Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-24
Our 5Joun9 fulks.
Old Doc Rrinl.

Our minister was to preach TO the
children one Sabbath afternoon, and all
the little 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, black-eyed fellow of five
years old. lie was his mothers darling,
Just as all of you dear children are bur
even while yet 50 small, he had one very
great fault. He was a lazy little boz.
He was very fond Of dogs, too, and soon
after the minister began to talk, Matte
whispered, 0 mamma, it Is a sermon
about dogs | am so glad and directly
he began to listen, with his eyes and ea~S
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 20 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
starve or freeze on the great dreary fields
Of ice
Once an EngIishman, Sir John Frank
lin went with two ships to those frozen
seas to make some great discoyeries-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 q book, telling
wonderful storie, Of their life in the Arc
tic seas.
Sometimes they left their ships tas; in
the ice, and taking sedEc> with dogs tor
horses, travelled for many days over the
ice. One of these dogs was named Brim.
He was a great strong fellow, and could
draw a larger load, catch a fox quicker
ana eat more than amy OF the rest, and was
= very agreeable, intelligent dog, as YOU
shall see He went with them once or
twice, to help draw the -cdge on their
land journey, but they found that with all
his strength he was the first dog TO lie
down when they came to q 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 Brim was the first fellow down,
and the last to start again.
The next time they were about leaving
the ship, Brim was nowhere to be seen
When he found them getting ready for
another sledge Journey, he quietly took
himself off They looked for him As long
as they could spare time, and then had tC
start without him. After "a day or two
Brim 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 lie could walk only
on three legs, ami seemed in great pain
OF course he was OF 10 use, and so they
left him again BY the time they were
out Of sight, old Brims leg grew quite
well, and be was all right again and al
ways when they wanted him to work, b,
acted in this way; be was lame, tired, oT
sick, or ran away, and was Of 10 use to
any one.
Children, have never been to the ice
countries, but | think | have seen many a
dog Brm in our own land When lit
tie boy or girl Is asked to 20 mp or down
stairs to fetch something. and ne don't
want to : or when he Is told to put up Hi,
tops and is 'too tired and when he can't
learn his lesson because hi, head aches on
his eyes hurt when he wants the maid &c
fetch him glass OF water, and yet he can
run all about the house at play-isn't
such little boy or girl very much like .
dog Brim
Mamma said little Matte growing
quite red all over his face, does he mean
me ? After that, when his mamma want
ed help, she had only to say, Remember
dog Brim and it was enough.