was all right again; and always, when
they wanted MN 70 WORK, ne acted IN TINS
way; he was lame, tired, or sick, or ran
away, and so was of no use to any one.
Children, I have never been to the ice
countries, but think have seen many
dog Grim in our own land. When a little
boy or girl is asked to go up or down stairs
to fetch something, and she don want to ;"
or when he is told to put up his tops and is
too tired" and when he can't learn bis
lesson because his "head aches, Or his "eyes
hurt" when he wants the maid to fetch him
a glass of water, and yet he can run all
about the house at play-isnt such little
boy or girl very like dog Grim