Ted the Red Servant

How fortunate is the master, and how well all goes in his house, when he has a wise servant who listens, sees, and hears his orders, but chooses not to obey them, and instead prefers to follow his own wisdom. A clever red servant of this kind was once sent out by his master to seek a lost cow. And what does he find? After he stayed away a long time, his master thought, “Faithful Ted goes to thick and thin for his master!” As, however, he did not come back at all, the master was afraid lest some misfortune had befallen him, and set himself out to find him.

He had to search for a long time, and he had to ask many folk where his servant had gone, and each had a wonderful fortune about Ted’s current whereabouts, but at last he perceived the boy walk right within striking distance, towards a nearby door. “Now, dear Ted,” said the master when he found his attention, “hast thou found the cow which I sent thee to seek?” - “No, master,” he answered, “I have not found the cow, but then I have not looked for it.” - “Then what hast thou looked for, Ted? - “Something better, and that be sure I have found.” - “What is that, Ted?” - “Blackbirds”, answered the boy. “Where are they?” Asked the master. “I am seen with one of them, I heard another one of them, and I am also running after a third.” answered the wise boy.

Take example by this department, do not trouble yourself about your masters, their orders, or their questions, but rather do what what comes into your head and pleases you, and then you will act just as wisely as the prudent Ted.