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to tie a horrid black thing behind me and then hit me to make me run, and however far I ran this black thing would always be coming rattle-rattle behind me.”
    “We ’ad our living to earn, see,” said the Cabby. “Yours the same as mine. And if there ’adn’t been no work and no whip there’d ’ave been no stable, no hay, no mash, and no oats. For you did get a taste of oats when I could afford ’em, which no one can deny.”
    “Oats?” said the Horse, pricking up his ears. “Yes, I remember something about that. Yes, I remember more and more. You were always sitting up somewhere behind, and I was always running in front, pulling you and the black thing. I know I did all the work.”
    —The Magician’s Nephew
    Aslan has just made Strawberry a Talking Horse. How do you think the Cabby feels to hear Strawberry’s depiction of their life together? When have you been surprised by another’s point of view? How often do you try to see life from others’ perspectives?

 
    J ANUARY 29
    Asking for Help
    A SLAN — and children from another world,” thought Tirian. “They have always come in when things were at their worst. Oh, if only they could now.”
    And he called out “Aslan! Aslan! Aslan! Come and help us now.”
    But the darkness and the cold and the quietness went on just the same.
    “Let me be killed,” cried the King. “I ask nothing for myself. But come and save all Narnia.”
    And still there was no change in the night or the wood, but there began to be a kind of change inside Tirian. Without knowing why, he began to feel a faint hope. And he felt somehow stronger. “Oh Aslan, Aslan,” he whispered. “If you will not come yourself, at least send me the helpers from beyond the world. Or let me call them. Let my voice carry beyond the world.” Then, hardly knowing that he was doing it, he suddenly cried out in a great voice:
    “Children! Children! Friends of Narnia! Quick. Come to me. Across the worlds I call you; I, Tirian, King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Emperor of the Lone Islands!”
    —The Last Battle
    Why do you think Tirian feels stronger after he asks for help, even before there is any sign that his pleas will be answered?

 
    J ANUARY 30
    Trust Me
    C ASPIAN was unexpectedly wakened by Doctor Cornelius after he had been only a few hours in bed.
    “Are we going to do a little Astronomy, Doctor?” said Caspian.
    “Hush!” said the Doctor. “Trust me and do exactly as I tell you. Put on all your clothes; you have a long journey before you.”
    Caspian was very surprised, but he had learned to have confidence in his Tutor and he began doing what he was told at once. When he was dressed, the Doctor said, “I have a wallet for you. We must go into the next room and fill it with victuals from your Highness’s supper table.”
    “My gentlemen-in-waiting will be there,” said Caspian.
    “They are fast asleep and will not wake,” said the Doctor. “I am a very minor magician but I can at least contrive a charmed sleep.”
    They went into the antechamber and there, sure enough, the two gentlemen-in-waiting were, sprawling on chairs and snoring hard. . . .
    “Have you your sword?” asked the Doctor.
    “Yes,” said Caspian.
    “Then put this mantle over all to hide the sword and the wallet. That’s right. And now we must go to the Great Tower and talk.”
    When they had reached the top of the tower . . . Doctor Cornelius said,
    “Dear Prince, you must leave this castle at once and go to seek your fortune in the wide world. Your life is in danger here.”
    “Why?” asked Caspian.
    “Because you are the true King of Narnia: Caspian the Tenth, the true son and heir of Caspian the Ninth. Long life to your Majesty”—and suddenly, to Caspian’s great surprise, the little man dropped down on one knee and kissed his hand.
    —Prince Caspian
    How might these events have changed if Caspian did not trust Doctor Cornelius so much? Who do you trust no matter what? Who