Dusty Earns His Keep

小狗灰灰找到人生的價值
Everyone has something special to share 灰灰有没有任何特殊才能可以和人分享呢？
by Hazel Johansen

Dusty the pup was keeping busy. “Splashing in the pond, chasing chickens, and digging in the garden sure make a farm dog tired!” he yelped. “Why, there’s so much to do, I can hardly keep up with it all. In fact,” he yawned, “I’m so tired. I’ll just find a shady spot where I can keep cool until my master comes home.” So he trotted to the pasture to rest under the oak tree where the dairy cows were lying. "And what are you doing here?" mooed Mrs. Milkmaker.
"Why," barked the puppy, "I'm lookin for a shady place to rest."
"Well, then, keep on looking." the cow continued. "We don't want you here with us. We give the farmer our finest milk," she mooed proudly.
"But what do you give? Can you give milk?"
"Well, I, uh..."
"Of course you can't!" bellowed the cow. "So keep moving ! You're not welcome here."
Dusty sadly went on his way. Noticing the barn door was open he went inside. " I'll nap in here," he thought. And he settled down in a stack of hay and closed his eyes.
"Baaa, baaa," said Sweaterby the lamb, interrupting the puppy's sleep. "Why, you're no good at all. You're baaad, baaad, baaad." The lamb kept it up. "Why does the farmer keep you around anyhow? We sheep give him our finest wool." he bragged. "But what do you give? Can you give wool?"
"Well, I, uh"
"Of course you can't! You're baaad, baaad, baaad!" Sweaterby the lamb kept at it until the puppy finally got up and went sadly out of the barn.
"Now where will I go? Dusty asked himself. And passing the hen house, he decided to duck inside.
"Oh, no! Not you again!" clucked Shelly the hen. "keep out! We're busy laying our eggs. And we can't keep on top of our work with you around!" she scolded. "Keep in mind that we chickens give the farmer our finest eggs. And what do you give? Can you give eggs? Dusty kept quiet. "Of course you can't! Now keep away from us!" the red hen warned.
Dusty could hardly keep back the tears. "All the other farm animals earn their keep." he thought, "Some give milk. Some give wool. Some give eggs. But I give nothing! What good am I?" he asked himself. "Maybe I should run away."
But just then, Dusty saw the farmer coming from the fields. Leaving his troubles behind he raced down the path to greet him. "Master! Master!" he barked wildly. His body wiggled, and his tail wagged. The farmer bent down and scooped the pup into his arms. Dusty licked the farmer's face excitedly.
"You always greet me with such happiness," the farmer smiled. "Now, keep this to yourself and don't tell the others." he said. "But of all the farm animals, you're the most special because you always give me so much joy!"

What do you give to others? If you're giving them happiness, then you're giving them the most special thing of all. So keep up the good work!

Grammar
All the other farm animals earn their keep.
to earn their keep:-to work hard enough so you can receive what you deserve or need.
earn-to work in order to receive something.
keep-food and a place to stay.
The other farm animals work hard enough so they can get to live on the farm.
to earn one's keep:
James has graduated and is moving back home, but his parents expect him to earn his keep.
Sarah was welcome to stay in the village, but she would have to earn her keep.

Vocabulary
trot (v)-fast walking, slow running 小跑步，急行。
The wild horse trotted around in circles.
*The horse was trotting through the woods.
*We trotted along the beach while walking our dog. 沿着海边
bellow (v)-talk in very loud, anger voice 动物怒吼嘶鸣，大声叫吼，公牛叫声
I can hear the ship's horn bellowing through the fog.
*The horse bellowed and started to run wildly.
*You can hear the sergeant bellowing at the rookies.士官长，菜鸟们
yelp-dog excited and make noise. 吠
earn his keep (idiom)-earning your way of living, ability to live. earn 赚取 keep生活费,食宿费
earn his keep (idiom)-只指赚取生活费，食宿费
earn his living (idiom)- 以此来谋生。
keep up with (idiom)-keep or stay at same pace.
keep something up (idiom)- continue, going on
keep something (it) on (idiom)-continue to do something unwanted.
keep out-stay out
keep on the top of something-(a) lay eggs on the top of something. (b) finishing the work on time.
keep away-keep a distance, don't get near or come back.
keep back-hold back, stop something is going.
keep to oneself-（1）自己知道就好，保守秘密。（2）不与别人来往，独来独往。
*I'll tell you a secret if you promise to keep it to yourself.
scold (v)-angry and tell people to do something or not to do something. 责骂，斥责。
The teacher scolded the boys for fighting with each other.
*Dad scolded us for not finishing our homework before bedtime.
*Mom scolded us because we didn't come home right away after school.
scoop (v)-pick something up. (1）抱起，拾起 （2）勺子，小铲.
Mary scooped her books and headed for school.
*She scooped up her baby and ran from the fire scene.
*He scooped up his belongings off the floor and put them in his bag.
a scoop of ice-cream

Chat Room
sack, hay, hit the sack=hit the hay=go to bed 古时人们的床都是用麻布袋或大袋子，里面装满甘草。
power nap-take nap in a short amount of time (no more than 30 min) 感到精疲力尽,小睡片刻,重新得力。 -------
hen母鸡, hen house-a building is hen live=chicken coop 鸡舍，养鸡场
peck-strike with bird beak。啄
pecking order-分尊卑等级，强的，高位的可以肆无忌惮的啄比较低的，被啄的不敢反抗。-长幼尊卑有序。
chicken peck-在鸡群中也是强的啄弱的，老的啄幼的
the bottom of the pecking rank-在最低层次的员工。