2. How the Dog Found Himself a New Master! 6TH ENGLISH

 Before you read 

You may know that the dog and the wolf are closely related. You may also know something about how over the centuries, human beings have domesticated and tamed wild animals. Here is a story about how the dog became a tame animal.

How the Dog Found Himself a New Master!

1. DOGS were once their own masters and lived the way wolves do, in freedom, until a dog was born who was ill pleased with this way of life. He was sick and tired of wandering about by himselflooking for food and being frightened of those who were stronger than he. 

2. He thought it over and decided that the best thing for him to do was to become the servant of one who was stronger than anyone on earth, and he set out to find such a master. 

3. He walked and he walked and he met a kinsman of his, a big wolf who was as strong as he was fierce. “Where are you going, Dog?” the Wolf asked. “I am looking for someone to take up service with. Would you like to be my master, Wolf?” “I don’t see why not!” the Wolf said, and this agreed upon, the two of them went on together. 

4. They walked and they walked, and all of a sudden the Wolf lifted his nose, sniffed, darted quickly off the path and into the bushes and crept deeper into the forest. The Dog was much surprised. “What’s come over you, master?” he asked. “What has frightened you so?” “Can’t you see? There’s a Bear out there, and he might eat up both of us — you and me.” 

5. Seeing that the Bear was stronger than the Wolf, the Dog decided to take up service with him, and he left the Wolf and asked the Bear to be his master. The Bear agreed to this readilyand said, “Let us go and find a herd of cows. I’ll kill a cow and then we can both eat our fill.” 

6. They walked on and soon saw a herd of cows, but just as they were about to come up to it they were stopped by a terrible noise. The cows were mooing loudly and running in a panic in all directions. 

7. The Bear looked out from behind a tree, and then he too ran hastily deeper into the forest. “Now, why did I have to come here!” said he to the Dog. “It is the Lion who rules the forest in these parts.” “The Lion? Who’s he?” “Don’t you know? He is the strongest beast on earth!” “Well, then, I’ll say goodbye to you, Bear. I want a master who is stronger than anyone on earth!” 

8. And off the Dog went to ask the Lion to be his master. The Lion agreed to it, and the Dog stayed with him and served him for a long, long time. It was a good life, and he had nothing to complain of, for there was no stronger beast in the forest than the Lion, and no one dared touch the Dog or offend him in any way. 

9. But one day the two of them were walking side by side along a path that ran amid bare cliffs when all of a sudden the Lion stopped. He gave a great roar and struck the ground angrily with his paw with such force that a hole formed there. Then he began to back away very quietly. “What is it, Master, is anything wrong?” asked the Dog, surprised. “I smell a man coming this way,” the Lion said. “We’d better run for it or we’ll be in trouble.” “Oh, well, then I’ll say goodbye to you, Lion. I want a master who is stronger than anyone on earth!”

10. And off the Dog went to join the man and he stayed with him and served him faithfully. This happened long, long ago, but to this day the dog is man’s most loyal servant and knows no other master.

ill pleased: (old fashioned way of saying) not happy

kinsman: (old fashioned word for) a relative 

fierce: violent; frightening 

take up service with: become the servant of 

darted: moved quickly, suddenly 

come over you: affected you

dared: to be brave enough to do something

cliff: a steep, high rock (often at the edge of the sea)

WORKING WITH THE TEXT

A. Discuss these questions in pairs before you write the answers. 

1. Why did the dog feel the need for a master?

Ans: The dog was sick and tired of going about alone in search of food. And he did not feel safe. So he decided to have a master.

2. Who did he first choose as his master? Why did he leave that master? (3)
Ans: The dog first chose a wolf as his master. But he found the wolf afraid of the bear. So he left the company of the wolf.

3. Who did he choose next? (3)
Ans: Next, the dog chose a bear as his master, because he was stronger than the Wolf.

4. Why did he serve the Lion for a long time? (4)
Ans: The dog served the Lion for a long time because he had no complaint against him. Secondly, he felt safe and secure. No other wild animal dared to displease him.

2. Who did he first choose as his master? Why did he leave that master? (3)
Ans: The dog first chose a wolf as his master. But he found the wolf afraid of the bear. So he left the company of the wolf.

3. Who did he choose next? (3)
Ans: Next, the dog chose a bear as his master, because he was stronger than the Wolf.

4. Why did he serve the Lion for a long time? (4)
Ans: The dog served the Lion for a long time because he had no complaint against him. Secondly, he felt safe and secure. No other wild animal dared to displease him.

B.A summary of the story is given below. Fill in the blanks to complete it taking appropriate phrases from the box.  

This is the story of a dog, who used to be his own master. He decided to find a master, stronger than anyone else. First, he found a wolf but the wolf was afraid of the bear. The dog thought that the bear was the strongest of all. After some time the dog met a lion, who seemed the strongest. He stayed with the lion for a long time. One day he realised that the lion was afraid of man. To this day, the dog remains man’s best friend.

Working With Language  

A. Each word in the box given below indicates a large number of… For example, ‘a herd of cows’ refers to many cows. 

Complete each of the following phrases with a suitable word from the box.

1. a fleet of ships

2. a bunch of flowers

3. a brood   of chicks 

4. a herd of cattle 

5. a bundle of sticks 

6. a flock of sheep 

7. a school of fish 

8. a pack of wolves