108 



A WISE DOG. 



told to bring up the cows. However, he started to go; but the 

 farmer kept. on talking so busily to him thM.he could, not.get away 

 Without being impolite. He sat down, to wait till the end of the 



farmer's story. Pretty soon Harry saw the cows coming up, and a 

 gray shepherd dog driving them. 



" Oh ! " said he ; "I understand now. You told the dog to go for 

 the cows. I thought you meant me." 



Farmer Hughes laughed. " You must have thought we were in 

 A hurry to set our visitors at work. Nero knew whom I meant. 

 He was in the kitchen, and went out the back door." 



'' Is his name jSTero? It seems a shame to call a nice, innocent 

 dog by that name." 



Harry had been reading history, and had learned about a wicked 

 emperor named Nero, who used to burn Christians to light his 



garden. 

 • "Yes," said the farmer; "but he doesn't care. The dog is so 



