dear; it is too
wet; you must wait till the sun has been out some time. If you get
your feet wet, you will take cold."

O dear me! Ann did not like this a bit; but, as I have told you, she
was a _good girl_ and did as she was bid. She did not say, "What
for?" or "_Why_ must I do so?" No; she came in at once, and sat down
to work at her bag.

And now you will see how good it is to mind.

Ann had not sat long, when all at once a loud cry came to her ears.
She held up her head and said: "Hush! hush! what was that?" Then she
ran to look out, as if she had six pair of eyes, when a howl and a
bark, and a loud roar, made her jump, and then a boy ran past like the
wind. His hair was on end; his face was pale with fear. As he ran he
said: "O save me! O help! help! Save me from the MAD DOG!"

The dog was at the poor boy's heels, and four or five men, each with a
big club, did run and try to get at the mad dog to kill him.

And now the boy ran for his life. He was in such fear, he did not see
a log of wood that was in his path; so he fell down on it, and then, O
sad to tell! the mad dog, with a howl of rage, made a dash at his leg
and bit it.

The men got at the dog, and hit him on the head till he died. But it
was too late! it was too late! the poor boy had been bit, and he must
die too.

Then mam-ma took her dear girl in her arms, and gave her a kiss, and
said: "Oh! how glad I am you did not go out to play! God has kept my
dear pet from harm, and He has made you a good girl. If you had run
out when I told you not to go, and the mad dog had bit you too--O
dear! I can not bear to think of it."

"But _must_ the poor boy die?" said Ann, as a big tear came out of
her blue eye; "Oh! must he die, mam-ma?"

"I fear he will. They will try to save his life. They will cut a big
hole in his leg where the dog bit him, and put him to sad pain. But the
bite of a mad dog is so hard to cure, I fear it will be of no use."

"O mam-ma! will you let me take him some of Aunt Peg's nice cake? It
may do him good. Do let me!"

Her mam-ma said yes, tho' she knew it was of no use; for the poor boy
was too much hurt to eat. She did not tell Ann so, for she did not
wish to make her more sad.

So some cake was made, and Ann went with a good lad who knew the way.

[Illustration: "Oh! how sad it was!"--P. 153.]

Oh! how sad it was! The poor boy lay in bed. His face was pale, and
his eyes were shut. He did not say one word, but just lay on his