p. 13 | Make Friends of All

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 3, 1884

Make Friends of All.

"NEVER make an enemy even of a dog," said I to Bobby Ryan, as I caught at his raised hand and tried to prevent him from throwing a stick at our neighbor Howard's great Newfoundland. But my words and effort were too late. Over the fence flew the stick, and whack on Dandy's nose it fell. Now Dandy, a great, powerful fellow, was very good-natured, but this proved a little too much for him. He sprang up with an angry growl, and, bounding over the fence as if he had been as light as a bird, caught Robby Ryan by the arm and held him tightly enough to let his teeth be felt.

"Dandy! Dandy!" I cried in momentary alarm, "let go. Don't bite him."

The dog lifted his dark-brown, angry eyes to mine with a look of intelligence, and I understood what they said: "I only want to frighten the young rascal."

And Bobby was frightened. Dandy held him for a little while, growling savagely, though there was a good deal of make-believe in the growl, and then tossed the arm away, leaped back over the fence, and laid himself down by his kennel.

"You are a very foolish boy, Robby Ryan," said I, "to pick a quarrel with such a splendid old fellow as that. Suppose you were to fall into the lake some day, and Dandy happened to be near, and suppose he should remember your bad treatment and refuse to go in after you?"

"Wouldn't care," replied Bobby; "I can swim."

Now it happened only a week afterward that Bobby was out on the lake in company with an older boy, and that in some way their boat was upset in deep water not far from the shore; and it also happened that Mr. Howard and his dog Dandy were near by and saw the two boys struggling in the water.

Quick as thought Dandy sprang into the lake and swam rapidly toward Bobby; but, strange to say, after getting close to the lad, he turned and went toward the larger boy, who was struggling in the water and keeping his head above the surface with difficulty. Seizing him, Dandy brought him safely to the shore. He then turned and looked toward Bobby, his young tormentor; he had a good many old grudges against him, and for some moments seemed hesitating whether to save him or let him drown.

"Quick, Dandy!" cried his master, pointing to poor Bobby who was trying his best to keep afloat. He was not the brave swimmer he had thought himself.

At this the noble dog bounded again into the water and brought Bobby to land. He did not seem to have much heart in his work, however, for he dropped the boy as soon as he reached the shore, and walked away with a stately, indifferent air.

But Bobby, grateful for his rescue and repenting of his former unkindness, made up with Dandy on that very day, and they were ever afterward fast friends. He came very near losing his life through unkindness to a dog, and the lesson it gave him will not soon be forgotten.