The Dirty Dog
Once upon a time, beyond the lush green valleys, in the garden of a magnificent mansion, there lived a proud dog named Maço. Watching his soft, fluffy and snow white fur in the mirror with admiration every day was his greatest pleasure. The lady of the mansion looked after him with great care, put on his pearl collar and made him sleep on silk cushions. But Maço held himself so high that he did not even greet the other animals in the garden. One spring morning, curious about the mysterious forest behind the fences, he darted outside. When he plunged into the depths of the forest, a pouring rain suddenly came down and the roads turned into a sea of mud.
Maço, who was afraid of getting wet, rolled into a deep mud while running in panic and was covered in slime from head to toe. No trace remained of that snow white and shining fur; he had turned into a pitch black creature covered with thorns and leaves. When he ran back to the mansion in fear, the guard at the gate could not recognize him and chased him out with his stick. "Stay away from here, you dirty and strange creature!" the guard shouted with fury. Maço barked, "I am the most precious dog of this mansion, open the door!" but his voice was lost in the storm. The arrogant dog, left without any remedy, had to flee again toward the dark forest to look for a place to shelter.
When the humble street dogs of the forest saw him in this state, instead of mocking him they pitied him and opened their kennels. All night long they gave him food and protected him from the cold wind. The next morning the affectionate dogs took Maço to the bank of a clear stream and helped him clean off his mud. Maço, who washed in the water and regained his old fur, understood how quickly outward appearance deceives people. He felt a deep shame before the generosity of these friends whom he had once despised because of his own arrogance. When he returned to his mansion, he had become a dog who shone not only with his fur but with the humility and love in his heart. All his life he never forgot that outward appearance and arrogance are temporary, while friendship and compassion are lasting. A person is greeted by their appearance and seen off by the fine character they show.