[Illustration:  After a painting by Sir Edwin Landseer]

“Waiting for master.”

 Though late the master’s voice is heard above,
 And slowly lag his footsteps on the stair,
 No hint of weariness to him ascends
 From those who uncomplaining wait him there.

 If patience, faithfulness and perfect love
 Are ranked as noble virtues everywhere,
 May we not claim for these three loyal friends
 A right in such nobility to share?

PART II

A GROUP OF WORKERS

ROBERT’S DREAM.

One hot afternoon Robert was playing under the maple tree.  He was tired of his wagon and his train of cars, and he looked about for something else to play with.  “Come here, Prince!” he said to his dog.  “Let me put my hat on your head and play that you are a little boy.”

Prince was sleepy and tired.  He did not feel like playing that he was a little boy.  He shook his head until the hat fell off, and Robert struck him with a stick.  Then the poor dog ran away.

Under the rose-bush was Snowball, the cat, having a good nap.

“Oh, Snowball!” said Robert, “I will give you a ride.”  And he tried to put her into the tiny wagon.

Snowball did not care to ride.  She scratched Robert and ran off as fast as she could go.

“What a naughty cat!” said Robert angrily.

“What a naughty boy!” said Robert’s mamma, who had been watching him from the porch.  “It was unkind to disturb Prince and Snowball as you did.  I think you must go and stay by yourself a little while.”

Robert ran upstairs, shut his door very hard, and threw himself upon his bed.

It seemed to him that he had been there only a minute when he heard voices.  He looked up and found himself in the garden again.  Near him several dogs and cats were talking.  To his surprise he understood what they said.

Prince was speaking.  “I am tired of living here,” he said.  “My little master does not treat me very well.  This morning he took me with him when he went on his bicycle.  I was tired out and very hot and thirsty when we came home, but he would not take the trouble to fill my pan of water.  I asked him plainly for a drink of water, but he laughed at me and said he was busy.”

“I scratched him to-day,” said Snowball.  “Perhaps that may teach him not to hurt me so often.  He lifts me by one paw, and yesterday he swung me about by the tail.  I am sure he doesn’t know how much he hurts me.”

“You are a brave cat to dare to scratch him,” said a sober little kitten.  “We have a baby at our house, and of course I can’t scratch a baby.  She pulls my fur and puts her fingers in my eyes.  The other children catch me when I run away, and give me back to her.”

“That is very unfair,” said a dog who was walking about.  “You must excuse me for walking while I talk, but I have been chained so long that I am quite stiff.  Of course I run away when the chain is taken off.  Who wouldn’t?”