Oscar, the farmer’s dog, was a favorite with the children. They rode on his back, they threw their caps in the air for him to catch, and tossed sticks into the river so that they could watch him plunge in and bring them back to land.
But besides all this, Oscar was a most useful dog. He would take letters to the post office, he would carry a basket out to the field, he would walk with the children to and from school, and see that no boy or girl molested them.
There was one thing in particular that caused Oscar to stand high in the estimation of the farmer and his wife, and that was his faithful watch over Ernie, their little boy. One day, Ernie wandered far from home and lost his way in the town. Ernie had been forbidden to go further than the end of the lane leading up to the farm to meet his brother and sister coming from the school. But Ernie, like some other little boys and girls I know, took his own way one day and set off along the main road to town. Then he wandered off the road and lost himself.
Oscar missed his little charge and set off after him. For several hours neither Ernie nor the dog were missed at the farm, but when the children returned from school without Ernie and the dog, the parents became alarmed. Three parties set out in search of Ernie, one to the fields, one other to the woods, and a third to town. After a full hour of searching, Ernie was found lying asleep near the gate of a big farm, with Oscar lying close to him, guarding the child like a sentinel. The sleeping child was carried home, and for many a day Oscar was loved for his faithful care of him.
I know of One who left His home in the glory bright, to seek and to save that which was lost. His name is Jesus. Is it possible that the service of a faithful dog can be remembered, and yet the love of Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour, who went into death for sinners, be forgotten? How are you treating this Saviour, dear boys and girls?
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15. “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.
ML-01/09/1977