(1) This story was suggested by Landseer's picture Saved, which was used in connection with the nature lessons on the dog. During these lessons, the children studied pictures of different dogs, watch dogs, Eskimo dogs, St. Bernards, shepherds and Newfoundlands. Without such a preparation a story of this sort should not be attempted.
2) New words and ideas. In free conversation with the children, the teacher uses the words England, grocer, trampled, seized, unharmed and any others that may be new to the children. As, "Where does your mother get flour, sugar, coffee, butter, cheese, etc.?" "What do you call the man who has a grocery store?" (The groceryman, or better, the grocer.) "Mr. Smith, who owns our large grocery store, came here from England. His boy sweeps the floor. Last evening some crackers had fallen on the floor in front of the counter. They had been trampled under the feet of many who came to the store." See if the children know what is meant by trampled as (crushed, broken to pieces). Let other new words as unharmed, roadside, seized and dashed, be used in a similar manner, making the conversation work very simple. Then when the above words are used in the story to be presented for reproduction it will not be necessary to break the thread of the story, by stopping to make explanations, and the children will get the full meaning the first time the story is told.
(3) Purpose. "Your picture story, Saved, made me think of a true story — possibly when I have told you the story you will know why." The purpose presented in this manner will lead the children to note the two main parts of the story, namely, that a little child was saved, and a large Newfoundland dog was the hero.
(4) The story. A grocer lived in England. He owned a large Newfoundland dog. One day when his dog was lying half asleep on his master's doorstep, he was awakened by the clattering of horses' hoofs. Looking up, he saw a team coming down the hill, drawing a heavy load. Just as it dashed by in front of the house, a little child ran into the street and fell in front of the horses. In another moment he would have been trampled under their feet. But this large Newfoundland dog saw him, ran to him, seized him in his mouth and placed him by the roadside, unharmed. At the close of the story, the children will report that in both stories there was a Newfoundland dog, and a little child was saved.
(5) Questions. "In your story you did not know who owned the Newfoundland dog, but in my story you know." (The grocer.) "You do not know where your dog had been but you know where this dog lay and how he looked." (He lay half asleep on his master's doorstep.) "You know what awakened each of these dogs. What awakened the grocer's dog?" (He was awakened by the clattering of horses' hoofs.) "And looking up, what did he see?" (Looking up, he saw a team drawing a heavy load.) Similar questions should be arranged to lead to the complete reproduction of the story. This story may be easily dramatized. Such exercises will not only add interest but will assist greatly in acquainting the children with the story. After the above study, the children should be able to repeat the story with but little, if any, help.