Week 1 Story: The Dog and the Farmer

The King and his trusty sidekick. 

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Dog and the Farmer

There was a dog who worked for the king. The dog was sent to find a new person to fill the role as the chancellor. The king was very specific about what kind of person he wanted.

“He or she cannot be greedy, but must be genuine and kind,” the king said.

The dog went on his way to find the perfect person to be the new chancellor. While the king told him what he wanted he did not instruct the dog on how to find a person. So the dog had to come up with a plan of his own.

The dog ran down to the river and rolled around in mud. He then walked through town begging the towns people for food.

“Get away, scavenger!” A farmer called out.

The dog was feeling discouraged, that he could not find anyone kind until he felt a hand pat his back. He turned. It was a teenager, no older than 16.

She picked him up and took him home to bathe him. She prepared supper and fed him.

The dog was concerned because she was a child. He didn’t know if the king would approve or not. But the king did not mention age. 

He pulled the girl’s skirt by is mouth to get her to follow him. He ran back to the king’s castle as she chased after him.

“Slow down, buddy! I can’t keep up.”

The dog rushes through the palace doors and the girl follows.

They enter a room where the king is also conducting is own search for a new chancellor.

“I am strong and bright, I will make a wonderful chancellor,” said the same farmer that called the dog a scavenger.

“Ah, my dog has arrived. And with a friend?”

The dog barks.

“This gentleman has come to me with the intention of being my new chancellor.” The king looks at the farmer, “tell me sir, are you good with dogs?”

The farmer looks nervous. He recognizes the dog from earlier.

“Why, of course! I love dogs! I love all animals, after all, I am a farmer.” He replied.

The dog beings to growl. The king looks at the dog, then back at the farmer.

“My dog seems to disagree. Why would he do that, now?” Asked the king.

Nervously, the dog-dealer replies, “I haven’t a clue.”

“Because you called him a scavenger and refused to help him when he needed you.” The girl cried out. All eyes turn to her.

“And who are you, my dear?” The king asks.

“I am the girl who has been taking care of this dog. I apologize your honor, I wasn’t aware he had a home or an owner.”

“Don’t apologize. He was only doing his job.”

She smiles. The king looks at the farmer.

“It seems to me you are only kind to other people and creatures when it is convenient for you. You may go.” The king says to the farmer.

The dog pushes the girl from behind towards the king.

“What is your name?” The king says to the girl.

The dog jumps around happily.

Author's note:

The original title to the story was The Dog and the Dog-Dealer. It is tale about a dog, who asks a former dog-dealer to purchase him and the man denied the dog, calling him "ugly" and that he was worthless. The dog then goes to the king's palace and the king finds the dog to be "charming." As this happens, the man walks buy and the dog asks him once again to buy him and the man, without realizing it was the same dog, I assume, says that the dog is worth too much and he couldn't possibly afford to buy him otherwise he would immediately. The dog then calls him out on how being at a certain place at a certain time can have such a huge affect on a person. 

I chose to give this story a make over because I really liked the message it sent. I didn't want to change to the story drastically, because I wanted it to still have the same effect. I liked that the dog was deemed worthless until he was known to be associated with the king, then people cared for him. But I also wanted to point out that not all people are that way and some are kind and genuine. I wanted to repeat the message to always treat people with kindness and sincerity, whether you think they have something to offer you or not. 

Bibliography.  "The Dog and the Dog-Dealer" from Indian Fables by Ramaswami Raju. Web source.