“What shall I do,” said a very little dog one day to his mother, “to show my gratitude to our good master, and make myself of some value to him? I cannot draw or carry burdens like the horse; nor give him milk like the cow; nor lend him my covering for his clothing like the sheep; nor produce him eggs like the poultry; nor catch mice and rats so well as the cat. I cannot divert him with singing like the canaries and linnets; nor can I defend him against robbers like our relation, Towzer; I should not be of use to him even if I were dead, a s the hogs are. I am a poor insignificant creature, not worth the cost of keeping; and I don‘t see that I can do a single thing to entitle me to his regard.” So saying, the poor little dog hung down his head in silent despondency.

“My dear child,” replied his mother, “though your abilities are but small, yet a hearty good-will is sufficient to supply all defects. Do but love him dearly, and prove your love by all the means in your power, and you will not fail to please him.”

The little dog was comforted by this assurance; and, on his master‘s approach, ran to him, licked his feet, gambolled before him, and every now and then stopped, wagging his tail, and looking up to his master with expressions of the most humble and affectionate attachment. The master observed him. “Ah! little Fido,” said he, “you are an honest, good-natured little fellow!” and stooped down to pat his head . Poor Fido was ready to go out of his wits for joy.

翻譯：
一天，一只小狗對他的媽媽說：“我該怎么做，才能向我們?nèi)蚀鹊闹魅吮硎靖兄x，讓自己對他有價值呢？我不能像馬那樣背負重物；不能像奶牛一樣給他提供牛奶；不能像羊那樣用我的毛為他做衣服；不能像雞鴨那樣為他產(chǎn)蛋；不能像貓那樣抓老鼠；不能像鳥兒一樣為他歌唱；也不能像我們的親戚——大黃狗一樣為他趕走強盜。我就是死了，對我的主人也毫無用處，還不如大肥豬呢！我是無用的東西，沒有存在的價值。我不知道怎樣做才能引起他的關(guān)注。”可憐的小狗說著，失落地垂下頭。

“好孩子，”他的媽媽說，“雖然你的本領(lǐng)不大，但你的好心腸足以彌補所有的不足。深深地愛主人，并在你力所能及的范圍內(nèi)用各種方式向他展現(xiàn)你對他的愛，就會使他快樂。”
媽媽的話使小狗得到了極大的安慰。主人過來了，小狗跑過去，舔他的腳，在他面前嬉戲，時不時地停下來，搖搖尾巴，非常恭敬而深情地看著主人。主人注意到了他，說道：“哦，小費多！你真是真誠可愛的小家伙。”主人邊說邊停下來拍拍他的頭。可憐的費多高興得幾乎要發(fā)狂了。