The Dog in the Manger
A Dog asleep in a manger of hay will not let the tired, hungry Cattle eat, though he cannot eat the hay himself. When the farmer sees it, he picks up a stick and chases the selfish Dog out of the stable.
Scene 1: Asleep in the Hay
The Dog in the Manger. One evening, a Dog lay fast asleep in a manger filled with hay. The hay had been put there for the Cattle to eat.
Scene 2: Snarl and Snap
Soon the Cattle came in, tired and hungry from working in the field. They woke the Dog up. But the Dog would not let them get near the manger. He snarled and snapped, as if the hay were the best of meat and bones, all for himself.
Scene 3: How Selfish He Is!
The Cattle looked at the Dog in disgust. One of them said: “How selfish he is! He cannot eat the hay, and yet he will not let us eat it, and we are so hungry!”
Scene 4: The Farmer's Stick
Just then, the farmer came in. When he saw what the Dog was doing, he picked up a stick. And he chased the selfish Dog right out of the stable. Do not grudge others what you cannot enjoy yourself.
Moral: Do not grudge others what you cannot enjoy yourself.
Questions about The Dog in the Manger
Where was the Dog asleep?
In a manger filled with hay.
Who was the hay put there for?
The Cattle.
Why were the Cattle hungry?
They had been working in the field.
What did the Dog do when the Cattle came near?
He snarled and snapped.
What did the farmer pick up?
A stick.
More stories to read aloud
- The Lion and the Mouse — A Lion catches a little Mouse but laughs and lets her go when she promises to repay him.
- The Hare and the Tortoise — A boastful Hare laughs at the slow Tortoise, so the Tortoise challenges him to a race.
- Belling the Cat — The Mice hold a council and a young Mouse has a clever plan: hang a bell about the Cat’s neck.