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diff --git a/23067.txt b/23067.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..55e2e9f --- /dev/null +++ b/23067.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5479 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories of Animal Sagacity, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories of Animal Sagacity + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Illustrator: Harrison Weir + +Release Date: October 17, 2007 [EBook #23067] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF ANIMAL SAGACITY *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Stories of Animal Sagacity, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This is rather a charming book, with amusing illustrations. There are +numerous tales of how clever various individual animals have been seen +to be, and in most cases a little moral is drawn from the story. + +We have Cats, Dogs, Horses, Oxen, Donkeys, Elephants, Wild Animals and +Birds. + +Any of us who have ever had pets can recall how clever they have been on +occasion. I wish Kingston could see those shots on television of +squirrels who have learnt to get a few free nuts if they perform some +subtle series of tasks, such as jumping from obstacle to obstacle. I +have only to look out of the window here to see birds building their +nests or guarding their young; in fact I can tell quite enough of what +is going on in the street outside, by taking note of the various birds' +alarm calls. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +STORIES OF ANIMAL SAGACITY, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +CATS. + +I have undertaken, my young friends, to give you a number of anecdotes, +which will, I think, prove that animals possess not only instinct, which +guides them in obtaining food, and enables them to enjoy their existence +according to their several natures, but also that many of them are +capable of exercising a kind of reason, which comes into play under +circumstances to which they are not naturally exposed. + +Those animals more peculiarly fitted to be the companions of man, and to +assist him in his occupations, appear to possess generally a larger +amount of this power; at all events, we have better opportunities of +noticing it, although, probably, it exists also in a certain degree +among wild animals. + +I will commence with some anecdotes of the sagacity shown by animals +with which you are all well acquainted--Cats and Dogs; and if you have +been accustomed to watch the proceedings of your dumb companions you +will be able to say, "Why, that is just like what Tabby once did;" or, +"Our Ponto acted nearly as cleverly as that the other day." + +THE CAT AND THE KNOCKER. + +When you see Pussy seated by the fireside, blinking her eyes, and +looking very wise, you may often ask, "I wonder what she can be thinking +about." Just then, probably, she is thinking about nothing at all; but +if you were to turn her out of doors into the cold, and shut the door in +her face, she would instantly begin to think, "How can I best get in +again?" And she would run round and round the house, trying to find a +door or window open by which she might re-enter it. + +I once heard of a cat which exerted a considerable amount of reason +under these very circumstances. I am not quite certain of this Pussy's +name, but it may possibly have been Deborah. The house where Deborah +was born and bred is situated in the country, and there is a door with a +small porch opening on a flower-garden. Very often when this door was +shut, Deborah, or little Deb, as she may have been called, was left +outside; and on such occasions she used to mew as loudly as she could to +beg for admittance. Occasionally she was not heard; but instead of +running away, and trying to find some other home, she used--wise little +creature that she was!--patiently to ensconce herself in a corner of the +window-sill, and wait till some person came to the house, who, on +knocking at the door, found immediate attention. Many a day, no doubt, +little Deb sat there on the window-sill and watched this proceeding, +gazing at the knocker, and wondering what it had to do with getting the +door open. + +A month passed away, and little Deb grew from a kitten into a full-sized +cat. Many a weary hour was passed in her corner. At length Deb arrived +at the conclusion that if she could manage to make the knocker sound a +rap-a-tap-tap on the door, the noise would summon the servant, and she +would gain admittance as well as the guests who came to the house. + +One day Deb had been shut out, when Mary, the maidservant, who was +sitting industriously stitching away, heard a rap-a-tap at the front +door, announcing the arrival, as she supposed, of a visitor. Putting +down her work, she hurried to the door and lifted the latch; but no one +was there except Deb, who at that moment leaped off the window-sill and +entered the house. Mary looked along the road, up and down on either +side, thinking that some person must have knocked and gone away; but no +one was in sight. + +The following day the same thing happened, but it occurred several times +before any one suspected that Deb could possibly have lifted the +knocker. At length Mary told her mistress what she suspected, and one +of the family hid in the shrubbery to watch Deb's proceedings. Deb was +allowed to ran out in the garden, and the door was closed. After a time +the little creature was seen to climb up on the window-sill, and then to +rear herself on her hind-feet, in an oblique position at the full +stretch of her body, when, steadying herself with one front paw, with +the other she raised the knocker; and Mary, who was on the watch, +instantly ran to the door and let her in. + +Miss Deb's knock now became as well-known to the servant as that of any +other member of the family, and, no doubt to her great satisfaction, it +usually met with prompt attention. + +Could the celebrated cat of the renowned Marquis of Carrabas have done +more, or better? Not only must Deb have exercised reason and +reflection, as well as imitation, but a considerable amount of +perseverance; for probably she made many vain attempts before she was +rewarded with success. + +Some Scotch ladies told me of a cat they had when young, brought by +their grandfather from Archangel, which, under the same circumstances, +used to reach up to the latch of the front door of a house in the +country, and to rattle away on it till admitted. I have seen a cat +which the same ladies now possess make a similar attempt. + +Does it not occur to you that you may take a useful lesson from little +Pussy, and when you have an object to gain, a task to perform, think +over the matter, and exert yourself to the utmost till you have +accomplished it? + +THE CAT AND THE RABBIT-TRAP. + +An instance of the sagacity of a cat came under my own notice. I was +living, a few years ago, in a country place in Dorsetshire, when one day +a small tortoise-shell cat met my children on the road, and followed +them home. They, of course, petted and stroked her, and showed their +wish to make her their friend. She was one of the smallest, and yet the +most active of full-grown cats I ever saw. From the first she gave +evidence of being of a wild and predatory disposition, and made sad +havoc among the rabbits, squirrels, and birds. I have several times +seen her carry along a rabbit half as big as herself. Many would +exclaim that for so nefarious a deed she ought to have been shot; but as +she had tasted of my salt, taken refuge under my roof, besides being the +pet of my children, I could not bring myself to order her destruction. + +We had, about the time of her arrival, obtained a dog to act as a +watchman over the premises. She and he were at first on fair terms--a +sort of armed neutrality. In process of time, however, she became the +mother of a litter of kittens. With the exception of one, they shared +the fate of other kittens. When she discovered the loss of her hopeful +family, she wandered about in a melancholy way, evidently searching for +them, till, encountering Carlo, it seemed suddenly to strike her that he +had been the cause of her loss. With back up, she approached, and +flying at him with the greatest fury, attacked him till blood dropped +from his nose, when, though ten times her size, he fairly turned tail +and fled. Pussy and Carlo, after this, became friends; at least, they +never interfered with each other. + +Pussy, however, to her cost, still continued her hunting expeditions. +The rabbits had committed great depredations in the garden, and the +gardener had procured two rabbit-traps. One had been set at a +considerable distance from the house, and fixed securely in the ground. +One morning the nurse heard a plaintive mewing at the window of the +day-nursery on the ground-floor. She opened it, and in crawled poor +Pussy, dragging the heavy iron rabbit-trap, in the teeth of which her +fore-foot was caught. I was called in, and assisted to release her. +Her paw swelled, and for some time she could not move out of the basket +in which she was placed before the fire. Though suffering intense pain, +she must have perceived that the only way to release herself was to dig +up the trap, and then drag it, up many steep paths, to the room where +her kindest friends--nurse and the children--were to be found. + +Carlo had been caught before in the same trap, and he bit at it, and at +everything around, and severely injured the gardener, who went to +release him. Thus Pussy, under precisely the same circumstances, showed +by far the greatest amount of sagacity and cool courage. She, however, +not many weeks after her recovery, came in one day with her foot sadly +lacerated, having again been caught in a trap; so, although she could +reason, she did not appear to have learned wisdom from experience. This +last misfortune, however, taught her prudence, as she was never again +caught in a trap. + +You will agree with me that Pussy was wise in going to her best friends +for help when in distress; and foolish, having once suffered, again to +run into the same danger. + +You, my young reader, will be often entrapped, if you lack strength to +resist temptation. Your kind friends at home will, I am sure, help you +as far as they have the power; but, that they may do so, you must on all +occasions trust them. + +AFFECTION EXHIBITED BY A CAT. + +I was one day calling in Dorsetshire on a clever, kind old lady, who +showed me a beautiful tabby cat, coiled up before the fire. "Seventeen +years ago," said she, "that cat's mother had a litter. They were all +ordered to be drowned with the exception of one. The servant brought me +one. It was a tortoise-shell. `No,' I said; `that will always be +looking dirty. I will choose another.' So I put my hand into the +basket, and drew forth this tabby. The tabby has loved me ever since. +When she came to have a family, she disappeared; but the rain did not, +for it came pouring down through the ceiling: and it was discovered that +Dame Tabby had made a lying-in hospital for herself in the thatched roof +of the house. The damage she did cost several pounds; so we asked a +friend who had a good cook, fond of cats, to take care of Tabby the next +time she gave signs of having a family, as we knew she would be well +fed. We sent her in a basket completely covered up; and she was shut +into a room, where she soon exhibited a progeny of young mewlings. More +than the usual number were allowed to survive, and it was thought that +she would remain quietly where she was. Not so. On the first +opportunity she made her escape, and down she came all the length of the +village, and early in the morning I heard her mewing at my bed-room door +to be let in. When I had stroked her back and spoken kindly to her, off +she went to look after her nurslings. From that day, every morning she +came regularly to see me, and would not go away till she had been spoken +to and caressed. Having satisfied herself that I was alive and well, +back she would go. She never failed to pay me that one visit in the +morning, and never came twice in the day, till she had weaned her +kittens; and that very day she came back, and nothing would induce her +to go away again. I had not the heart to force her back. From that day +to this she has always slept at the door of my room." + +Surely you will not be less grateful to those who brought you up than +was my old friend's cat to her. Acts, not mere words, show the +sincerity of our feelings. Consider how you are acting towards them +each hour and day of your life. Are you doing your best to act well, +whether at home, at school, or at play? + +THE CAT AND HER YOUNG MISTRESSES. + +My friend Mrs F--gave me a very touching anecdote. + +A lady she knew, residing in Essex, once had two young daughters. They +had a pet cat which they had reared from a kitten, and which was their +constant companion. The sisters, however, were both seized with scarlet +fever, and died. The cat seemed perfectly to understand what had taken +place, and, refusing to leave the room, seated herself on the bed where +they lay, in most evident sorrow. When the bodies of the young girls +were placed in their small coffins, she continued to move backwards and +forwards from one to the other, uttering low and melancholy sounds. +Nothing could induce her all the time to take food, and soon after the +interment of her fond playmates she lay down and passed away from life. + +This account, given by the mother of the children, makes me quite ready +to believe in the truth of similar anecdotes. + +Tender affection is like a beautiful flower: it needs cultivation. As +cold winds and pelting showers injure the fair blossoms, so passionate +temper, sullen behaviour, or misconduct, will destroy the love which +should exist between brothers and sisters, and those whose lot is cast +together. Cherish affectionate feelings in your hearts. Be kind and +gentle to all around, and your friends will love you more even than the +cat I have told you about loved her mistresses. + +THE CAT WHICH DIED OF GRIEF. + +A lady in France possessed a cat which exhibited great affection for +her. She accompanied her everywhere, and when she sat down always lay +at her feet. From no other hands than those of her mistress would she +take food, nor would she allow any one else to fondle her. + +The lady kept a number of tame birds; but the cat, though she would +willingly have caught and eaten strange birds, never injured one of +them. + +At last the lady fell ill, when nothing could induce the cat to leave +her chamber; and on her death, the attendants had to carry away the poor +animal by force. The next morning, however, she was found in the room +of death, creeping slowly about, and mewing piteously. After the +funeral, the faithful cat made her escape from the house, and was at +length discovered stretched out lifeless above the grave of her +mistress, having evidently died of a broken heart. + +The instances I have given--and I might give many more--prove the strong +affection of which cats are capable, and show that they are well +deserving of kind treatment. When we see them catch birds and mice, we +must remember that it is their nature to do so, as in their wild state +they have no other means of obtaining food. + +THE CAT AND THE CANARY. + +Animals of a very different character often form curious friendships. +What do you think of the cat which of her own accord became the +protector of a pet canary, instead of eating it up? + +The cat and the bird belonged to the mother-in-law of Mrs Lee, who has +given us many delightful anecdotes of animals. The canary was allowed +to fly about the room when the cat was shut out; but one day their +mistress, lifting her head from her work, saw that the cat had by some +means got in; and, to her amazement, there was the canary perched +fearlessly on the back of Pussy, who seemed highly pleased with the +confidence placed in her. By the silent language with which animals +communicate their ideas to each other, she had been able to make the +canary understand that she would not hurt it. + +After this, the two were allowed to be constantly together, to their +mutual satisfaction. One morning, however, as they were in the bed-room +of their mistress, what was her dismay to see the trustworthy cat, as +she had supposed her, after uttering a feline growl, seize the canary in +her mouth, and leap with her into the bed. There she stood, her tail +stiffened out, her hair bristling, and her eyes glaring fiercely. The +fate of the poor canary appeared sealed; but just then the lady caught +sight of a strange cat creeping cautiously through the open doorway. +The intruder was quickly driven away, when faithful Puss deposited her +feathered friend on the bed, in no way injured--she having thus seized +it to save it from the fangs of the stranger. + +Confidence begets confidence; but be very sure that the person on whom +you bestow yours is worthy of it. If not, you will not be as fortunate +as the canary was with its feline friend. + +Your truest confidants, in most cases, are your own parents. + +THE CAT AND THE FROG. + +I have an instance of a still stranger friendship to mention. The +servants of a country-house--and I am sure that they were kind people-- +had enticed a frog from its hole by giving it food. As winter drew on, +Froggy every evening made its way to the kitchen hearth before a blazing +fire, which it found much more comfortable than its own dark abode out +in the yard. Another occupant of the hearth was a favourite old cat, +which at first, I daresay, looked down on the odd little creature with +some contempt, but was too well bred to disturb an invited guest. At +length, however, the two came to a mutual understanding; the kind heart +of Pussy warming towards poor chilly little Froggy, whom she now invited +to come and nestle under her cozy fur. From that time forward, as soon +as Froggy came out of its hole, it hopped fearlessly towards the old +cat, who constituted herself its protector, and would allow no one to +disturb it. + +Imitate the kind cat, and be kind to the most humble, however odd their +looks. Sometimes at school and elsewhere you may find some friendless +little fellow. Prove his protector. Be not less benevolent than a cat. + +THE CAT AND HER DEAD KITTEN. + +That cats expect those to whom they are attached to sympathise with them +in their sorrow, is shown by an affecting story told by Dr Good, the +author of the "Book of Nature." + +He had a cat which used to sit at his elbow hour after hour while he was +writing, watching his hand moving over the paper. At length Pussy had a +kitten to take care of, when she became less constant in her attendance +on her master. One morning, however, she entered the room, and leaping +on the table, began to rub her furry side against his hand and pen, to +attract his attention. He, supposing that she wished to be let out, +opened the door; but instead of running forward, she turned round and +looked earnestly at him, as though she had something to communicate. +Being very busy, he shut the door upon her, and resumed his writing. In +less than an hour, the door having been opened again, he felt her +rubbing against his feet; when, on looking down, he saw that she had +placed close to them the dead body of her kitten, which had been +accidentally killed, and which she had brought evidently that her kind +master might mourn with her at her loss. She seemed satisfied when she +saw him with the dead kitten in his hand, making inquiries as to how it +had been killed; and when it was buried, believing that her master +shared her sorrow, she gradually took comfort, and resumed her station +at his side. Observe how, in her sorrow, Pussy went to her best friend +for sympathy. Your best earthly friends are your parents. Do not +hesitate to tell them your griefs; and you will realise that it is their +joy and comfort to sympathise with you in all your troubles, little or +great, and to try to relieve them. + +THE KITTEN AND THE CHICKENS. + +Kittens, especially if deprived of their natural protectors, seem to +long for the friendship of other beings, and will often roam about till +they find a person in whom they think they may confide. Sometimes they +make a curious choice. A kitten born on the roof of an out-house was by +an accident deprived of its mother and brethren. It evaded all attempts +to catch it, though food was put within its reach. Just below where it +lived, a brood of chickens were constantly running about; and at length, +growing weary of solitude, it thought that it would like to have such +lively little playmates. So down it scrambled, and timidly crept +towards them. Finding that they were not likely to do it harm, it lay +down among them. The chickens seemed to know that it was too young to +hurt them. + +It now followed them wherever they moved to pick up their food. In a +short time a perfect understanding was established between the kitten +and the fowls, who appeared especially proud of their new friend. The +kitten, discovering this, assumed the post of leader, and used to +conduct them about the grounds, amusing itself at their expense. +Sometimes it would catch hold of their feet, as if going to bite them, +when they would peck at it in return. At others it would hide behind a +bush, and then springing out into their midst, purr and rub itself +against their sides. One pullet was its especial favourite; it +accompanied her every day to her nest under the boards of an out-house, +and would then lie down outside, as if to watch over her. When she +returned to the other fowls, it would follow, setting up its tail, and +purring at her. + +When other chickens were born, it transferred its interest to them, +taking each fresh brood under its protection--the parent hen appearing +in no way alarmed at having so unusual a nurse for her young ones. + +Be as sensible as the little kitten. Don't stand on your dignity, or +keep upon the roof, in a fit of the sulks; but jump down, and shake such +feelings off with a game of good-natured play. + +THE CAT AND THE PIGEON. + +Similar affection for one of the feathered race was shown by a cat which +was rearing several kittens. + +In another part of the loft a pigeon had built her nest; but her eggs +and young having been frequently destroyed by rats, it seemed to occur +to her that she should be in safer quarters near the cat. Pussy, +pleased with the confidence placed in her, invited the pigeon to remain +near her, and a strong friendship was established between the two. They +fed out of the same dish; and when Pussy was absent, the pigeon, in +return for the protection afforded her against the rats, constituted +herself the defender of the kittens--and on any person approaching +nearer than she liked, she would fly out and attack them with beak and +wings, in the hope of driving them away from her young charges. +Frequently, too, after this, when neither the kittens nor her own brood +required her care, and the cat went out about the garden or fields, the +pigeon might be seen fluttering close by her, for the sake of her +society. + +Help and protect one another in all right things, as did the cat and the +pigeon, whatever your respective ages or stations in life. The big boy +or girl may be able to assist and protect the little ones, who may +render many a service in return. + +THE CAT AND THE LEVERET. + +Cats exhibit their affectionate nature in a variety of ways. If +deprived of their kittens, they have a yearning for the care of some +other young creatures, which they will gratify when possible. + +A cat had been cruelly deprived of all her kittens. She was seen going +about mewing disconsolately for her young ones. Her owner received +about the same time a leveret, which he hoped to tame by feeding it with +a spoon. One morning, however, the leveret was missing, and as it could +nowhere be discovered, it was supposed to have been carried off and +killed by some strange cat or dog. A fortnight had elapsed, when, as +the gentleman was seated in his garden, in the dusk of the evening, he +observed his cat, with tail erect, trotting towards him, purring and +calling in the way cats do to their kittens. Behind her came, +gambolling merrily, and with perfect confidence, a little leveret,--the +very one, it was now seen, which had disappeared. Pussy, deprived of +her kittens, had carried it off and brought it up instead, bestowing on +it the affection of her maternal heart. + +It is your blessed privilege to have hearts to feel the greatest +enjoyment in tender love for others. See that you keep that love in +constant exercise, or, like others of our best gifts, it may grow dull +by disuse or abuse. The time may come when, deprived of your parents or +brothers and sisters, you will bitterly mourn the sorrow you have caused +by your evil temper or neglect. + +THE CAT AND THE PUPPIES. + +I have a longer story than the last to tell, of a cat which undertook +the nursing of some puppies while she already had some kittens of her +own. It happened that her mistress possessed a valuable little black +spaniel, which had a litter of five puppies. As these were too many for +the spaniel to bring up, and the mistress was anxious to have them all +preserved, it was proposed that they should be brought up by hand. The +cook, to whom the proposal was made, suggested that this would be a +difficult undertaking; but as the cat had lately kittened, some of the +puppies might be given to her to bring up. Two of the kittens were +accordingly taken away, and the same number of puppies substituted. +What Puss thought of the matter has not transpired, or whether even she +discovered the trick that had been played her; but be that as it may, +she immediately began to bestow the same care on the little changelings +that she had done on her own offspring, and in a fortnight they were as +forward and playful as kittens would have been, gambolling about, and +barking lustily--while the three puppies nursed by their own mother were +whining and rolling about in the most helpless fashion. + +Puss had proved a better nurse than the little spaniel. She gave them +her tail to play with, and kept them always in motion and amused, so +that they ate meat, and were strong enough to be removed and to take +care of themselves, long before their brothers and sisters. + +On their being taken away from her, their poor nurse showed her sorrow, +and went prowling about the house, looking for them in every direction. +At length she caught sight of the spaniel and the three remaining +puppies. Instantly up went her back; her bristles stood erect, and her +eyes glared fiercely at the little dog, which she supposed had carried +off her young charges. + +"Ho, ho! you vile thief, who have ventured to rob me of my young ones; I +have found you at last!" she exclaimed--at least, she thought as much, +if she did not say it. The spaniel barked defiance, answering--"They +are my own puppies; you know they are as unlike as possible to your +little, tiresome, frisky mewlings." + +"I tell you I know them to be mine," cried Puss, spitting and hissing; +"I mean to recover my own." And before the spaniel knew what was going +to happen, Puss sprang forward, seized one of the puppies, and carried +it off to her own bed in another part of the premises. + +Not content with this success, as soon as she had safely deposited the +puppy in her home, she returned to the abode of the spaniel. This time +she simply dashed forward, as if she had made up her mind what to do, +knocked over the spaniel with her paw, seized another puppy in her +mouth, and carrying it off, placed it alongside the first she had +captured. She was now content. Two puppies she had lost, two she had +obtained. Whether or not she thought them the same which had been taken +from her, it is difficult to say. At all events, she nursed the two +latter with the same tender care as the first. + +Copy playful Pussy, when you have charge of little children. They enjoy +games of romps as much as young puppies do, and will be far happier, and +thrive better, than when compelled to loll about by themselves, while +you sit at your book or work in silent dignity and indifference to their +requirements, however fond you may be of them--as was, I daresay, the +mother spaniel of her pups. + +THE CAT AND THE BURGLARS. + +No stronger evidence of the sagacity of the cat is to be found than an +instance narrated to me by my friend, Mrs F--, and for which I can +vouch. + +A lady, Miss P--, who was a governess in her family, had previously held +the same position in that of Lord --, in Ireland. While there a cat +became very strongly attached to her. Though allowed to enter the +school-room and dining-room, where she was fed and petted, the animal +never came into the lady's bed-room; nor was she, indeed, accustomed to +go into that part of the house at any time. + +One night, however, after retiring to rest, Miss P--was disturbed by the +gentle but incessant mewing of the cat at her bed-room door. At first +she was not inclined to pay attention to the cat's behaviour, but the +perseverance of the animal, and a peculiarity in the tones of her voice, +at length induced her to open the door. The cat, on this, bounded +forward, and circled round her rapidly, looking up in her face, mewing +expressively. Miss P--, thinking that the cat had only taken a fancy to +pay her a visit, refastened the door, intending to let her remain in the +room; but this did not appear to please Pussy at all. She sprang back +to the door, mewing more loudly than before; then she came again to the +lady, and then went to the door, as if asking her to follow. + +"What is it you want?" exclaimed Miss P--. "Well, go away, if you do +not wish to stay!" and she opened the door; but the cat, instead of +going, recommenced running to and fro between the door and her friend, +continuing to mew as she looked up into her face. + +Miss P--'s attention was now attracted by a peculiar noise, as if +proceeding from the outside of one of the windows on the ground-floor. +A few moments more convinced her that some persons were attempting to +force an entrance. + +Instantly throwing a shawl around her, she hurried along the passage, +the cat gliding by her side, purring now in evident contentment, to Lord +--'s bed-room door, where her knock was quickly answered, and an +explanation given. + +The household was soon aroused; bells were rung, lights flitted about, +servants hurried here and there; and persons watching from the windows +distinctly saw several men making off with all speed, and scrambling +over an adjacent wall. + +It was undoubtedly owing to the sagacity of the cat that the mansion was +preserved from midnight robbery, and the inmates probably from some +fearful outrage. She must have reasoned that the intruders had no +business there; whilst her reason and affection combined induced her to +warn her best friend of the threatened danger. She may have feared, +also, that any one else in the house would have driven her heedlessly +away. + +My dear reader, may we not believe that this reasoning power was given +to the dumb animal for the protection of the family against evil-doers? +I might give you many instances of beneficent purposes being carried out +by equally simple and apparently humble agencies. + +Let us, then, learn always to treat dumb animals with kindness and +consideration, since they are so often given to us as companions for our +benefit. Like the cat, you may by vigilance be of essential service to +others more powerful than yourself. For the same reason, never despise +the good-will or warnings of even the most humble. + +THE CAT WHICH RANG THE BELL. + +I have heard of another cat, who, had she lived in Lord --'s house when +attacked by robbers, might very speedily have aroused the family. + +This cat, however, lived in a nunnery in France. She had observed that +when a certain bell was rung, all the inmates assembled for their meals, +when she also received her food. + +One day she was shut up in a room by herself when she heard the bell +ring. In vain she attempted to get out; she could not open the door, +the window was too high to reach. At length, after some hours' +imprisonment, the door was opened. Off she hurried to the place where +she expected to find her dinner, but none was there. She was very +hungry, and hunger is said to sharpen the wits. She knew where the rope +hung which pulled the bell in the belfry. "Now, when that bell rings I +generally get my supper," she thought, as she ran towards the rope. It +hung down temptingly within her reach--a good thick rope. She sprang +upon it. It gave a pleasant tinkle. She jerked harder and harder, and +the bell rang louder and louder. "Now I shall get my supper, though I +have lost my dinner," she thought as she pulled away. + +The nuns hearing the bell ring at so unusual an hour, came hurrying into +the belfry, wondering what was the matter, when what was their surprise +to see the cat turned bell-ringer! They puzzled their heads for some +time, till the lay sister who generally gave the cat her meals +recollected that she had not been present at dinner-time; and thus the +mystery was solved, and Pussy rewarded for her exertions by having her +supper brought to her without delay. + +Instead of sitting down and crying when in a difficulty, think, like +sensible Pussy, of the best way to get out of it. In lieu of wringing +your hands, ring the bell. + +THE AFFECTIONATE CAT THAT COULD MEASURE TIME. + +The last story reminds me of Mrs F--'s account of the cat and the +knocker. That same intelligent little cat was also one of the most +affectionate of her race. Her young mistress used to go to school for a +few hours daily in the neighbouring town. Pussy would every morning +sally forth with her, and bound along beside her pony as far as the +gate, then going quietly back to the house. Regularly, however, at the +time the little girl was expected to return, the faithful pet might be +seen watching about the door; and if Missy were delayed longer than +usual, would extend her walk to the gate, there awaiting her approach, +and evincing her delight by joyful gambols as soon as she descried her +coming along the road. Pussy would then hurry back to the house-door, +that she might give notice of her young mistress's return, and the +moment she alighted would welcome her with happy purrings and caresses. + +Endeavour to be as regular in all your ways as my friend's cat. Never +keep your friends waiting for you, but rather wait for them. Show your +affection and wish to please in this as in other ways. Thank Pussy for +the excellent example she has set you. + +THE CAT AND THE PRISONER. + +While speaking of the affection of cats, I must not forget to mention a +notable example of it shown by the favourite cat of a young nobleman in +the days of Queen Elizabeth. + +For some political offence he had been shut up in prison, and had long +pined in solitude, when he was startled by hearing a slight noise in the +chimney. On looking up, great was his surprise and delight to see his +favourite cat bound over the hearth towards him, purring joyfully at the +meeting. She had probably been shut up for some time before she had +made her escape, and then she must have sought her master, traversing +miles of steep and slippery roofs, along dangerous parapets, and through +forests of chimney-stacks, urged on by the strength of her attachment, +and guided by a mysterious instinct, till she discovered the funnel +which led into his prison chamber. + +Certainly it was not by chance she made the discovery, nor was it +exactly reason that conducted her to the spot. By whatever means she +found it, we must regard the affectionate little creature as the very +"Blondel of cats." + +Never spare trouble or exertion to serve a friend, or to please those +you are bound to please. Remember the prisoner's cat. + +THE CAT AND THE HAWK. + +Cats often show great courage, especially in defence of their young. + +A cat had led her kittens out into the sunshine, and while they were +frisking around her they were espied by a hawk soaring overhead. Down +pounced the bird of prey and seized one in his talons. Encumbered by +the weight of the fat little creature, he was unable to rise again +before the mother cat had discovered what had occurred. With a bound +she fiercely attacked the marauder, and compelled him to drop her kitten +in order to defend himself. A regular combat now commenced, the hawk +fighting with beak and talons, and rising occasionally on his wings. It +seemed likely that he would thus gain the victory; still more when he +struck his sharp beak into one of Pussy's eyes, while he tore her ears +into shreds with his talons. At length, however, she managed what had +been from the first her aim--to break one of her adversary's wings. She +now sprang on him with renewed fury, and seizing him by the neck, +quickly tore off his head. This done, regardless of her own sufferings, +she began to lick the bleeding wounds of her kitten, and then, calling +to its brothers and sisters, she carried it back to their secure home. + +You will find many hawks with which you must do battle. The fiercest +and most dangerous are those you must encounter every day. Huge +dark-winged birds of prey--passionate temper, hatred, discontent, +jealousy;--an ugly list, I will not go on with it. Fight against them +as bravely as Pussy fought with the hawk which tried to carry off her +kitten. + +THE BENEVOLENT CAT. + +That we must attribute to cats the estimable virtue of benevolence, Mrs +F--gives me two anecdotes to prove. + +A lady in the south of Ireland having lost a pet cat, and searched for +it in vain, after four days was delighted to hear that it had returned. +Hastening to welcome the truant with a wassail-bowl of warm milk in the +kitchen, she observed another cat skulking with the timidity of an +uninvited guest in an obscure corner. The pet cat received the caresses +of its mistress with its usual pleasure, but, though it circled round +the bowl of milk with grateful purrings, it declined to drink, going up +to the stranger instead, whom, with varied mewings, "like man's own +speech," it prevailed on to quit the shadowy background and approach the +tempting food. At length both came up to the bowl, when the thirsty +stranger feasted to its full satisfaction, while the cat of the house +stood by in evident satisfaction watching its guest; and not until it +would take no more could the host be persuaded to wet its whiskers in +the tempting beverage. + +Ever think of others before yourself. Attend first to their wants. Do +not be outdone in true courtesy by a cat. + +THE CAT AND HER MANY GUESTS. + +Mrs F--vouches for the following account, showing the hospitable +disposition of cats. It was given to her by a clergyman, who had it +direct from a friend. + +A gentleman in Australia had a pet cat to which he daily gave a plate of +viands with his own hands. The allowance was liberal, and there was +always a remainder; but after some time the gentleman perceived that +another cat came to share the repast. Finding that this occurred for +several consecutive days, he increased the allowance. It was then found +to be too much for two; there was again a residue for several days, when +a third cat was brought in to share the feast. Amused at this +proceeding, the gentleman now began to experiment, and again increased +the daily dole of food. A fourth guest now appeared; and he continued +adding gradually to the allowance of viands, and found that the number +of feline guests also progressively increased, until about thirty were +assembled; after which no further additions took place, so that he +concluded that all those who lived within _visiting distance_ were +included: indeed, the wonder was that so many could assemble, as the +district he lived in was far from populous. + +The stranger cats always decorously departed after dinner was over, +leaving their hospitable entertainer, no doubt, with such grateful +demonstrations as might be dictated by the feline code of etiquette. + +Ask yourselves if you are always as anxious as was the Australian cat to +invite your companions to enjoy with you the good things you have given +you by kind friends. Ah! what an important lesson we may learn from +this anecdote: always to think of others before ourselves. When young +friends visit you, do you try your utmost to entertain them, thinking of +their comfort before your own? Such is the lesson taught us by this +cat, which gathered others of her kind to share the bounties provided by +her kind master. + +THE DISHONEST CAT. + +I am sorry to say that cats are not always so amiable as those I have +described, but will occasionally play all sorts of tricks, like some +dishonest boys and girls, to obtain what they want. + +An Angora cat, which lived in a large establishment in France, had +discovered that when a certain bell rang the cook always left the +kitchen. Numerous niceties were scattered about, some on the tables and +dressers, others before the fire. Pussy crept towards them, and tasted +them; they exactly suited her palate. When she heard the cook's step +returning, off she ran to a corner and pretended to be sleeping soundly. +How she longed that the bell would ring again! + +At last, like another cat I have mentioned, she thought that she would +try to ring it herself, and get cook out of the way; she could resist +her longing for those sweet creams no longer. Off she crept, jumped up +at the bell-rope, and succeeded in sounding the bell. Away hurried cook +to answer it. The coast was now clear, and Pussy revelled in the +delicacies left unguarded--being out of the kitchen, or apparently +asleep in her corner, before cook returned. + +This trick continued to answer Pussy's object for some time, the cook +wondering what had become of her tarts and creams, till a watch was +wisely set to discover the thief, when the dishonest though sagacious +cat was seen to pull the bell, and then, when cook went out, to steal +into the kitchen and feast at her leisure. + +There is a proverb--which pray condemn as a bad one, because the motive +offered is wrong--that "honesty is the best policy." Rather say, "Be +honest because it is right." Pussy, with her manoeuvres to steal the +creams, thought herself very clever, but she was found out. + +PUSSY AND THE CREAM-JUG. + +I must now tell you of another cat which was a sad thief, and showed a +considerable amount of sagacity in obtaining what she wanted. One day +she found a cream-jug on the breakfast-table, full of cream. It was +tall, and had a narrow mouth. She longed for the nice rich contents, +but could not reach the cream even with her tongue; if she upset the +jug, her theft would be discovered. At last she thought to herself, "I +may put in my paw, though I cannot get in my head, and some of that nice +stuff will stick to it." + +She made the experiment, and found it answer. Licking her paw as often +as she drew it out, she soon emptied the jug, so that when the family +came down they had no cream for breakfast. A few drops on the +table-cloth, however, showed how it had been stolen--Pussy, like human +beings who commit dishonest actions, not being quite so clever as she +probably thought herself. + +THE REVENGEFUL CAT. + +Cats often show that they possess some of the vices as well as some of +the virtues of human beings. The tom-cat is frequently fierce, +treacherous, and vindictive, and at no time can his humour be crossed +with impunity. Mrs F--mentions several instances of this. + +A person she knew in the south of Ireland had severely chastised his cat +for some misdemeanour, when the creature immediately ran off and could +not be found. Some days afterwards, as this person was going from home, +what should he see in the centre of a narrow path between walls but his +cat, with its back up, its eyeballs glaring, and a wicked expression in +its countenance. Expecting to frighten off the creature, he slashed at +it with his handkerchief, when it sprang at him with a fierce hiss, and, +seizing his hand in its mouth, held on so tightly that he was unable to +beat it off. He hastened home, nearly fainting with the agony he +endured, and not till the creature's body was cut from the head could +the mangled hand be extricated. + +An Irish gentleman had an only son, quite a little boy, who, being +without playmates, was allowed to have a number of cats sleeping in his +room. One day the boy beat the father of the family for some offence, +and when he was asleep at night the revengeful beast seized him by the +throat, and might have killed him had not instant help been at hand. +The cat sprang from the window and was no more seen. + +If you are always gentle and kind, you will never arouse anger or +revenge. It may be aroused in the breast of the most harmless-looking +creatures and the most contemptible. Your motive, however, for acting +gently and lovingly should be, not fear of the consequences of a +contrary behaviour, but that the former is right. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +DOGS. + +We now come to the noble Dog, indued by the Creator with qualities which +especially fit him to be the companion of man. Such he is in all parts +of the world; and although wild dogs exist, they appear, like savage +human beings, to have retrograded from a state of civilisation. The +mongrels and curs, too, have evidently deteriorated, and lost the +characteristic traits of their nobler ancestors. + +What staunch fidelity, what affection, what courage, what devotion and +generosity does the dog exhibit! Judged by the anecdotes I am about to +narrate of him--a few only of the numberless instances recorded of his +wonderful powers of mind--he must, I think, be considered the most +sagacious of all animals, the mighty elephant not excepted. + +THE DOG ROSSWELL. + +I will begin with some anecdotes which I am myself able to authenticate. + +Foremost must stand the noble Rosswell, who belonged to some connections +of mine. He was of great size--a giant of the canine race--of a brown +and white colour, one of his parents having seen the light in the frozen +regions of Greenland, among the Esquimaux. + +Rosswell, though a great favourite, being too large to be fed in the +house, had his breakfast, consisting of porridge, in a large wooden bowl +with a handle, sent out to him every morning, and placed close to a +circular shrubbery before the house. Directly it arrived, he would +cautiously put his nose to the bowl, and if, as was generally the case, +the contents were too hot for his taste, he would take it up by the +handle and walk with it round the shrubbery at a dignified pace, putting +it down again at the same spot. He would then try the porridge once +more, and if it were still too hot he would again take up the bowl and +walk round and round as before, till he was satisfied that the +superabundant caloric had been dissipated, when, putting it down, he +would leisurely partake of his meal. + +Everything he did was in the same methodical, civilised fashion. One of +the ladies of the family had dropped a valuable bracelet during a walk. +In the evening Rosswell entered the house and proceeded straight up to +her with his mouth firmly closed. "What have you got there?" she asked, +when he at once opened his huge mouth and revealed the missing bracelet. + +The same lady was fond of birds, and had several young ones brought to +her from time to time to tame. Rosswell must have observed this. One +day he appeared again with his mouth closed, and came up to her. On +opening his jaws, which he allowed her to do, what was her surprise to +see within them a little bird, perfectly unhurt! After this he very +frequently brought her birds in his mouth, which he had caught without +in any way injuring them. + +He had another strange fancy. It was to catch hedgehogs; but, instead +of killing them, he invariably brought them into the house and placed +them before the kitchen fire--supposing, apparently, that they enjoyed +its warmth. + +With two of the ladies of the family he was a great favourite, and used +to romp with them to his heart's content. The youngest, however, being +of a timid disposition, could never get over a certain amount of terror +with which his first appearance had inspired her. + +At length Rosswell disappeared. Although inquiries were everywhere made +for him he could not be found. It was suspected that he had been +stolen, with the connivance of one of the domestics, who owed him a +grudge. Weeks passed away, and all hope of recovering Rosswell had been +abandoned, when one day he rushed into the house, looking lean and +gaunt, with a broken piece of rope hanging to his neck, showing that he +had been kept "in durance vile," and had only just broken his bonds. +The two elder sisters he greeted with the most exuberant marks of +affection, leaping up and trying to lick their faces; but directly the +youngest appeared he slowly crept forward, lay down at her feet, wagging +his tail, and glancing up at her countenance with an unmistakably gentle +look. + +Rosswell, not without provocation, had taken a dislike to a little dog +belonging to Captain --; and at last, having been annoyed beyond +endurance, he gave the small cur a bite which sent it yelping away. +Captain--was passing at the time, and, angry at the treatment his dog +had received, declared that he would shoot Rosswell if it ever happened +again. Knowing that Captain--would certainly fulfil his threat, the +elder lady, who was of determined character, and instigated by regard +for Rosswell, called the dog to her, and began belabouring him with a +stout stick, pronouncing the name of the little dog all the time. +Rosswell received the castigation with the utmost humility; and from +that day forward avoided the little dog, never retaliating when annoyed, +and hanging down his head when its name was mentioned. + +Rosswell had a remarkable liking for sugar-plums, and would at all times +prefer a handful to a piece of meat. If, however, a pile of them were +placed between his paws, and he was told that they were for baby, he +would not touch them, but watch with wagging tail while the little +fellow picked them up. He might probably have objected had any one else +attempted to take them away. + +Gallant Rosswell!--he fell a victim at length to the wicked hatred of +his old enemy the cook, who mixed poison with his food, which destroyed +his life. + +Rosswell's mistresses mourned for him, as I daresay you will; but they +did not seek to punish the wicked woman as she deserved. + +What a noble fellow he was, how submissive under castigation, how gentle +when he saw that his boisterous behaviour frightened his youngest +mistress, how obedient to command, how strict in the performance of his +duty! And what self-restraint did he exercise! Think of him with +baby's sugar-plums between his paws--not one would he touch. + +My reader, let me ask you one question: Are you as firm in resisting +temptation as was gallant Rosswell? He acted rightly through instinct; +but you have the power to discern between good and evil, aided by the +counsels of your kind friends. Do not shame the teaching of your +parents by acting in any manner unworthy of yourself. + +Tyrol, the Dog which rang the Bell. + +I have told you of several cats which rang bells. Another connection of +mine, living in the Highlands, had a dog called Tyrol. He had been +taught to do all sorts of things. Among others, to fetch his master's +slippers at bed-time; and when told that fresh peat was required for the +fire, away he would go to the peat-basket and bring piece after piece, +till a sufficient quantity had been piled up. + +He had also learned to pull the bell-rope to summon the servant. This +he could easily accomplish at his own home, where the rope was +sufficiently long for him to reach; but on one occasion he accompanied +his master on a visit to a friend's house, where he was desired to +exhibit his various accomplishments. When told to ring the bell, he +made several attempts in vain. The end of the rope was too high up for +him to reach. At length, what was the surprise of all present to see +him seize a chair by the leg, and pull it up to the wall, when, jumping +up, he gave the rope a hearty tug, evidently very much to his own +satisfaction. + +You will generally find that, difficult as a task may seem, if you seek +for the right means you may accomplish it. Drag the chair up to the +bell-rope which you cannot otherwise reach. + +THE SHEPHERD'S DOG AND THE LOST CHILD. + +I am sorry that I do not know the name of a certain shepherd's dog, but +which deserves to be recorded in letters of gold. + +His master, who had charge of a flock which fed among the Grampian +Hills, set out from home one day accompanied by his little boy, scarcely +more than four years old. The children of Scottish shepherds begin +learning their future duties at an early age. The day, bright at first, +passed on, when a thick mist began to rise, shrouding the surrounding +country. The shepherd, seeing this, hurried onward to collect his +scattered flock, calling his dog to his assistance, and leaving his +little boy at a spot where he believed that he should easily find him +again. The fog grew thicker and thicker; and so far had the flock +rambled, that some time passed before they could be collected together. + +On his return to look for his child, the darkness had increased so much +that he could not discover him. The anxious father wandered on, calling +on his child--but no answer came; his dog, too, had disappeared. He had +himself lost his way. At length the moon rose, when he discovered that +he was not far from his own cottage. He hastened towards it, hoping +that the child had reached it before him; but the little boy had not +appeared, nor had the dog been seen. The agony of the parents can be +better imagined than described. No torches were to be procured, and the +shepherd had to wait till daylight ere he could set out with a companion +or two to assist him in his search. All day he searched in vain. On +his return, sick at heart, at nightfall, he heard that his dog had +appeared during the day, received his accustomed meal of a bannock, and +then scampered off at full speed across the moor, being out of sight +before any one could follow him. + +All night long the father waited, expecting the dog to return; but the +animal not appearing, he again, as soon as it was daylight, set off on +his search. During his absence, the dog hurried up to the cottage, as +on the previous day, and went off again immediately he had received his +bannock. + +At last, after this had occurred on two more successive days, the +shepherd resolved to remain at home till his dog should appear, and then +to follow him. + +The sagacious animal appearing as before, at once understood his +master's purpose, and instead of scampering off at full speed, kept in +sight as he led the way across the moor. It was then seen that he held +in his mouth the larger portion of the cake which had been given him. +The dog conducted the shepherd to a cataract which fell roaring and +foaming amid rocks into a ravine far down below. Descending an almost +perpendicular cliff, the dog entered a cavern, close in front of which +the seething torrent passed. The shepherd with great difficulty made +his way to it, when, as he reached the entrance, he saw his child, +unhurt, seated on the ground eating the cake brought by the dog, who +stood watching his young charge thus occupied, with a proud +consciousness of the important duty he had undertaken. + +The father, embracing his child, carried him up the steep ascent, down +which it appeared he had scrambled in the dark, happily reaching the +cave. This he had been afraid to quit on account of the torrent; and +here the dog by his scent had traced him, remaining with him night and +day, till, conscious that food was as necessary for the child as for +himself, he had gone home to procure him some of his own allowance. + +Thus the faithful animal had, by a wonderful exercise of his reasoning +power, preserved the child's life. + +MY DOG ALP. + +A dear friend gave me, many years ago, a rough, white terrier puppy, +which I called Alp. I fed him with my own hand from the first, and he +consequently evinced the warmest attachment to me. No animal could be +more obedient; and he seemed to watch my every look to ascertain what I +wished him to do. + +The expression of his countenance showed his intelligence; and whenever +I talked to him he seemed to be making the most strenuous efforts to +reply, twisting about his lips in a fashion which often made me burst +into a fit of laughter, when he would give a curious bark of delight, as +much as to say,--"Ay, I can utter as meaning a sound as that." + +I felt very sure that no burglar would venture into the house while he +was on the watch. + +I never beat him in his life; but once I pretended to do so, with a +hollow reed which happened to be in the room, on his persisting, +contrary to my orders, in lying down on the rug before the fire whenever +my back was turned. As I was about to leave the room, I placed the reed +on the rug, and admonished him to be careful. On my return, some time +afterwards, I found the reed torn up into the most minute shreds. On +looking round, I saw Alp in the furthest corner of the room, twisting +his mouth, wriggling about, and wagging his tail, while every now and +then he turned furtive glances towards the rug, telling me as plainly as +if he could speak,--"I could not resist the temptation--I did it, I +own--but don't be angry with me. You see I have now got as far away +from the rug as I could be." Alp, seeing me laugh, rushed from his +corner to lick my hand. He ever afterwards, however, avoided the rug. + +For his size, he was the best swimmer and diver among dogs I ever saw. +He would, without hesitation, plunge into water six or eight feet deep, +and bring up a stone from the bottom almost as big as his head, or dash +forth from the sea-beach and boldly breast the foaming billows of the +Atlantic. + +After seeing what Alp did do, and feeling sure of what he could have +done had circumstances called forth his powers, I am ready to believe +the accounts I have heard of the wonderful performances of others of his +race. + +A young Newfoundland dog, living in Glasgow a few years ago, acted, +under similar circumstances, very much as Alp did. As he sometimes +misbehaved himself, a whip was kept near him, which was occasionally +applied to his back. He naturally took a dislike to this article, and +more than once was found with it in his mouth, moving slyly towards the +door. + +Being shut up at night in the house to watch it, he in his rounds +discovered the detested instrument of punishment. To get rid of it, he +attempted to thrust it under the door. It stuck fast, however, by the +thick end. A few nights afterwards he again got hold of the whip, and +persevered till he shoved through the thick end, when some one passing +by carried it off. On being questioned as to what had become of the +whip, he betrayed his guilt by his looks, and slunk away with his tail +between his legs. + +THE DOG AND THE THIEF. + +A gentleman who lived near Stirling, possessed a powerful mastiff. One +evening, as he was going his rounds through the grounds, he observed a +man with a sack on his back suspiciously proceeding towards the orchard. +The dog followed, crouching down while the man filled his sack with +apples. The dog waited till the thief had thrown the heavy sack over +his shoulders, holding on to the mouth with both hands. When the man +was thus unable to defend himself, the dog rushed forward and stood in +front of him, barking loudly for assistance, and leaving him the option +of dropping his plunder and fighting for life and liberty, or of being +captured. Paralysed with fear, he stood still, till the servants coming +from the house made him prisoner. + +Be calm and cool in the face of a foe--remonstrate with a wrong-doer-- +fly from tempters; but you cannot be too eager and violent in attacking +temptation immediately it presents itself. + +THE CLEANLY DOG. + +A friend told me of another dog, which had been taught habits of +cleanliness that some young gentlemen, accustomed to enter the +drawing-room with dirty shoes, might advantageously imitate. A shallow +tub of water was placed in the hall, near the front door. Whenever this +well-behaved dog came into the house, if the roads were muddy from rain, +or dusty from dry weather, he used to run to the tub and wash his feet-- +drying them, it is to be presumed, on the door-mat--before venturing +into any of the sitting-rooms to which he had admission. + +MASTER ROUGH. + +Having mentioned this cleanly dog, I must next introduce to you a canine +friend, called Master Rough, belonging to my kind next-door neighbours; +and I think you will acknowledge that he surpasses the other in the +propriety of his behaviour. + +Master Rough is very small, and his name describes his appearance. As I +hear his voice, I might suppose him to be somewhat ill-natured, did I +not know that his bark is worse than his bite. He is only indignant at +being told by his mistress to do something he dislikes; but he does it +notwithstanding, though he has, it must be confessed, a will of his own, +like some young folks. He does not often soil his dainty feet by going +out into the muddy road; but when he does, on his return he carefully +wipes them on the door-mat. + +At meal-times he goes to a cupboard, in which is kept a bowl and napkin +for his especial use. The napkin he first spreads on the carpet, and +then placing the bowl in the centre, barks to give notice that his table +is ready. After this, he sits down and waits patiently till his dinner +is put into the bowl, on which he falls to and gobbles it up,--the +table-cloth preventing any of the bits which tumble over from soiling +the carpet. It has been asserted that he wipes his mouth afterwards in +the napkin; but I suspect that he is merely picking up the bits outside. +I am sorry to say that he forgets to fold up his table-cloth neatly and +to put it away, which he certainly should do; nor can he be persuaded to +wash out his bowl, though he does not object to lick it clean. People +and dogs, however, have different ways of doing things, and Master Rough +chooses to follow his way, and is perfectly satisfied with himself--like +some young folks, who may not, however, be right for all that. + +His principal other accomplishment is to carry up the newspaper, after +it has been read by the gentleman downstairs, to his mistress in the +drawing-room, when he receives a cake as his reward. He also may be +seen carrying a basket after his mistress, with a biscuit in it, which +he knows will be his in due time; but that if he misbehaves himself by +gobbling it greedily up--as he has sometimes done, I hear--he will have +to carry the basket without the biscuit; so having learned wisdom from +experience, he now patiently waits till it is given to him. + +If Master Rough is not so clever as some dogs I have to tell you about, +he does his best in most respects; and I am very sure that no thief +would venture to break into the house in which he keeps watch: so that +he makes himself--what all boys and girls should strive to be--very +useful. + +BYRON, THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. + +Next on my list of canine favourites stands a noble Newfoundland dog +named Byron, which belonged to the father of my friend, Mrs F--. On +one occasion he accompanied the family to Dawlish, on the coast of +Devonshire. His kennel was at the back of the house. Whenever his +master was going out, the servant loosened Byron, who immediately ran +round, never entering the house, and joined him, accompanying him in his +walk. + +One day, after getting some way from home, his master found that he had +forgotten his walking-stick. He showed the dog his empty hands, and +pointed towards the house. Byron, instantly comprehending what was +wanted, set off, and made his way into the house by the front door, +through which he had never before passed. In the hall was a hatstand +with several walking-sticks in it. Byron, in his eagerness, seized the +first he could reach, and carried it joyfully to his master. It was not +the right one, however. Mr--on this patted him on the head, gave him +back the stick, and again pointed towards the house. The dog, +apparently considering for a few moments what mistake he could have +made, ran home again, and exchanged the stick for the one his master +usually carried. After this, he had the walking-stick given him to +carry, an office of which he seemed very proud. + +One day while thus employed, following his master with stately gravity, +he was annoyed during the whole time by a little yelping cur jumping up +at his ears. Byron shook his head, and growled a little from time to +time, but took no further notice, and never offered to lay down the +stick to punish the offender. + +On reaching the beach, Mr--threw the stick into the waves for the dog +to bring it out. Then, to the amusement of a crowd of bystanders, +Byron, seizing his troublesome and pertinacious tormentor by the back of +the neck, plunged with him into the foaming water, where he ducked him +well several times, and then allowed him to find his way out as best he +could; while he himself, mindful of his duty, swam onward in search of +the now somewhat distant walking-stick, which he brought to his master's +feet with his usual calm demeanour. The little cur never again troubled +him. + +Be not less magnanimous than Byron, when troublesome boys try to annoy +you whilst you are performing your duties; but employ gentle words +instead of duckings to silence them. Drown the yelping curs--bad +thoughts, unamiable tempers, temptations, and such like--which assault +you from within. + +THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG AND THE MARKED SHILLING. + +I must now tell you a story which many believe, but which others +consider "too good to be true." + +A gentleman who owned a fine Newfoundland dog, of which he was very +proud, was one warm summer's evening riding out with a friend, when he +asserted that his dog would find and bring to him any article he might +leave behind him. Accordingly it was agreed that a shilling should be +marked and placed under a stone, and that after they had proceeded three +or four miles on their road, the dog should be sent back for it. This +was done--the dog, which was with them, observing them place the coin +under the stone, a somewhat heavy one. They then rode forward the +distance proposed, when the dog was despatched by his master for the +shilling. He seemed fully to understand what was required of him; and +the two gentlemen reached home, expecting the dog to follow immediately. +They waited, however, in vain. The dog did not make his appearance, +and they began to fear that some accident had happened to the animal. + +The faithful dog was, however, obedient to his master's orders. On +reaching the stone he found it too heavy to lift, and while scraping and +working away, barking every now and then in his eagerness, two horsemen +came by. Observing the dog thus employed, one of them dismounted and +turned over the stone, fancying that some creature had taken refuge +beneath it. As he did so, his eye fell on the coin, which--not +suspecting that it was the object sought for--he put into his breeches +pocket before the animal could get hold of it. Still wondering what the +dog wanted, he remounted his steed, and with his companion rode rapidly +on to an inn nearly twenty miles off, where they purposed passing the +night. + +The dog, which had caught sight of the shilling as it was transferred to +the stranger's pocket, followed them closely, and watched the +sleeping-room into which they were shown. He must have observed them +take off their clothes, and seen the man who had taken possession of the +shilling hang his breeches over the back of a chair. Waiting till the +travellers were wrapped in slumber, he seized the garment in his mouth-- +being unable to abstract the shilling--and bounded out of the window, +nor stopped till he reached his home. His master was awakened early in +the morning by hearing the dog barking and scratching at his door. He +was greatly surprised to find what he had brought, and more so to +discover not only the marked shilling, but a watch and purse besides. +As he had no wish that his dog should act the thief, or that he himself +should become the receiver of stolen goods, he advertised the articles +which had been carried off; and after some time the owner appeared, when +all that had occurred was explained. + +The only way to account for the dog not at first seizing the shilling +is, that grateful for the assistance afforded him in removing the stone, +he supposed that the stranger was about to give him the coin, and that +he only discovered his mistake when it was too late. His natural +gentleness and generosity may have prevented him from attacking the man +and trying to obtain it by force. + +Patiently and perseveringly follow up the line of duty which has been +set you. When I see a boy studying hard at his lessons, or doing his +duty in any other way, I can say, "Ah, he is searching for the marked +shilling; and I am sure he will find it." + +THE LOST KEYS. + +Many species of dogs appear, like the last mentioned, to be especially +indued with the faculty of distinguishing their master's property, and +to possess the desire of restoring it to them when lost. + +Mrs F--told me of an instance of this with which she was acquainted. A +gentleman residing in the county of Cork, finding his out-houses +infested by rats, sent for four small terriers to extirpate them. He +amused himself with teaching the dogs a variety of canine +accomplishments,--among others, to fetch and carry whatever he sent them +for. + +Returning one day from his daily walk, he discovered that a bunch of +keys which he supposed was in his pocket was not there. Hoping that he +might have left them at home, he made diligent search everywhere, but in +vain. One of the little terriers had observed his master thus searching +about, and there can be no doubt that, after pondering the matter in his +mind, he came to the conclusion that something was lost. Be that as it +may, off he set by himself from the house, and after the lapse of some +hours up he came running with eager delight, the lost keys dangling from +his mouth, and jingling loudly as he gambolled about in his happiness. +He then dropped them at his master's feet. + +We may be sure that the dog was well caressed, and became from +thenceforward the prime favourite. + +That terrier was a little dog, but still he was of much use, not only by +killing rats, which was his regular duty, but by trying to find out what +his master wanted to have done, and doing it. + +Little boys and girls may be of still greater use, if they will both +perform their regular duties, and try to find out what there is to be +done, and then, like the terrier, do it. + +THE DOG WHICH ACTED AS CONSTABLE. + +Mrs F--told me another anecdote, which illustrates the fidelity and +reasoning power so frequently exhibited by the shepherd's dog. + +About the year 1827, her father sold some lambs to a butcher in Melrose, +who took them away in his cart. Their shepherd had a young dog in +training at the time. Shortly after the sale of the lambs he missed +this dog, and hastened in search of him. + +On reaching the chain bridge which is thrown over the river for the use +of foot-passengers, he was told that the dog had been seen standing on +it watching the butcher's cart containing the lambs, which was crossing +the ford beneath. As soon as it had gained the other bank the dog +followed it to Melrose. The shepherd pursued the supposed truant till +he reached the town, where in front of the butcher's shop stood the cart +with the lambs still in it, and the dog standing like a constable by it, +threatening every one who approached to unload it. + +He had evidently considered that the animals were stolen, and that it +was his duty to keep watch over them. When, however, his master +appeared, and called him away, he seemed at once to understand that all +was right, and followed him willingly. + +Be watchful over whatever is committed to your charge, and be equally +watchful over yourself. + +THE LOST CHILD RECOVERED. + +In the backwoods of North America lived a settler and his family, far +away from towns and villages. The children of such families at an early +age learn to take care of themselves, and fearlessly wander to a +distance from home to gather wild fruits, to fish in the streams, or to +search for maple-trees from which to extract sugar in the autumn. + +One evening the rest of the boys and girls had come in from their +various occupations, except the youngest, a little fellow of four or +five years old. One of his brothers thought he had gone with Silas, and +Silas fancied that he was with James and Mary, but neither of them till +then had missed him. The whole family, thrown into a state of +consternation, hurried out with torches, for it was now getting dark, +and shouted for him, and searched round and round the clearing far and +wide, but he was nowhere to be found. I need not describe their +feelings. The next morning they set forth again, searching still +further. All day they were so employed, but in vain. They began to +fear that poor little Marcus had been killed by a rattlesnake, or that a +bear had come and carried him off. + +The next night was a sorrowful one for all the family. Once more they +were preparing to set out, when a tall, copper-coloured Indian, habited +in a dress of skins, was seen coming through the forest, followed by a +magnificent blood-hound. He approached the settlers and inquired what +was the matter. They told him, when he desired to see the socks and +shoes last worn by the child. They were eagerly produced by the mother. +The Indian showed them to his dog, at the same time patting him on the +head. The animal evidently comprehended what his master required, and +scenting about for a short time, began to bay loudly, then set off, +without turning to the right or to the left, through the forest, +followed by the Indian and the child's father and elder brothers. He +was soon out of sight, but the Indian knew by the marks on the ground +the way he had taken. + +A long, long chase the hound led them, till he was seen bounding back +with animation in his eye and a look which told that he had been +successful in his search. The father and his sons hurried after the +Indian, who closely followed his dog, and to their joy discovered little +Marcus, pale and exhausted, but unhurt, with the dog standing over him. + +He soon recovered, and told them how he had lost his way, and lived upon +berries and other wild fruits till he had sunk down unable to go +further. His life had undoubtedly been preserved by means of the +sagacious blood-hound. + +DOG WAKING UP SERVANTS. + +I have told you of Tyrol, who used to ring the bell; I will now describe +another dog named Dash, who was still more clever. When any of the +servants of the family had to sit up for their master or mistress, and +fell asleep in their chair, scarcely would they have settled themselves +when the parlour bell would be heard to ring. They were greatly puzzled +to account for this, and in vain attempted to solve the mystery. + +Dash was a black and white spaniel, who was generally considered a +fairly clever dog, but not suspected of possessing any unusual amount of +knowingness. He never failed, when his master told him to get anything, +to find it and lay it at his feet. If one glove was missing, and the +other shown to him, he was sure to hunt about till he discovered it. + +One morning a person arrived with a letter before breakfast, to be +delivered into the hands of Dash's master. The man was shown into the +parlour, where he was about to sit down, when his ears were saluted by a +growl, and there was Dash, seated in a chair near the fireplace. The +dog was within reach of the ring of the bell-pull, and whenever the man +attempted to sit down, Dash put up his paw on the ring and growled +again. At length the stranger, curious to see what the dog would do if +he persevered, sat down in a chair. Dash, on this, instead of flying at +the man, as some stupid dogs would have done, pulled the bell-rope, and +a servant coming in on the summons, was greatly astonished when the man +told him that the dog had rung the bell. + +Thus the mystery which had long puzzled him and his fellow-servants was +explained. On comparing notes, they recollected that whenever the bell +sounded, Dash was not to be seen; and there could now be no doubt that +immediately he observed them closing their eyes, he had hastened off to +the parlour, the bell-rope of which he could easily reach, in order to +rouse them to watchfulness. + +In corroboration of this account, my friend Mrs F--mentioned the case +of a Newfoundland dog, which was one day accidentally shut up in the +dining-room, when the family were out. He scratched at the door and +whined loudly for a length of time; but though the servants heard him, +they paid no attention. At length, as if the thought had suddenly +occurred to him that whenever the bell was rung the door was opened, he +actually rang the bell right heartily. A servant instantly obeyed the +summons, when out sprang the dog, wagging his tail with delight at the +result of his sagacious experiment, and leaving the man in amazement at +finding no person in the room. + +THE SHEEP-DOG AND HIS MISTRESS'S CLOAK. + +There are many instances of dogs showing attention to their owner's +interests. Mr Jesse mentions one which exhibits a wonderful power of +reasoning in a dog. + +The sheep-dog used to accompany the farm-servants about the farm, but +ran home to be fed at the dinner-hour of his mistress, returning +afterwards to his duty in the fields. One day, as he was approaching +the house, he met a young woman, whom he had never before seen, leaving +it wearing his mistress's cloak, which had in reality been lent her. +Hungry as he was, he nevertheless turned about and followed closely at +her heels, greatly to her alarm. Hurrying on, the dog still accompanied +her, till she reached the house in which the brother of the dog's +mistress resided, with whom he was well acquainted. On seeing the young +woman enter it, the faithful animal turned about, and went quietly back +to the farm. It was thus evident that, from seeing her go into a house +which he knew, he was satisfied that she was a friend of the family. +Had she gone to a strange place, he would probably have tried to take +the cloak from her. + +Follow what you believe to be the right course, like the faithful +sheep-dog; and though the result may not answer your expectations, do +not be disheartened. Persevere in acting rightly: the reward will come. + +THE DOG AND THE MARE. + +Dogs and horses frequently form friendships. A Newfoundland dog had +attached himself to a mare belonging to his master, and seemed to +consider himself especially the guardian of his less sagacious +companion. Whenever the groom began to saddle the mare, the dog used to +lie down with his nose between his paws, watching the proceeding. The +moment the operation was finished, up jumped the dog, seized the reins +in his mouth, and led the mare to her master, following him in his ride. + +On returning home, the reins being again given to him, he would lead his +friend back to the stable. If, on his arrival, the groom happened to be +out of the way, he would bark vehemently till he made his appearance, +and then hand over his charge to him. + +You may be young and little, but if you exercise discretion and +judgment, you may assist those much bigger and older than yourself. +Learn from the dog, however, not to give yourself airs in consequence; +you will have simply performed your duty in making yourself useful. + +THE TWO DOGS AND THEIR CHARGE. + +I must give you another anecdote somewhat similar to the last. + +A little terrier, and another dog, equally faithful and sagacious, had +attached themselves to their master's horse, which they always +accompanied when it went out. If the master rode out on it to dinner, +the two dogs used to remain contentedly in the stable with their friend, +till it was required to carry its master home. + +One night the gentleman had ordered his horse to be brought, but waited +in vain for its appearance. At length the groom was summoned, when he +declared that he dared not take the horse out of the stable, as one of +the dogs was on its back, and the other by its side, threatening to +attack every person who came up to the animal. The owner, observing +that the groom was a stranger, suspected at once that the dogs would not +trust him, and had himself to go round to the stable, when the faithful +animals at once delivered their charge up to him. + +CRIB THE BULL-TERRIER SAVING THE LIFE OF BOB THE SETTER. + +Two dogs belonged to the family of Mrs F--. One, Bob, a black setter, +who was, like most of his species, an excellent swimmer; the other, +Crib, a bull-terrier, who had no love for the water, and thought himself +ill-used whenever he was compelled to take a bath. + +Several of the family were walking along the bank of the Tweed, +accompanied by the two dogs, when Bob, as usual, plunged into the water, +but Crib kept close to their heels. The ladies happened to be in +earnest conversation, and were taking no notice of the dogs, when their +attention was attracted by a second plunge, and Bob was seen, apparently +seized with cramp, floundering in the middle of the river, Crib swimming +eagerly towards him. Bob sank just as his friend reached him, but Crib +seized him by the nape of the neck in his powerful jaws, and thus swam +with him to shore. + +There existed no particular friendship between the dogs; and when Crib's +natural aversion to the water is considered, it must be acknowledged +that he well deserved the Humane Society's Medal for his gallantry. + +It is truly a noble deed to save the life of a fellow-creature, though +it but rarely falls to the lot of any one. But, though you may never +have an opportunity of doing that, you may always find numerous ways of +rendering assistance to those who may, in one form or other, be in want +of it. + +THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG AND THE THIEVISH PORTER. + +A grocer owned a Newfoundland dog, which used frequently to take charge +of the shop. While thus lying down with his nose between his paws, he +observed one of the porters frequently visiting the till. He suspected +that the man had no business to go there. He therefore watched him, +and, following him, observed him hide the money he had taken in the +stable. The dog, on this, attempted to lead several persons in whom he +had confidence towards the place, by pulling in a peculiar manner at +their clothes. They took no heed of him, till at length one of the +apprentices going to the stable, the dog followed him and began +scratching at a heap of rubbish in a corner. The young man's attention +being aroused, he watched the animal, which soon scratched up several +pieces of money. The apprentice, collecting them, evidently to the +dog's satisfaction, took them to his master, who marked them, and +restored them to the place where they were discovered. + +The porter, who for some other cause was suspected, was at length +arrested, when some of the marked coin was found on him. On being taken +before a magistrate, he confessed his guilt, and was convicted of the +theft. + +THE TERRIER AND THE DUCKLINGS. + +A terrier, which lived at Dunrobin Castle many years ago, had a family +of puppies, which were taken from her and drowned. How she mourned for +her offspring, and wondered why her owner had been so cruel as to allow +them to be earned away! Her maternal feelings were as strong as those +of other creatures, and she felt a longing to exercise them. At length +she caught sight of a brood of young ducklings. They were young, and +required care just like her own dear little whelps; so, seizing them, +she carried them off one by one to her kennel, and would allow no one to +take them away. They seemed to understand that they had obtained a very +good nurse, and she watched them with the most affectionate care. When, +however, they made their way to the water and plunged in, she exhibited +the greatest alarm, believing that they would be drowned, as her own +puppies had been. No sooner had she reached the shore than she picked +them up in her mouth, and carried them off to her kennel, resolving, +probably, never to allow them to run into the same danger again. + +After the ducklings grew up, and were no longer willing to submit to her +canine style of nursing, she again became the mother of another litter. +On this also being destroyed, she seized two cock chickens, which she +reared with the same care that she had done the ducklings. When, +however, the young cocks began to try their voices, their foster-mother +was as much annoyed as she had been by the ducks going into the water, +and invariably did her best to stop their crowing. + +You will never want objects on which to exercise your kind feelings. +"The poor you have always with you." You must not be disheartened or +dissatisfied if they persist in following a different course from that +which you think they ought to do. How often, when a baby, have you +cried lustily when your mother or nurse heartily wished you to be +silent; and as you grew older, perversely ran away into danger when they +called after you! Through life remember that little terrier, and like +her persevere in befriending those in need. + +THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG SAVING THE MASTIFF. + +I must tell you one more anecdote of two dogs of a similar character to +one I gave you a few pages back, but in this instance they were +professed enemies. It happened at Donaghadee, where a pier was in +course of building. + +Two dogs--one a Newfoundland, and the other a mastiff--were seen by +several people engaged in a fierce and prolonged battle on the pier. +They were both powerful dogs, and though good-natured when alone, were +much in the habit of thus fighting whenever they met. At length they +both fell into the sea, and as the pier was long and steep, they had no +means of escape but by swimming a considerable distance. The cold bath +brought the combat to an end, and each began to make for the land as +best he could. + +The Newfoundland dog speedily gained the shore, on which he stood +shaking himself, at the same time watching the motions of his late +antagonist, who, being no swimmer, began to struggle, and was just about +to sink. On seeing this, in he dashed, took the other gently by the +collar, kept his head above water, and brought him safely to land. + +After this they became inseparable friends, and never fought again; and +when the Newfoundland dog met his death by a stone waggon running over +him, the mastiff languished, and evidently mourned for him for a long +time. + +Let this incident afford us great encouragement to love our enemies, and +to return good for evil, since we find the feeling implanted in the +breast of a dog to save the life of his antagonist, and to cherish him +afterwards as a friend. + +We may never be called on to save the life of a foe; but that would not +be more difficult to our natural disposition than acting kindly and +forgivingly towards those who daily annoy us--who injure us or offer us +petty insults. + +THE NEWFOUNDLAND PUNISHING THE LITTLE DOG. + +You remember the way Byron punished his troublesome little assailant. +Another Newfoundland dog, of a noble and generous disposition, was often +assailed in the same way by noisy curs in the streets. He generally +passed them with apparent unconcern, till one little brute ventured to +bite him in the back of the leg. This was a degree of wanton insult +which could not be patiently endured; so turning round, he ran after the +offender, and seized him by the poll. In this manner he carried him to +the quay, and holding him for some time over the water, at length +dropped him into it. He did not, however, intend that the culprit +should be drowned. Waiting till he was not only well ducked, but nearly +sinking, he plunged in and brought him safely to land. + +Could you venture to look a Newfoundland dog in the face, and call him a +brute beast, if you feel that you have acted with less generosity than +he exhibited! + +THE TERRIER AND THE BANTAM. + +Among the strange friendships existing between animals of different +natures, I must mention one formed between a terrier and a bantam. + +The little dog was suffering so severely from the distemper, that it was +necessary to confine her to her kennel, which had open bars in front of +it. A bantam-cock which lived in the yard, walking up and down, +observed the poor little animal, and gazed at her with looks of deep +compassion. At last he managed to squeeze himself through the bars. +The terrier evidently understood his feelings, and from that day forward +the bantam took up his abode in the dog's prison--like a brave +physician, fearless of catching the complaint of his patient--and seldom +left it, except to pick up his daily food. When he did so, the dog +became uneasy, whining till her friend returned. + +The terrier became worse, and the bantam redoubled his attentions, and, +for the purpose of warming the dog, took his place between her +fore-legs; and then the poor little invalid settled down on the bird, +apparently to enjoy the warmth afforded by his feathers. Thus, day +after day was passed in the closest bonds of affection, till the terrier +died of the disease from which she had been suffering. The bantam +appeared inconsolable at the loss of his friend, and it was some time +before he recovered his usual spirits. + +Imitate that little bantam. You will find very many human beings, in +lieu of sick terriers, to nurse. As willingly as the bird gave up +pleasant amusements, so rouse yourself from sloth for their sakes. + +THE COMPASSIONATE DOG WHICH SAVED PUSSY'S LIFE. + +I must give you another instance, still more curious than the former, of +friendship between two animals. + +A number of rough boys in Liverpool had stoned a cat, and dragged it +through a pool of water, no one of the many passers-by attempting to +stop them; when a dog coming up was moved with pity and indignation at +the brutal proceedings, which ought to have induced the human beings who +witnessed it to interfere. Barking furiously, he rushed in among the +boys, and then carried off the ill-used cat in his mouth, bleeding, and +almost senseless, to his kennel at the Talbot Inn, to which he belonged. +He there laid it on the straw, licked it till it was clean, and then +stretched himself on it, as if to impart to it some of his own warmth. +On its beginning to revive, he set out to obtain food for it, when the +people of the inn, noticing his behaviour, gave his patient some warm +milk. + +Some days passed before the cat recovered, and during the whole time the +dog never remitted in his attentions to it. The cat, in return, +exhibited the warmest gratitude to the dog, and for many years +afterwards they were seen going about the streets of Liverpool together. + +Do you not blush for human nature when you hear of boys exhibiting less +compassion than a dog? Be watchful that you never have cause to blush +for yourself. + +FOP PLAYING AT HIDE-AND-SEEK. + +Not only can dogs be taught all sorts of amusing tricks, but they can +play intelligently at games themselves. Mrs Lee tells us of a +fox-terrier named Fop, who used to hide his eyes, and suffer those +playing with him to conceal themselves before he looked up. I should +have liked to see jolly Fop at his sports. If his playfellow hid +himself behind a curtain, Fop would go carefully past that particular +curtain, looking behind the others and the rest of the furniture, and +when he thought he had looked long enough, seize the concealing curtain, +and drag it aside in triumph. + +The drollest thing, however, was to see him take his turn at hiding. He +would get under a chair, and fancy he could not be seen. Of course, +those at play with him pretended not to know where he was hiding, and it +was most amusing to witness his agitation as they passed. + +Once Fop was ill, and had taken some homoeopathic globules, which were +supposed to have cured him. Afterwards, when anything was the matter +with him, he would stand near the medicine-box, and hold his mouth open +to receive a pill. He possibly might have had a taste for sugar-plums. + +Professor Owen tells us of another dog which was taught by his master to +play at hide-and-seek. When he heard the words, "Let us have a game," +he immediately hid his eyes between his paws in the most honourable +manner; and when his owner had placed a sixpence or a piece of cake in +the most improbable place, he started up, and invariably found it. + +Young dogs, it may thus be seen, enjoy games of play as much as boys and +girls do, and romping still more so. + +THE SPANIEL AND HIS FRIEND THE PARTRIDGE. + +Here is another instance of friendship existing between a dog and a +bird. + +A lady possessed a spaniel named Tom. After she had had Tom several +years, a red-legged partridge called Bill, brought from France, was +given to her. She had often seen Tom tease the cats and amuse himself +with barking at birds, and was consequently afraid to place Bill near +him. One day, however, Bill was brought into the room, and placed on +the ground, a watch being kept on Tom's movements. Bill appeared in no +way alarmed at his four-footed companion, who, too, seemed not inclined +to molest him. They looked at each other shyly at first, like two +children when first introduced; but Bill hopping forward, Tom seemed +pleased at the confidence shown in him. + +In a short time they became excellent friends. A saucer of bread and +milk being placed on the ground, they fed out of it together, and +afterwards would retire to a corner to sleep, the partridge nestling +between the dog's legs, and never stirring till his companion awoke. + +When the dog accompanied his mistress in a walk, the bird, which could +not be taken, showed much uneasiness till he returned; and one day, when +the partridge happened to be shut up in a room by himself, the dog +searched all over the house, whining mournfully, as if he feared some +accident had happened to his friend. + +This curious friendship came to an untimely end. Tom was stolen; and +from that time Bill refused food, and died on the seventh day, a victim +to grief for the loss of his companion. + +My dear young friends, let the story of this strange friendship awaken +in your minds a stronger sense of love and trust, not only towards those +who may be the friends of your youth, but also towards all who may have +the care or oversight of you. I am afraid there are very many young +persons who would display far less genuine grief at the loss of their +companions than did the partridge at the loss of the spaniel. Strive, +then, to let your friendship towards them be such, that your grief at +their loss may be genuine. + +THE DOG WHICH TRACED HIS MASTER. + +Dogs often show much regard for each other, as well as for other +animals; but they certainly possess a still greater affection for human +beings. + +A gentleman having to proceed from the north of England to London by +sea, left his favourite dog behind. While seated one night in the pit +of Drury Lane Theatre--some time after his arrival in the metropolis--to +his amazement, his favourite sprang upon him, covering him with +caresses. + +The dog, as soon as he found that his master had departed from the +shore, broke his chain, and set out on his long journey to rejoin him. +How he traced him must ever be a marvel. Perhaps he pursued the line of +coast till he reached London, where it is possible he may have recovered +some trace of his lost friend by scent, at the landing place. This, +however, is so improbable, that it is more likely he made the discovery +by that incomprehensible power which we call instinct. + +THE DOG WHICH TRAVELLED ALONE BY RAILWAY. + +A Preston paper gave some time ago an account of a dog which travelled +alone by railway in search of his master. In this instance the animal +acted much as any human being would have done. + +The dog, which was well-known to the railway officials from frequently +travelling with his master, presented himself at one of the stations on +the Fleetwood, Preston, and Longridge line. After looking round for +some length of time among the passengers and in the carriages, just as +the train was about to start he leaped into one of the compartments of a +carriage, and lay down under a seat. + +Arrived at Longridge, he made another survey of the passengers, and +after waiting till the station had been cleared, he went into the +Railway Station Hotel, searched all the places on the ground-floor, then +went and made a tour of inspection over the adjoining grounds; but being +apparently unsuccessful, trotted back to the train, and took his late +position just as it was moving off. On reaching the station from which +he had first started, he again looked round as before, then took his +departure. + +It seems that he now proceeded to the General Railway Station at +Preston, and after repeating the looking-round performance, placed +himself under one of the seats in a train which he had singled out of +the many that are constantly popping in and out, and in due time arrived +in Liverpool. He now visited a few places where he had before been with +his master. He remained over-night in Liverpool, and visited Preston +early again the following morning. + +Still not finding his missing master, he for the fourth time took the +train; on this occasion, however, to Lancaster and Carlisle, at which +latter place, his sagacity, as well as the persevering tact he had +displayed in prosecuting his search, were rewarded by finding his +master. Their joy at meeting was mutual. + +I cannot too often repeat it: let duty be your master. Be not less +persevering in pursuing it, than were the dogs I have told you about in +seeking their masters. + +NEPTUNE; OR, FAITHFUL TO TRUST. + +At an inn in Wimborne in Dorsetshire, near which town I resided, was +kept, some years ago, a magnificent Newfoundland dog called Neptune. +His fame was celebrated far and wide. Every morning he was accustomed, +as the clock of the minster struck eight, to take in his mouth a basket +containing a certain number of pence, and to carry it across the street +to the shop of a baker, who took out the money, and replaced it by its +value in rolls. With these Neptune hastened back to the kitchen, and +speedily deposited his trust. + +It is remarkable that he never attempted to take the basket, nor even to +approach it, on Sunday mornings, when no rolls were to be obtained. + +On one occasion, when returning with the rolls, another dog made an +attack upon the basket, for the purpose of stealing its contents. On +this the trusty fellow, placing it on the ground, severely punished his +assailant, and then bore off his charge in triumph. + +He met his death--with many other dogs in the place--from poison, which +was scattered about the town by a semi-insane person, in revenge for +some fancied insult he had received from the inhabitants. + +Like trusty Neptune, deserve the confidence placed in you, by battling +bravely against all temptations to act dishonestly. Your friends may +never know of your efforts to do so, but your own peace of mind will be +reward enough. + +THE AFFECTIONATE POODLE. + +A gentleman residing at Dresden possessed a poodle which he had always +treated kindly, and which was especially fond of him. He at length, +however, made a present of her to a friend living about nine miles off. +It being supposed that she would probably try to return to her former +master, she was tied up till she became the mother of three young +puppies; and so devoted to them did she appear, that her new owner no +longer feared she would quit him. He therefore gave her her liberty. + +Shortly afterwards, however, she and the three puppies were missing. +Search was made for them in vain. At length her master's Dresden friend +paid him a visit, and told him that on the preceding evening the poodle +had arrived at his house with one of her puppies in her mouth, and that +another had been found dead on the road. + +It appeared that she had started at night, carrying the pups--which were +still too young to walk--one at a time, a certain distance, intending to +go back for the others. She had hoped thus to transfer them all to her +former much-loved home. The third puppy was never found. The one that +died had perished by cold, it being the winter season. + +THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG AND THE HATS. + +In sagacity, the Newfoundland surpasses dogs of all other breeds. + +Two gentlemen, brothers, were out shooting wild-fowl, attended by one of +these noble animals. Having thrown down their hats on the grass, they +together crept through some reeds to the river-bank, along which they +proceeded some way, after firing at the birds. Wishing at length for +their hats--one of which was smaller than the other--they sent the dog +back for them. The animal, believing it was his duty to bring both +together, made several attempts to carry them in his mouth. Finding +some difficulty in doing this, he placed the smaller hat within the +larger one, and pressed it down with his foot. He was thus, with ease, +enabled to carry them both at the same time. + +Perhaps he had seen old-clothes-men thus carrying hats; but I am +inclined to think that he was guided by seeing that this was the best +way to effect his object. + +There are two ways of doing everything--a wrong and a right one. Like +the Newfoundland dog, try to find out the right way, and do what you +have to do, in that way. + +THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG AND THE WRECK. + +How often has the noble Newfoundland dog been the means of saving the +lives of those perishing in the water! + +A heavy gale was blowing, when a vessel was seen driving toward the +coast of Kent. She struck, and the surf rolled furiously round her. +Eight human beings were observed clinging to the wreck, but no ordinary +boat could be launched to their aid; and in those days, I believe, no +lifeboats existed,--at all events, not as they do now, on all parts of +the coast. It was feared every moment that the unfortunate seamen would +perish, when a gentleman came down to the beach, accompanied by a +Newfoundland dog. He saw that, if a line could be stretched between the +wreck and the shore, the people might be saved; but it could only be +carried from the vessel to the shore. He knew how it must be done. + +Putting a short stick in the mouth of the animal, he pointed to the +vessel. The courageous dog understood his meaning, and springing into +the sea, fought his way through the waves. In vain, however, he strove +to get up the vessel's side; but he was seen by the crew, who, making +fast a rope to another piece of wood, hove it toward him. The sagacious +animal understood the object, and seizing the piece of wood, dragged it +through the surf, and delivered it to his master. A line of +communication was thus formed between the vessel and the shore, and +every man on board was rescued from a watery grave. + +DANDIE, THE MISER. + +Dandie, a Newfoundland dog belonging to Mr McIntyre of Edinburgh, +stands unrivalled for his cleverness and the peculiarity of his habits. +Dandie would bring any article he was sent for by his master, selecting +it from a heap of others of the same description. + +One evening, when a party was assembled, one of them dropped a shilling. +After a diligent search, it could nowhere be found. Mr McIntyre then +called to Dandie, who had been crouching in a corner of the room, and +said to him, "Find the shilling, Dandie, and you shall have a biscuit." +On this Dandie rose, and placed the coin, which he had picked up +unperceived by those present, upon the table. + +Dandie, who had many friends, was accustomed to receive a penny from +them every day, which he took to a baker's and exchanged for a loaf of +bread for himself. It happened that one of them was accosted by Dandie +for his usual present, when he had no money in his pocket. "I have not +a penny with me to-day, but I have one at home," said the gentleman, +scarcely believing that Dandie understood him. On returning to his +house, however, he met Dandie at the door, demanding admittance, +evidently come for his penny. The gentleman, happening to have a bad +penny, gave it him; but the baker refused to give him a loaf for it. +Dandie, receiving it back, returned to the door of the donor, and when a +servant had opened it, laid the false coin at her feet, and walked away +with an indignant air. + +Dandie, however, frequently received more money than he required for his +necessities, and took to hoarding it up. This was discovered by his +master, in consequence of his appearing one Sunday morning with a loaf +in his mouth, when it was not likely he would have received a present. +Suspecting this, Mr McIntyre told a servant to search his room--in +which Dandie slept--for money. The dog watched her, apparently +unconcerned, till she approached his bed, when, seizing her gown, he +drew her from it. On her persisting, he growled, and struggled so +violently that his master was obliged to hold him, when the woman +discovered sevenpence-halfpenny. From that time forward he exhibited a +strong dislike to the woman, and used to hide his money under a heap of +dust at the back of the premises. + +People thought Dandie a very clever dog--as he was--but there are many +things far better than cleverness. It strikes me that he was a very +selfish fellow, and therefore, like selfish boys and girls, unamiable. +He was an arrant beggar too. I'll say no more about him. Pray do not +imitate Dandie. + +THE DOG AND THE BURGLAR. + +Some years ago, a stranger arrived at the house of a shopkeeper in +Deptford who let lodgings, stating that he had just arrived from the +West Indies, and would take possession of rooms the next day, but would +send his trunk that night. The trunk was brought late in the evening by +two porters, who were desired, as it was heavy, to carry it to the +bed-room. + +As soon as the family had retired to rest, a little spaniel, which +usually slept in the shop, made his way to the door of the chamber where +the chest was deposited, and putting his nose close to it, began to bark +furiously. The people, thus aroused, opened the door, when the dog flew +towards the trunk, and barked and scratched against it with the greatest +vehemence. In vain they attempted to draw him away. A neighbour was +called in, when, on moving the trunk, it was suspected that it must +contain something alive. They accordingly forced it open, when out came +the new lodger; who had caused himself to be thus brought into the house +for the purpose of robbing it. + +If you let lodgings in your heart to strangers, take care that your +little spaniel Conscience keeps wide awake, lest some evening a chest +may be brought in containing a thief who may rob you before you find out +his character. The thief may be an evil thought, a bad feeling, shut up +in a chest formed of self-indulgence, sloth, vanity, pride. At the +first alarm, wake up, break open the chest, call in your faithful +neighbour, and hand over the new lodger to justice. + +THE POODLE AND THE STRANGER ROBBER. + +An English gentleman travelling abroad was accompanied by a favourite +poodle. On one occasion he met an agreeable stranger at an hotel, to +whom, as they were both going the same way, he offered a seat in his +carriage. No sooner, however, had the stranger entered the vehicle than +the poodle, which had from the first shown a dislike to the man, +manifested even a greater aversion to him than before. + +They put up for the night at a small inn in a wild and little frequented +country; and on separating to go to their respective rooms, the poodle +again snarled at the stranger, and was with difficulty restrained from +biting him. + +The Englishman was awakened in the middle of the night by a noise in his +room, into which the moonbeams streamed, and there he saw the dog +struggling with his travelling companion. On being overpowered, the +stranger confessed that he had come for the purpose of stealing the +traveller's money, being aware that he had a considerable sum with him. + +You have not the instinct which has been given to some dogs, and which +enables them, for their master's protection, to detect persons +harbouring evil intentions towards them; but when you meet with a boy or +man careless in his conversation, a swearer, or expressing irreligious +or immoral opinions, however courteous and agreeable he may otherwise +be, do not associate with him a moment longer than you can help, or he +will rob you of what is of far more value than a purse of gold. + +THE DOG HOLDING THE THIEF. + +A dog of the Highland breed, belonging to Lord Arbuthnot, treated a +thief in much the same way as my friend's dog did the robber of his +apple-orchard. + +The servants, going out one morning, found a man lying on the ground, a +short way from the stable, with a number of bridles and other +horse-trappings near him, and the dog holding him by the trousers. +Directly the servants appeared the dog let go his hold, when the man +confessed that the dog had thus held him for five hours. + +When a bad thought or desire steals into your heart, or, properly +speaking, rises in it, hold it down, as the dog did the thief, till you +are able to rid yourself of it. + +THE FAITHLESS WATCH-DOG. + +Faithful as dogs are in general, I am sorry to have to record an +instance to the contrary. + +A watch-dog, whose special duty was to remain at his post during the +night, found that his collar was sufficiently loose to allow him to +withdraw his head from it whenever he pleased. He acted as some human +beings do whose right principles do not fit tightly to their necks-- +slipping out of them at the very time they ought to keep them on. The +dog was, however, sagacious enough to know that if he did so during the +day he would be seen by his master, when to a certainty the collar would +be tightened. But no sooner did night arrive, and the lights began to +disappear from the windows, than he used to slip his head out of his +collar, and roam about the neighbouring fields, sometimes picking up a +hare or rabbit for his supper. + +Knowing also that the blood on his mouth would betray him, he would, +after his banquet, go to a stream and wash it off. This done, he would +return before daybreak to his kennel, and slipping his head into his +collar, lie down in his bed, as though he had remained there on the +watch all the night. + +Now I must beg my young readers to remember, should they be tempted to +do what is wrong, that however well-behaved they may contrive to appear +before their friends and acquaintances, in their own mind there will +always be the unpleasant feeling arising from the consciousness of doing +a guilty action. + +THE SHOEBLACK'S DOG. + +Dogs have been frequently trained to act roguish parts. + +An English officer visiting Paris, was annoyed one day by having a +little poodle run up to him and rub his muddy paws over his boots. Near +at hand was seated a shoeblack, to whom he went to have his boots +repolished. Having been annoyed in a similar manner by the same dog, +several times in succession, he watched the animal, when he observed him +dip his paws in the mud on the banks of the Seine, and then go and rub +them on the boots of the best-dressed people passing at the time. + +Discovering at length that the dog belonged to the shoeblack, the +gentleman questioned the man, who confessed that he had taught the dog +the trick in order to bring business to himself. "And will you part +with your clever dog?" asked the gentleman. The shoeblack consented, +and a price was fixed upon and paid. The dog accompanied his new master +to London, and was shut up for some time, till it was believed that he +would remain contentedly in the house. No sooner, however, did he +obtain his liberty, than he decamped; and a fortnight afterwards he was +found with his former master, pursuing his old occupation. + +This story shows the difficulty of getting rid of bad habits, and proves +that as dogs have been trained, so will they--as well as children-- +continue to act. The poor poodle, however, knew no better. He was +faithful to his former master, and thought that he was doing his duty. +But boys and girls do know perfectly well when they are acting rightly +or wrongly, and should strive unceasingly to overcome their bad habits. + +THE TERRIER AND THE PIN. + +A Terrier--deservedly a pet in the family for his gentleness and +amiability--was playing with one of the children, when suddenly he was +heard to utter a snarl, followed by a bark. The mother rushed to her +child, and believing it to have been bitten, drove off the dog. No +injury, however, was apparent. The dog retired to a corner, where he +remained, in an attitude of regret, till the inspection had been +finished. He then approached the lady, and with a touch of his paw +claimed attention. It was given, and forthwith he deposited at her feet +a pin. + +The story was thus made plain. The child, finding the pin, had turned +the dog's nose into a pin-cushion. The snarl rebuked the offence, and +the pin had been taken by the dog, with his mouth, out of the child's +hand. No sooner did the dog see that this was understood, than he began +to lick the little fellow's hand, as if to assure him of his +forgiveness, and to beg him to make friends again,--which they were ever +afterwards. + +I hope that the little boy, through his whole life, was always ready to +profit by the lesson of his dumb companion and to forgive injuries. + +THE DOG AND HIS INJURED FRIEND. + +Dogs frequently form warm friendships, and help each other in time of +trouble. + +Two dogs belonging to the same owner had become great friends. Ponto +and Dick, we will call them, though I am not quite certain as to their +names. Ponto's leg being broken, he was kept a close prisoner. His +friend Dick, instead of whining out a few commonplace expressions of +sympathy,--"Dear me, I'm so sorry; well, I hope you will soon get +better," and then scampering off to amuse himself with other dogs in the +village, or to run after the cows, or to go out hunting,--came and sat +down by his side, showing him every mark of attention. Then, after a +time, Dick started up, exclaiming,--"Ponto, I am sure you must be +hungry; it is dull work for you lying there with nothing to do." +Without waiting for Ponto to beg that he would not trouble himself, off +he set, and soon brought back a nice bone with plenty of gristle on it. +"There, old fellow, munch away--it will amuse you," he remarked, putting +his prize down under his friend's nose. + +After watching complacently as poor Ponto gnawed away with somewhat +languid jaws, till the bone was scraped almost clean, he again set out +in search of another. After he had brought in several, he lay down as +before by his friend's side, just playing with one of the bones to keep +him company. Thus day after day Dick continued to cheer and comfort his +injured friend with unfailing constancy till he completely recovered. + +When dogs thus exhibit disinterested kindness and self-sacrifice, how +ought human beings to behave to those suffering from pain or sorrow? +When tempted to run off and amuse yourself, leaving a sick friend at +home, remember these two dogs. Think of how much suffering there is in +the world, and what room there is for kindness and compassion; and can +you then be hard-hearted, or indifferent to the sufferings of others? + +THE DOG AND THE SURGEON. + +I must tell you of another dog which showed not only affection for a +companion, but a wonderful amount of sense. He once broke his leg, in +which state he was found by a kind surgeon, who took him home, set his +leg, and after he had recovered allowed him to go away. The dog did not +forget the treatment he had received, nor the person from whom he had +received it. + +Some months afterwards, he found another dog to whom the same accident +had happened. By the language which dogs employ, he told his friend all +about his own cure, and, assisting him along the road, led him, late at +night, to the surgeon's house. He there barked loudly at the door. No +one came, so he barked louder and louder. At last a window was opened, +and a person looked out, whom he at once recognised; and great was his +joy when the kind surgeon, coming downstairs, opened the door. Wagging +his tail, he made such signs as he was capable of using, to show what he +wanted. The surgeon soon saw what had happened to his old patient's +friend, whom he took in and treated in the same skilful way. His former +patient, satisfied that all was right, then ran off to attend to his +proper duties. + +Let us, from this kind dog's behaviour, learn, whenever we receive a +benefit, to endeavour, if possible, to impart it to others, and not to +remain selfishly satisfied with the advantage we ourselves have gained. + +THE DOG PREVENTING THE CAT STEALING. + +The owner of a spaniel was one day called away from his dinner-table, +leaving a dog and a favourite cat in the room. On his return he found +the spaniel stretched her whole length along the table, by the side of a +leg of mutton, while Puss was skulking in a corner. He soon saw that, +though the mutton was untouched, the cat had been driven from the table +by the spaniel, in the act of attempting a robbery on the meat, and that +the dog had taken up his post to prevent a repetition of the attempt. + +The little animal was thus in the habit of guarding eatables which she +believed were left in her charge; and while she would not touch them +herself, she kept other dogs and cats at a distance. + +How much evil might be prevented, if boys and girls would always act the +part of the faithful little spaniel; only, as they have got tongues in +their head, and know how wrong it is to do what is bad, they can +remonstrate lovingly with their companions who may be about to do a +wrong thing--and then, if this fails, do their utmost to prevent them. + +ONE DOG GETTING ASSISTANCE FROM ANOTHER. + +Two dogs living in the neighbourhood of Cupar, in Fife, used to fight +desperately whenever they met,--the one belonging to Captain R--, the +other to a farmer. + +Captain R--'s dog was accustomed to go on messages, and even to bring +meat and other articles from Cupar in a basket. One day, while +returning with a supply of mutton, he was attacked by a number of curs +in the town, eager to obtain the tempting prize. The messenger fought +bravely, but at length, overpowered, was compelled to yield up the +basket, though not before he had secured some of the meat. With this he +hastened at full speed to the quarters of his enemy, at whose feet he +laid it down, stretching himself beside him till he had eaten it up. A +few sniffs, a few whispers in the ear, and other dog-like courtesies +were then exchanged, after which they both set out together for Cupar, +where they worried almost every dog in the town, and, returning home, +were ever afterwards on the most friendly terms. + +Remember that there are no human beings whose conduct at all times it is +safe to follow. + +Revenge is wrong, but let us ever be ready to help and defend those who +are ill-treated and oppressed. + +THE POINTER AND THE BAD SHOT. + +Dogs, like human beings, show that they can criticise the conduct of +those they serve. + +A gentleman from London, more accustomed to handle an umbrella than a +gun, went down to the house of a friend in the country to enjoy a day's +shooting. + +"You shall have one of my best pointers," said his friend, "but +recollect, he will stand no nonsense. If you kill the birds, well and +good; if not, I cannot answer for the consequences." + +The would-be sportsman shouldered his gun and marched off. As he +traversed the fields, the pointer, ranging before him, marked bird after +bird, which were as often missed. The pointer looked back, evidently +annoyed, and after this frequently ran over game. At length he made a +dead stop near a low bush, with his nose pointed downwards, his +fore-feet bent, his tail straight and steady. The gentleman approached +with both barrels cocked. Again the dog moved steadily forward a few +paces, expressing the anxiety of his mind by moving his tail backwards +and forwards. At length a brace of partridges slowly rose. Who could +possibly miss them! Bang! bang! went both barrels, but the birds +continued their flight unharmed. The dog now fairly lost patience, +turned round, placed his tail between his legs, gave one sad howl, long +and loud, and set off at full speed homeward, leaving the gentleman to +holloa after him at the top of a gate, and continue the shooting as best +he could by himself. + +If you desire to be properly served by those you employ, you must be up +to your business. I have often heard young people complain that they +can do nothing properly, the servants are so stupid; when they come down +late, that they were not called in time; or, if they have not learned +their lessons, that the room was not ready. I daresay, when the Cockney +sportsman returned with an empty gamebag, he abused the stupid dog for +running away. + +BASS, THE GREAT SAINT BERNARD DOG. + +Sir Thomas Dick Lauder had a dog named Bass, brought when a puppy from +the Great Saint Bernard. His bark was tremendous, and might be +distinguished nearly a mile off. + +He was once stolen, when a letter-carrier, well acquainted with him, +heard his bark from the inside of a yard, and insisted on the man who +had him in possession delivering him up. + +Terrific as was his bark, he was so good-natured that he would never +fight other dogs; and even allowed a little King Charles spaniel named +Raith to run off with any bone he might have been gnawing, and to +tyrannise over him in a variety of ways. If attacked by an inferior +enemy, he would throw his immense bulk down upon his antagonist and +nearly smother him, without attempting to bite. + +He took a particular fancy for one of the Edinburgh postmen, whose duty +it was, besides delivering letters, to carry a letter-bag from one +receiving-house to another. This bag he used to give Bass to carry. +The dog accompanied him on his rounds, but invariably parted with him +opposite the gate of the Convent of Saint Margaret, and returned home. + +On one occasion the postman, being ill, sent another man in his place. +Bass went up to the stranger, who naturally retired before so +formidable-looking a dog. Bass followed, showing a determination to +have the post-bag. The man did all he could to keep possession of it; +but at length Bass, seeing that it was not likely to be given to him, +raised himself on his hind-legs, and putting a great fore-paw on each of +the man's shoulders, laid him flat on his back in the road, then quietly +picking up the bag, proceeded peaceably on his wonted way. The man +followed, ineffectually attempting to coax the dog to give up the bag. +At the first house at which he arrived, the people comforted him by +telling him that the dog always carried the bag. Bass walked with the +man to all the houses at which he delivered letters, and along the road, +till he came to the gate of Saint Margaret's, where he dropped the bag +and returned home. + +Accounts exist of the services rendered by these noble dogs of Saint +Bernard in saving life among the snowy regions of the Alps. It is +recounted that one of these dogs preserved twenty-two lives. He at +length lost his own in an avalanche, when those he was endeavouring to +assist also perished. + +THE DOG AND THE NEWSPAPER. + +Several dogs have been taught to go to the post-office for their +masters' newspapers, or to receive them from the newsman. + +A neighbour of mine, who was fond of telling good stories--which he did +not always, perhaps, expect his guests to believe--used to give an +account of the cleverness of one of his dogs. The dog went regularly +every morning into the neighbouring town for the _Times_, and brought it +back before breakfast. This was a fact. + +On one occasion the dog returned without a paper,--so my neighbour used +to tell the story. His master sent him back again, when he once more +appeared with no paper in his mouth. On this the owner ordered his cob, +and rode into the town to inquire of the postmaster why the paper had +not come. "Sir," answered the postmaster, "your _Times_ did not arrive +this morning; but when I offered the dog the _Morning Post_ he refused +to receive it." + +THE STEADY POINTER. + +It is wonderful how completely dogs can be trained to the performance of +their duties. + +A well-practised pointer was about to leap over a rail, when she +perceived a nest of partridges close to her nose. + +Had she moved an inch she would have frightened them away. There she +stood for more than two hours, with her legs on the upper bar, awaiting +the arrival of the sportsman. For some time she was not discovered, and +not till he appeared would she quit her post, when, the birds rising, +some of them were shot; but the steady pointer was so stiff when thus +relieved that she could scarcely move. + +Here is an example which my young readers should endeavour to follow +when they have a duty, however irksome, to perform. Remain steadily at +your post; let nothing draw you away. Do not say, I have stopped at +work long enough, I am sick of it. When tempted to give up, remember +the steady pointer. + +THE YOUNG DOCTOR AND PINCHER. + +One of the cleverest and most amusing of dogs was Pincher, a rough +Scotch terrier, belonging to Mrs Lee's brother. [See Mrs Lee's +"Anecdotes of Animals."] The boy had a great fancy to be a doctor. +Having manufactured a variety of surgical instruments out of flint +stones, he pretended to perform with them operations on Pincher, who +would lie perfectly still while his teeth were drawn, his limbs set, his +veins opened, or his wounds bandaged. + +The pretended doctor, finally copying the process practised on pigs, +used to cut up his favourite entirely. The dog was laid on the table, +when he stuck out his legs as stiffly as possible. Preparations were +first made for cutting off his head; and immediately the flint was +passed across the throat it fell on one side, and remained so completely +without motion that it might have been thought the dog fancied it was +really off. Each leg in succession was then operated on, and as the +instrument passed round them the dog made them fall, putting them as +close as possible to the body. When the operation was concluded, the +boy used to exclaim, "Jump up, good dog;" and Pincher, bounding off the +table, would shake himself to life again. + +SIRRAH, THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD'S DOG. + +Sirrah, fortunately for his fame, possessed a master in James Hogg, the +Ettrick Shepherd, well able to recount his history. Hogg bought Sirrah +of a drover for a guinea, observing, notwithstanding his dejected and +forlorn appearance, a sort of sullen intelligence in his countenance. +Though he had never turned a sheep in his life, as soon as he discovered +it was his duty to do so he began with eagerness and anxiety to learn +his evolutions. He would try every way deliberately till he found out +what his master wanted him to do; and when once he understood a +direction he never forgot it again or mistook it. + +Often, when hard pressed in accomplishing a task he was put to, he had +expedients for the moment that bespoke a great share of the reasoning +faculty. On one occasion about seven hundred lambs which were under +Hogg's care at weaning-time broke up at midnight, and scampered off in +three divisions across the neighbouring hills, in spite of all he and an +assistant could do to keep them together. The night was so dark that +Sirrah could not be seen, but the faithful animal had heard his master +lament their absence in words which set him at once on the alert, and +without more ado he had silently gone off in quest of the recreant +flock. In vain Hogg and his assistant spent the whole night in +searching for their lost charge; and they were on their way home to +inform their master of their loss, when they discovered a lot of lambs +at the bottom of a deep ravine, and the indefatigable Sirrah standing in +front of them, looking round for some relief, but still true to his +charge. Believing that it was one only of the divisions, what was their +astonishment when they discovered the whole flock, and not one lamb +a-wanting! How he had got all the divisions collected in the dark it is +impossible to say. The charge was left to him from midnight till the +rising sun, and if all the shepherds in the forest had been there to +assist him they could not have effected it with greater propriety. + +Hogg relates many other anecdotes of Sirrah. On one occasion he brought +back a wild ewe which no one could catch from amid numerous flocks of +sheep. He showed great indignation when the ewe, being brought home, +was set at liberty among the other sheep of his master. He had +understood that the animal was to be kept by itself, and that he was to +be the instrument of keeping it so, and he considered himself insulted +by the ewe being allowed to go among other sheep, after he had been +required to make such exertion, and had made it so successfully, to keep +it separate. + +A single shepherd and his dog, says Hogg, will accomplish more in +collecting Highland sheep from a farm than twenty shepherds could do +without dogs. Without the shepherd's dog, the whole of the mountainous +land in Scotland would not be worth sixpence. It would require more +hands to gather a flock of sheep from the hills into their folds, and +drive them to market, than the profits of the whole flock would be +capable of maintaining. + +Here we have an example of a dull, unattractive-looking dog becoming of +the very utmost canine usefulness. I have known many an apparently dull +boy, by perseveringly endeavouring to learn what he has had to do, and +then steadily pursuing the course marked out for him, rise far above his +quick and so-called clever but careless companions. I do not say, Work +for the purpose of rising, but, Work because it is right. Remember +Sirrah. Learn your duty, and do it, however disagreeable it may seem. + +THE DOG AND THE FOWLS. + +A House-Dog, whose kennel was in a farmyard, used to have his mess of +food brought to him daily in a tin can, and placed before his abode. No +sooner had the cook disappeared, than the poultry were in the habit of +collecting round and abstracting the contents of the can. The dog--a +good-natured animal--bore their pilfering for some time without +complaining; but at length, as they carried off more than he considered +fair, he warned them away, by growling and exhibiting his teeth. +Notwithstanding this they again returned to the can, when the dog, +instead of seizing some of his persecutors, lifted the can in his mouth, +and conveyed it within his kennel, where he finished his meal in peace, +while the cocks and hens stood watching without, afraid to enter. + +Depend on it, you will often find the means of avoiding annoyances much +after the method pursued by that sensible house-dog, without retaliating +on those who annoy you. If you cannot otherwise pacify them, remove the +cause of dispute out of sight. + +BARBEKARK, THE GREENLAND DOG. + +The dog is the companion of the savage, as well as the civilised man, in +all parts of the world. He accompanies the wretched Fuegan in his +hunts, partaking somewhat of the character of his master; and is the +friend and assistant of the Esquimaux in the Arctic regions. The +Esquimaux dogs, though hardly treated, show great affection for their +masters, and frequently exhibit much sagacity. + +Captain Hall, the Arctic explorer, had a Greenland dog called Barbekark. +One day they were out hunting on the frozen, snow-covered sea, when a +herd of deer appeared in sight. Chase was given. One was wounded, but +not killed, and off went the herd as fleet as the wind, now turning in +one direction, now in another, among the ice-hummocks. The rest of the +dogs followed in their tracks. Barbekark, however, was seen to strike +away in a direct line over the snow, regardless of the animals' +footsteps. On and on went Barbekark, straight for a spot which brought +him close upon the deer. The latter immediately changed their course, +and so did Barbekark, hot in pursuit of them. At length the hunters, +unable longer to endure the cold, were compelled to return to the ship, +believing that the deer had escaped. + +At mid-day Barbekark appeared on board, with blood round his mouth and +over his body. It was supposed that he had fallen in with the deer, but +not that he could possibly have killed one. He, however, showed by his +actions that he wished to draw the attention of the crew to the quarter +where he had been chasing. He kept whining, going first to one, then to +another, now running towards the gangway steps, then back again. At +last, one of the men having to visit the wreck of a vessel which lay +near, Barbekark followed; but seeing that the man went no further, off +went Barbekark to the north-west by himself. On this, some of the crew, +convinced that he must have killed a deer, put on their thick coats and +followed him. They proceeded nearly three miles, when they found +Barbekark and the other Greenland dogs seated upon their haunches round +a deer lying dead before them. The throat of the poor animal had been +cut with Barbekark's teeth as effectually as by the knife of a white man +or Esquimaux, and a piece of the tongue had been bitten out. + +As soon as the sailors appeared, Barbekark jumped from his watchful +position, and ran to meet them with manifestations of delight, looking +up at them, as much as to say: "I have done the best I could; I have +killed the deer, and eaten just one luscious mouthful. And now I give +up the animal to you, and merely ask for myself and companions, who have +been faithfully guarding the prize, such portion as you yourselves may +disdain." Several crows were pecking away at the carcass, but Barbekark +and they were always on good terms. Sometimes, indeed, he allowed them +to rest upon his back; and consequently he did not drive them away. + +On another occasion a party of the explorers were out with a sleigh and +dogs, and among them was Barbekark. They were caught in a fearful gale, +the snow beating in their faces. Esquimaux dogs are often unmanageable +when an attempt is made to force them in the teeth of a storm; and so it +now proved. The leader lost his way and confused the rest. The men as +well as the dogs were becoming blinded. The leading dog directed the +team towards some islands; but on approaching them it was seen that +Barbekark was struggling to make a different route. Happily, he was +allowed to have his own way, and in a short time he led the party direct +to the ship. + +THE ESQUIMAUX DOG SMILE. + +Captain Hall had another dog, Smile by name, the noblest looking, the +best leader, and seal and bear dog, ever met with. One day he was out +with dogs and sleigh where the ice was still firm, when suddenly a seal +was noticed ahead. In an instant the dogs were dashing towards the +prey, drawing the sledge after them at a marvellous rate, led by Smile. +The seal for a moment seemed frightened, and kept on the ice a second or +two too long; for just as he plunged, Smile caught him by the tail and +nippers. The seal struggled violently, and so did Smile, making the +sledge caper about merrily; but in a moment more the other dogs laid +hold, and aided in dragging the seal out of his hole on to the ice, when +Smile took it in charge. The prize was secured entirely by the dogs, +indeed, without any aid from the men. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +HORSES. + +THE MARE AND HER FOAL. + +The horse becomes the willing servant of man, and when kindly treated +looks upon him as a friend and protector. + +I have an interesting story to tell you of a mare which belonged to +Captain I--, an old settler in New Zealand. She and her foal had been +placed in a paddock, between which and her master's residence, three or +four miles away, several high fences intervened. The paddock itself was +surrounded by a still higher fence. + +One day, however, as Captain I--was standing with a friend in front of +his house, he was surprised to see the mare come galloping up. +Supposing that the fence of her paddock had been broken down, and that, +pleased at finding herself at liberty, she had leaped the others, he +ordered a servant to take her back. The mare willingly followed the +man; but in a short time was seen galloping up towards the house in as +great a hurry as before. The servant, who arrived some time afterwards, +assured his master that he had put the mare safely into the paddock. +Captain I--told him again to take back the animal, and to examine the +fence more thoroughly, still believing that it must have been broken +down in some part or other, though the gate might be secure. + +Captain I--and his friend then retired into the house, and were seated +at dinner, when the sound of horse's hoofs reached their ears. The +friend, who had on this got up to look out of the window, saw that it +was the mare come back for the third time; and observing the remarkable +manner in which she was running up and down, apparently trying even to +get into the house, exclaimed, "What can that mare want? I am sure that +there is something the matter." Captain I--on hearing this hurried out +to ascertain the state of the case. No sooner did the mare see him than +she began to frisk about and exhibit the most lively satisfaction; but +instead of stopping to receive the accustomed caress, off she set again +of her own accord towards the paddock, looking back to ascertain whether +her master was following. His friend now joined him, and the mare, +finding that they were keeping close behind her, trotted on till the +gate of the paddock was reached, where she waited for them. On its +being opened, she led them across the field to a deep ditch on the +farther side, when, what was their surprise to find that her colt had +fallen into it, and was struggling on its back with its legs in the air, +utterly unable to extricate itself. In a few minutes more probably it +would have been dead. The mare, it was evident, finding that the +servant did not comprehend her wishes, had again and again sought her +master, in whom she had learned from past experience to confide. Here +was an example of strong maternal affection eliciting a faculty superior +to instinct, which fully merits the name of reason. The aid of a kind +master will always be sought in time of need. The conduct of the mare +speaks much in favour of her owner. It is evident that he treated her +well. Had such not been the case, it is not at all likely that the +animal would have persisted in coming direct to him in her time of need. +Be ready, then, to fly for succour to those about you whom you may have +found willing to help and serve you. + +THE NEWSMAN'S HORSE. + +The memory of horses is most remarkable. The newsman of a provincial +paper was in the habit of riding his horse once or twice a week to the +houses of fifty or sixty of his customers, the horse invariably stopping +of his own accord at each house as he reached it. + +But the memory of the horse was exhibited in a still more curious +manner. It happened that there were two persons on the route who took +one paper between them, and each claimed the privilege of having it +first on each alternate week. The horse soon became accustomed to this +regulation, and though the parties lived two miles distant, he stopped +once a fortnight at the door of the half-customer at one place, and once +a fortnight at the door of the half-customer at the other; and never did +he forget this arrangement, which lasted for several years. + +If an animal can thus become so regular in his habits, and remember his +duty so well as did this newsman's horse, surely you, my readers, +whether young or old, have no excuse when you forget yours, and neglect +to be at the appointed place at the proper time. + +THE TWO WISE CART-HORSES. + +Cart-horses, though heavy-looking animals, are more sagacious that their +more gracefully formed relatives. + +A cart-horse had been driven from a farmyard to the neighbouring brook +early one morning during winter to drink. The water was frozen over, +and the horse stamped away with his fore-feet, but was unable to break +the ice. Finding this, he waited till a companion came down, when the +two, standing side by side, and causing their hoofs to descend together, +broke through the ice, and were thus enabled to obtain the water they +required. + +What one person alone cannot do, two working heartily together may +accomplish. We shall find no lack of thick ice to break through. The +thickest, perhaps, is the icy opposition of cold, stubborn hearts to +what is right and good. Let us beware that our hearts do not freeze, +but take care to keep them warm by exercising them in the service of +love and kindness. + +THE AUTHOR'S HORSE BECOMING HIS GUIDE. + +I was once travelling in the interior of Portugal with several +companions. My horse had never been in that part of the country before. +We left our inn at daybreak, and proceeded through a mountainous +district to visit some beautiful scenery. On our return evening was +approaching, when I stopped behind my companions to tighten the girths +of my saddle. Believing that there was only one path to take, I rode +slowly on, but shortly reached a spot where I was in some doubt whether +I should go forward or turn off to the left. I shouted, but heard no +voice in reply, nor could I see any trace of my friends. Darkness was +coming rapidly on. My horse seeming inclined to take the left hand, I +thought it best to let him do so. In a short time the sky became +overcast, and there was no moon. The darkness was excessive. Still my +steed stepped boldly on. So dense became the obscurity, that I could +not see his ears; nor could I, indeed, distinguish my own hand held out +at arm's-length. I had no help for it but to place the reins on my +horse's neck and let him go forward. + +We had heard of robberies and murders committed; and I knew that there +were steep precipices, down which, had my horse fallen, we should have +been dashed to pieces. Still the firm way in which he trotted gave me +confidence. Hour after hour passed by. The darkness would, at all +events, conceal me from the banditti, if such were in wait--that was one +consolation; but then I could not tell where my horse might be taking +me. It might be far away from where I hoped to find my companions. + +At length I heard a dog bark, and saw a light twinkling far down beneath +me, by which I knew that I was still on the mountain-side. Thus on my +steady steed proceeded, till I found that he was going along a road, and +I fancied I could distinguish the outlines of trees on either hand. +Suddenly he turned on one side, when my hat was nearly knocked off by +striking against the beam of a trellised porch, covered with vines; and +to my joy I found that he had brought me up to the door of the inn which +we had left in the morning. + +My companions, trusting to their human guide, had not arrived, having +taken a longer though safer route. My steed had followed the direct +path over the mountains which we had pursued in the morning. + +Another horse of mine, which always appeared a gentle animal, and which +constantly carried a lady, was, during my absence, ridden by a friend +with spurs. On my return, I found that he had on several occasions +attacked his rider, when dismounted, with his fore-feet, and had once +carried off the rim of his hat. From that time forward he would allow +no one to approach him if he saw spurs on his heels; and I was obliged +to blindfold him when mounting and dismounting, as he on several +occasions attacked me as he had done my friend. + +My horse had till that time been a willing, quiet animal. How many +human beings have, by thoughtless, cruel treatment, been turned from +faithful servants into implacable foes. I must urge my young readers +always to treat those who may be dependent on them with kindness and +gentleness, rather because it is their duty so to do, than from fear of +the consequences of an opposite course. + +THE WISE HORSE AND THE PUMP. + +A horse was shut up in a paddock near Leeds, in a corner of which stood +a pump with a tub beneath it. The groom, however, often forgot to fill +the tub, the horse having thus no water to drink. The animal had +observed the way in which water was procured, and one night, when the +tub was empty, was seen to take the pump handle in his mouth, and work +it with his head till he had procured as much water as he required. + +What a wise horse he was! How much wiser than some young ladies and +gentlemen, who, when there is no water in their jugs, or their shoes are +not cleaned, dress without washing rather than take the trouble of +getting it for themselves, or wear dirty shoes rather than take them +down to be cleaned, or clean them for themselves. + +My young friends, remember through life that sensible horse. Take the +pump by the handle, and work away with it till you have brought up the +water. + +THE PONY WHICH SAVED A LITTLE GIRL'S LIFE. + +A small pony, belonging to a gentleman in Warwickshire, was fed in a +park through which a canal passes. It was a great favourite, having +been long kept in the family, and was ridden by the children. + +A little girl--the daughter of the owner of the property--had run out by +herself into the park, and made her way to the banks of the canal. As +she was playing thoughtlessly near the water, she fell in. Her cries +attracted the pony, which, galloping forward, plunged into the water, +and lifting her in his mouth, brought her safely to the shore. + +However weak or apparently inadequate your means, you may often, if you +employ them to the best of your power, render essential service to your +fellow-creatures. + +THE HORSE AND THE SHIPWRECK. + +A remarkable instance of a horse saving human life occurred some years +ago at the Cape of Good Hope. A storm was raging, when a vessel, +dragging her anchors, was driven on the rocks, and speedily dashed to +pieces. Many of those on board perished. The remainder were seen +clinging to the wreck, or holding on to the fragments which were washing +to and fro amid the breakers. No boat could put off. When all hope had +gone of saving the unfortunate people, a settler, somewhat advanced in +life, appeared on horseback on the shore. His horse was a bold and +strong animal, and noted for excelling as a swimmer. The farmer, moved +with compassion for the unfortunate seamen, resolved to attempt saving +them. Fixing himself firmly in the saddle, he pushed into the midst of +the breakers. At first both horse and rider disappeared; but soon they +were soon buffeting the waves, and swimming towards the wreck. Calling +two of the seamen, he told them to hold on by his boots; then turning +his horse's head, he brought them safely to land. + +No less than seven times did he repeat this dangerous exploit, thus +saving fourteen lives. For the eighth time he plunged in, when, +encountering a formidable wave, the brave man lost his balance, and was +instantly overwhelmed. The horse swam safely to shore; but his gallant +rider, alas! was no more. + +It is sinful uselessly to run even a slight risk of losing life; but +when, on any occasion, need arises for saving the lives of our +fellow-creatures, we should be willing to dare the greatest dangers in +making such an effort. The fate of the brave farmer must not deter us-- +nor should any failure of others--from doing what is only our duty. + +THE IRISH HORSE AND THE INFANT. + +Mrs F--mentions several instances of the sagacity of horses. Some +horses in the county of Limerick, which were pastured in a field, broke +bounds like a band of unruly schoolboys, and scrambling through a gap +which they had made in a fence, found themselves in a narrow lane. +Along the quiet by-road they galloped helter-skelter, at full speed, +snorting and tossing their manes in the full enjoyment of their freedom, +but greatly to the terror of a party of children who were playing in the +lane. As the horses were seen tearing wildly along, the children +scrambled up the bank into the hedge, and buried themselves in the +bushes, regardless of thorns,--with the exception of one poor little +thing, who, too small to run, fell down on its face, and lay crying +loudly in the middle of the narrow way. + +On swept the horses; but when the leader of the troop saw the little +child lying in his path, he suddenly stopped, and so did the others +behind him. Then stooping his head, he seized the infant's clothes with +his teeth, and carefully lifted it to the side of the road, laying it +gently and quite unhurt on the tender grass. He and his companions then +resumed their gallop in the lane, unconscious of having performed a +remarkable act. + +Learn a lesson from those wild Irish horses. As you hurry along in the +joyousness of youth, reflect and look before you to see whether there +lies not on your road some one who requires your help. Believe me, in +your path through life you will find many poor little infants who +require to be lifted up and placed in safety. Do not be less obedient +to the promptings of duty than were those dumb animals to the reason or +the instinct implanted in their breasts. + +THE HUMANE CART-HORSE AND THE CHILD. + +A carter in Strathmiglo, Fifeshire, had an old horse, which was as +familiar with his family as a dog could have been. He used to play with +the children, and when they were running about between his legs he would +never move, for fear of doing them an injury. + +On one occasion, when dragging a loaded cart through a narrow lane near +the village, a young child, not one of his owner's family, happened to +be playing on the road, and thoughtlessly ran directly before him, when, +had it not been for his sagacity, it would inevitably have been crushed +by the wheels. On seeing what had occurred, the good old horse took the +child up by its clothes with his teeth, carried it a few yards, and then +placed it by the wayside,--moving slowly all the while, and looking back +occasionally, as if to satisfy himself that the cart-wheels had passed +clear of it. + +In all his duties he was equally steady and precise, and could be +perfectly trusted. + +That is just the character you should aim at deserving. To merit being +perfectly trusted, shows that your talent is employed to the best +advantage--that you are labouring, really and truly, from a conscious +sense of duty. Only thus will you labour honestly. + +THE FAITHFUL HORSE AND HIS RIDER. + +Horses have been known to fight for their friends, both human and +canine. + +A farmer near Edinburgh possessed a hunter which had carried him safely +for many a day over moorland heath as well as beaten roads. He was one +day returning from the city, where he had attended a jovial meeting, +when, feeling more than usually drowsy, he slipped from his saddle to +the ground, without being awakened by the change of position, and +letting go the bridle as he fell. His faithful steed, which had the +character of being a vicious horse, instead of galloping home, as might +have been expected, stood by his prostrate master, keeping as strict a +watch over him as a dog could have done. + +Some labourers, coming by at daybreak, observed the farmer still +sleeping near a heap of stones by the roadside. Intending to assist +him, they drew near, when the horse, by his grinning teeth and ready +heels, showed them that it would be wiser to keep at a distance. He did +not, probably, understand their humane intentions; but not till they had +aroused the farmer, who at length got on his feet, would his equine +guardian allow them to proceed. + +Mrs F--mentions another instance of a high-spirited Irish horse, which, +under similar circumstances, used to defend his master. + +This man, a dissipated character, often coming home at night tipsy, +would fall to the ground in a helpless state. Had the horse, while the +man was in this condition, forsaken him, he would have been run over by +any vehicle passing along the road; but the faithful horse was his +vigilant guardian and protector. If nobody approached, the animal would +stand patiently beside his prostrate master till he came to himself. He +has been known to stand at his post during the whole of the night. If +any one came near, he would gallop round him, kicking out his heels; or +rearing and biting, if an attempt were made to touch him. Thus the man +and animal changed places, the intelligent brute protecting both himself +and his brutalised master. + +I have a word to say even on this subject. Beware lest you take the +first step which may lead you to become like the man I have described. +You cannot expect, like him, to have a sagacious horse to watch over +you. Yet, at the same time, do not be less faithful to an erring +companion than were those noble steeds to their owners; watch over and +protect him to the utmost. Learn to be kind to the thankful and to the +unthankful. + +JACK AND HIS DRIVER. + +Mr Smiles, in his Life of Rennie, tells us of a horse called Jack, who +showed himself to be fully as sensible as the two animals just +mentioned. + +Jack's business was to draw the stone trucks along the tramway during +the erection of Waterloo Bridge. Near at hand was a beer-shop, +frequented by the navvies and carters. Jack's driver, named Tom, was an +honest fellow, and very kind to Jack, but too fond of spending more time +than he ought to have done in the beer-shop. Jack, though a restive +animal, got accustomed to Tom's habits, and waited patiently till an +overlooker startled him into activity. On one occasion, however, the +superintendent being absent, Tom took so long a spell at the ale that +Jack became restive, and the trace fastenings being long enough, the +animal put his head inside the beerhouse door, and seizing the +astonished Tom by the collar with his teeth, dragged him out to his duty +at the truck. Great in consequence became the fame of Jack amongst the +host of labourers. + +Like famous Jack, do not hesitate to remind a friend of his duty, even +though you have to seize him by the collar and drag him away to perform +it. + +THE HORSE WHICH FOUGHT FOR A DOG. + +I have given several instances of friendship existing between horses and +dogs. + +A fine hunter had formed a friendship with a handsome greyhound which +slept in the stable with him, and generally accompanied him when taken +out for exercise. When the greyhound accompanied his master in his +walks, the horse would look over his shoulder, and neigh in a manner +which plainly said, Let me go also; and when the dog returned, he was +received with an unmistakable neigh of welcome. He would lick the +horse's nose, and in return the horse would scratch his back with his +teeth. + +On one occasion the groom had, as usual, taken out the horse for +exercise, followed by the greyhound, when a savage dog attacked the +latter and bore him to the ground. The horse, seeing this, threw back +his ears, and, breaking from the groom, rushed at the strange dog which +was attacking his friend, seized him by the back with his teeth, +speedily making him quit his hold, and shook him till a piece of his +skin gave way. The offender, getting on his feet, scampered off, glad +to escape from a foe who could punish him so severely. + +THE ARAB STEED AND THE CHIEF. + +Monsieur De Lamartine's beautiful story of the Arab chief and his +favourite steed has often been told. It shall form one of our anecdotes +of horses. + +A chief, Abou el Marek, and his marauding tribe, had one night attacked +a caravan. When returning with their plunder, they were surrounded by +the troops of the Pacha of Acre, who killed several, and bound the rest +with cords. Abou el Marek, wounded and faint from loss of blood, was +among the latter. Thus bound, while lying on the ground at night, he +heard the neigh of his favourite steed, picketed at a short distance +off. Anxious to caress the horse for the last time, he dragged himself +up to him. "Poor friend," he said, "what will you do among these savage +Turks? Shut up under the stifling roof of a khan, you will sicken and +die. No longer will the women and children of the tent bring you +barley, camel's milk, or _dhourra_ in the hollow of their hands. No +longer will you gallop free as the wind across the desert; no longer +cleave the waters with your breast, and lave your sides in the pure +stream. If I am to be a slave, at least you shall go free. Hasten back +to our tent. Tell my wife that Abou el Marek will return no more!" + +With these words, his hands being tied, the old chief undid, by means of +his teeth, the rope which held the courser fast; but the noble animal, +instead of galloping away to the desert, bent his head over his master, +and seeing him helpless on the ground, took his clothes gently between +his teeth, and, lifting him up, set off at full speed towards his +distant home. Arriving there, he laid his master at the feet of his +wife and children, and dropped down dead with fatigue. + +What a brave example of affection, duty, and self-sacrifice! You may +never be called on to perform the one hundredth part of the task +undertaken willingly by that gallant Arab steed, but how are you +carrying the tiny, light burdens which your every-day duties place on +you? True heroism consists not so much in the performance of one noble +deed, which may become the poet's theme, but in doing all that we have +to do, and in seeking to do as much as we can of what there is to be +done, to the very best of our power, and in bearing with patience what +we are called on to bear. + +THE OLD CHARGER. + +The horse has been frequently known to recognise his rider after a long +absence. He is also especially a sociable animal, and once accustomed +to others of his kind, rarely forgets them. At the trumpet's sound, the +old war-horse pricks up his ears, snorts, and paws the ground, eager to +join his ancient comrades. + +Some years ago the assistant to a surveyor was employed to ride along a +certain line of turnpike road, to see that the contractors were doing +their work properly. He was mounted on a horse which had belonged to a +field-officer; and, though aged, still possessed much spirit. It +happened that a troop of yeomanry were out exercising on a neighbouring +common. No sooner did the old horse espy the line of warriors, and hear +the bugle-call, than, greatly to the dismay of his rider, he leaped the +fence and was speedily at his post in front of the regiment; nor could +the civilian equestrian induce him by any means to quit the ground till +the regiment left it. As long as they kept the field, the horse +remained in front of the troop; and then insisted on marching at their +head into the town, prancing as well as his old legs would allow him, to +the great amusement of the volunteers, and the no small annoyance of the +clerk, who had thus been compelled to assume a post he would gladly have +avoided. + +Old habits cling to us as pertinaciously as did those of that ancient +war-steed; and often when we flatter ourselves that they have been +overcome, temptation appears, and we yield to them as of yore. Do you, +my young friends, take heed to adopt only good habits, and adhere to +them. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +DONKEYS. + +Degraded as it is supposed they are by nature, and cruelly ill-used as +donkeys too often are in England, they are fully as intelligent as +horses. They are not only capable of playing all manner of tricks, but +sometimes indulge in a variety, of their own accord. + +DONKEY BOB, THE POLICEMAN. + +Mrs F--'s father-in-law had a donkey named Bob, which was kept in a +field with other animals, and grazed quietly with them, but jealously +guarded the entrance against all intruders. If any strange cows, sheep, +or pigs ventured within his territory, Bob instantly ran at them full +tilt, and hunted them from the premises, kicking out his heels and +biting whenever he had the opportunity. Indeed, if he but saw them +inclined to come in, he would stand in the gap and defend it bravely. +His vigilance was so great that it was considered unnecessary to have a +herdsman in the place. + +Bob was clearly convinced that it was his duty to keep that field +against all intruders. Dear young reader, when you have the property of +another person to watch over, guard it as effectually as did honest Bob +his master's paddock. + +THE ASS AND THE DOOR-LATCH. + +Donkeys sometimes exert their ingenuity to their own advantage, like +some other creatures. + +A certain ass had his quarters in a shed, in front of which was a small +yard. On one side of the yard was a kitchen garden, separated from it +by a wall, in which was a door fastened by two bolts and a latch. The +owner of the premises one morning, in taking a turn round his garden, +observed the footprints of an ass on the walks and beds. "Surely some +one must have left the door open at night," thought the master. He +accordingly took care to see that it was closed. Again, however, he +found that the ass had visited the garden. + +The next night, curious to know how this had happened, he watched from a +window overlooking the yard. At first he kept a light burning near him. +The ass, however, remained quietly at his stall. After a time, to +enable him to see the better, he had it removed, when what was his +surprise to see the supposed stupid donkey come out of the shed, go to +the door, and, rearing himself on his hind-legs, unfasten the upper bolt +of the door with his nose. This done, he next withdrew the lower bolt; +then lifted the latch, and walked into the garden. He was not long +engaged in his foraging expedition, and soon returned with a bunch of +carrots in his mouth. Placing them in his shed, he went back and +carefully closed the door, and began at his ease to munch the provender +he had so adroitly got possession of. + +The owner, suspecting that people would not believe his story, invited +several of his neighbours to witness the performance of the ass. Not +till the light, however, had been taken away, would the creature +commence his operations, evidently conscious that he was doing wrong. A +lock was afterwards put on the door, which completely baffled the +ingenuity of the cunning animal. + +THE ASS AND THE TEETOTALLER. + +The ass has a memory not inferior to that of the horse. This was +especially noticeable in the case of an ass belonging to a carrier at +Wigan. + +The ass and his master were accustomed to stop at a certain +public-house, where the latter obtained a pot of beer, of which he +always allowed the animal a little. At length the master turned +teetotaller, when his principles forbade him to stop at the +public-house; but the ass, whenever he reached the usual halting-place, +refused to go on, and no beating would induce him to do so till he had +received his usual allowance of beer. The carrier was therefore obliged +to buy some beer for his beast, though no longer requiring it himself. + +Remember what I said before about bad habits. Though your friends from +weariness may cease to rebuke you, it is no proof that you are cured of +them, or that the habits are not as objectionable as at the first. + +THE DONKEY AND HIS MISTRESS. + +Donkeys are capable of great affection for those who treat them well. + +An old woman, known to Mrs F--, had a donkey which usually grazed on +the roadside near her cottage, and when he saw any person about to enter +her abode would instantly run to the door and defend it against all +intrusion till the dame herself appeared. If any one annoyed the old +woman--as the boys around would sometimes do, for the sake of seeing how +the donkey would behave--he would kick out at them fiercely, put them to +the rout, and pursue them for some distance. + +When the dame wished to ride, he would proceed with the greatest care +and gentleness; but if any other person attempted to mount him, the ass +very soon convinced them that their will and power were useless in a +contest, and the effort usually ended in the rider being roughly thrown, +and perhaps kicked. + +THE BRAVE ASS AND HIS FOE. + +I have heard of a donkey which on one occasion bravely did battle for +himself. + +He happened to be feeding near a river when a fierce bull-dog attacked +him; but so gallantly did he strike out with his heels, that his +assailant was unable to fix on him. At length the ass suddenly turned +round and seized the neck of the bull-dog in his teeth. The dog howled +with pain, and struggled to get free, but the ass had no intention as +yet of letting it go. Holding it tight, he dragged it struggling into +the water, going in deeper and deeper; then kneeling down where the +depth was sufficient for the purpose, he kept the dog under the surface +till it was drowned. + +Whenever you are attacked by a spiritual or moral foe, imitate the brave +ass, and drown it. + +THE BAKER'S DONKEY. + +I met some time ago with an account of a clever donkey which was +employed in drawing a baker's cart. He was so well acquainted with the +houses of all his master's customers, that while the baker went into one +to deliver his loaves, the sagacious ass would proceed to the door of +the next, at which, when he could reach the knocker, he gave a +rap-a-tap-tap. If unable to do so, he would stamp with his feet in a +peculiar way, well-known to the inmates. He never failed to stop at +their doors, nor was he ever known by mistake to go to the wrong house. + +Be as careful to learn your school lessons now, and as exact in business +matters when you grow up, as was the baker's donkey to attend to what he +conceived his duty. + +THE SHIPWRECKED ASS. + +An ass was shipped at Gibraltar on board the _Isis_ frigate, to be sent +to Captain Dundas, then at Malta. The ship, on her voyage, struck on a +sand-bank off Cape de Gat, when among other things thrown overboard was +the poor ass; it being hoped that, although the sea was running high, +the animal might reach the shore. + +A few days afterwards, when the gates of Gibraltar were opened in the +morning, the guard was surprised to see the ass present himself for +admittance. On being allowed to pass, he went immediately to the stable +of his former master. Not only had the animal swam safely to shore +through the heavy surf, but, without guide or compass, had found his way +from Cape de Gat to Gibraltar, a distance of more than two hundred +miles, across a mountainous and intricate country, intersected by +streams, and in so short a time that he could not have made one false +turn. + +THE OLD HAWKER AND HIS DONKEY. + +An old hawker was in the habit of traversing the country with his ass, +which had served him faithfully for many years. To help himself along, +he used frequently to catch hold of the animal's tail. + +The winter wind was blowing strongly, and snow had long been falling +heavily, when the old hawker found himself suddenly plunged with the ass +into a deep drift. In vain he struggled to get out, and fully believed +that his last hour had come. The ass succeeded better, and reached the +road; but after looking about and finding his master missing, he once +more made his way through the drift, and then, placing himself in a +position which enabled the old hawker to catch hold of his tail, the +faithful beast dragged him safely out. + +Never despise the help offered by a humble friend. We are all apt to +over-estimate our own strength and wisdom. + +THE MUSICAL ASS. + +We have no less an authority than Dr Franklin to prove that donkeys +enjoy music. + +The mistress of a chateau in France where he visited had an excellent +voice, and every time she began to sing, a donkey belonging to the +establishment invariably came near the window, and listened with the +greatest attention. One day, during the performance of a piece of music +which apparently pleased it more than any it had previously heard, the +animal, quitting its usual post outside the window, unceremoniously +entered the room, and, to exhibit its satisfaction, began to bray with +all its might. + +I need scarcely hint, after you have read this story, that you will act +wisely in keeping your proper place. You may be esteemed wonderfully +clever in the nursery, or even at school; but when you appear among +strangers at home, or go out visiting, wait till you are invited to +exhibit your talents, or you may be considered as audacious a donkey as +was the musical ass. + +I think I have told you anecdotes enough to show that donkeys are not +such stupid creatures as is generally supposed; and I am very sure that, +if they were better treated, their character would rise much in public +estimation. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +ELEPHANTS. + +We have, I think, sufficient evidence to prove that elephants are more +sagacious, and possessed of greater reasoning power, than any other +animals. They seem, indeed, to have many of the feelings of human +beings. In spite of their size, what activity do they exhibit! what +wonderful judgment! How cautious they are in all their proceedings! +How great is their love of regularity and good order! So gentle, too, +are many of them, that the youngest infant might be safely entrusted to +their keeping; and yet, if insulted or annoyed by a grown-up person, the +same animal might hurl him to the ground with a blow of his trunk, or +crush him with his ponderous feet. I will tell you a few of the +numerous stories I have heard about these wonderful creatures. + +THE ELEPHANT IN A WELL. + +While the British troops were besieging Bhurtpore in India, the water in +the ponds and tanks in the neighbourhood becoming exhausted, it could +only be obtained from deep and large wells. In this service elephants +were especially useful. + +One day two of these animals,--one of them large and strong, the other +much smaller,--came together to a well. The smaller elephant carried by +his trunk a bucket, which the larger, not having one, stole from him. +The smaller animal knew that he could not wrest it from the other, but +he eyed him, watching for an opportunity of avenging himself. The +larger elephant now approached the edge of the well, when the smaller +one, rushing forward with all his might, pushed him fairly into the +water. + +Ludicrous as was the scene, the consequences might have been disastrous. +Should the huge animal not be got out, the water would be spoiled; at +all events, his floundering about would make it very muddy. The +elephant, however, seemed in no way disconcerted, and kept floating at +his ease, enjoying the cool liquid, and exhibiting no wish to come out +of it. At length a number of fascines used in the siege were brought, +and these being lowered into the well, the elephant was induced by his +driver to place them under his feet. In this way a pile was raised +sufficiently high to enable him to stand upon it. But, being unwilling +to leave the water, he after a time would allow no more fascines to be +lowered; and his driver had to caress him, and promise him plenty of +arrack as a reward, to induce him to raise himself out of the water. +Thus incited, the elephant permitted more fascines to be thrown in; and +at length, after some masonry was removed from the margin of the well, +he was able to step out--the whole operation having occupied fourteen +hours. + +You will probably smile at the conduct of the two huge creatures. It +was curiously like that of human beings. A big boy plays a smaller one +a trick--snatches something from him. The other retaliates. An uproar +is raised, and often serious inconvenience follows. These two elephants +behaved just like two ill-tempered boys; and through them a whole army +was doomed to suffer for many hours the pangs of thirst. Remember the +golden rule, "Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you." + +THE ELEPHANT ACCUSING HIS DRIVER OF THEFT. + +The following anecdote shows the elephant's perception of what is right. + +A large elephant was sent a few years ago to assist in piling up timber +at Nagercoil. The officer who despatched it, suspecting the honesty of +the driver, requested the wife of a missionary, to whose house the +animal was sent, to watch that he received his proper allowance of rice. +After some time the lady, suspecting that her charge was being +defrauded of his rice, intimated her mistrust to the keeper, who, +pretending surprise at having such an imputation made against him, +exclaimed in his native tongue, "Madam, do you think I would rob my +child?" The elephant, which was standing by, seemed aware of the +subject of the conversation, and kept eyeing the keeper, who had on a +bulky waist-cloth; and no sooner had he uttered these words than the +animal threw his trunk round him, and untying the waist-cloth, a +quantity of rice fell to the ground. + +THE ELEPHANT AND THE TIPSY SOLDIER. + +Some years ago a soldier, stationed at Pondicherry, formed a friendship +with an elephant, to whom he used to give a portion of his daily +allowance of liquor. One day the soldier, getting tipsy, and being +followed by the guard, ran to hide himself behind the elephant, under +whose body he was in a few minutes fast asleep. The guard approached to +seize the delinquent, but, though the keeper assisted the soldiers, the +elephant would allow no one to come near him, and kept whirling his +trunk about in a way which showed that he was determined to protect his +charge at all costs. + +What was the soldier's horror next morning, when, looking up, he found +the huge animal standing over him! One step of his monstrous feet, and +his life would have been crushed out. If he did not then and there +resolve to abjure intoxicating liquor for the future, he deserved to be +less fortunate another time. As he crawled out, the elephant evidently +perceived the terror he was in, and, to reassure him, caressed him +gently with his trunk, and signified that he might go to his quarters. +The animal now seeing his friend in safety, suffered his keeper to +approach and lead him away. + +Gratitude prompted the elephant to protect his erring friend. How sad +to think that human beings are so often less grateful to those from whom +they have received benefits! + +ELEPHANTS HELPING EACH OTHER. + +When an army marches in India, elephants are employed in carrying +field-pieces, levelling roads, piling up timber, fetching water; all of +which, and many other occupations, they perform with a regularity which +shows that they understand what they are about. Formerly, indeed, they +were often trained to launch ships, by pushing them off the stocks with +the weight of their huge bodies. + +Some troops, on their march, had to cross a steep and rugged hill. This +could only be done by cutting away portions, and laying trees to fill up +the chasms. The first elephant, when conducted up to this +roughly-formed road, shook his head, and roared piteously, evidently +convinced that it was insecure. On some alteration being made he +recommenced his examination, by pressing with his trunk the trees that +had been thrown across. After this he advanced a fore-leg with great +caution, raising the fore-part of his body so as to throw the weight on +the trunk. Thus he examined every tree and rock as he proceeded, while +frequently no force could induce him to advance till some alteration he +desired had been made. On his reaching the top his delight was evident. +He caressed his keepers, and threw the dirt about in a playful manner. + +A younger elephant had to follow. The first watched his ascent with the +most intense interest, making motions all the while as though he was +assisting him, by shouldering him up the declivity. As the latter +neared the top, a difficult spot had to be passed, when the first, +approaching, extended his trunk to the assistance of his brother in +distress. The younger, entwining his round it, was thus led up to the +summit in safety. The first on this evinced his delight by giving a +salute something like the sound of a trumpet. The two animals then +greeted each other as if they had been long separated, and had just met +after accomplishing a perilous achievement. They mutually embraced, and +stood face to face for a considerable time, as if whispering +congratulations. The driver then made them salaam to the general, who +ordered them five rupees each for sweetmeats. On this they immediately +returned thanks by another salaam. + +Can you, after reading this, ever refuse to help any human beings in +distress? Imitate, too, that sagacious elephant, in never venturing on +unsafe ground. Look before you leap. + +THE ELEPHANT AND THE ROTTEN BRIDGE. + +It is seldom that an elephant can be induced to pass over ground he +considers unsafe. Sometimes, however, a driver obtains such a mastery +over a timid animal, that he compels him to undertake what his better +sense would induce him to decline. + +An elephant of this character was owned by a person residing in the +neighbourhood of Gyah. Between the house and the town was a small +bridge, over which the elephant had frequently passed. One day, +however, he refused to go over. He tried it with his trunk, evidently +suspecting that its strength was not sufficient to bear his weight. +Still, the obstinate driver urged him on with the sharp spear with which +elephants are driven. At length, with cautious steps he began the +passage, still showing an extreme unwillingness to proceed. As he +approached the centre, loud cracks were heard, when the treacherous +bridge gave way, and both elephant and rider were precipitated into the +stream below; the latter being killed by the fall, and the former, who +had proved himself the most sensible being of the two, being much +injured. + +Let no force induce you to do what is wrong. All bad ways are like that +rotten bridge. When others attempt to goad you on to do evil, tell them +the story of the elephant and the rotten bridge. + +THE ELEPHANT TURNED NURSE. + +Who would expect to see a huge elephant take care of a delicate little +child? Yet more vigilant and gentle nurses cannot be found than are +some of these animals. + +The wife of a mahout, or elephant driver, was frequently in the habit of +giving her baby in charge of an elephant. The child would begin, as +soon as it was left to itself, to crawl about, getting sometimes under +the elephant's huge legs, at others becoming entangled among the +branches on which he was feeding. On such occasions the elephant would +gently disengage the child, by lifting it with his trunk or removing the +boughs. The elephant, it should be said, was himself chained by the leg +to the stump of a tree. When the child had crawled nearly to the limits +of his range, he would advance his trunk, and lift it back as tenderly +as possible to the spot whence it had started. Indeed, no nurse could +have attended an infant with more good sense and care than did this +elephant his master's child. + +THE WOUNDED ELEPHANT AND THE SURGEON. + +To conclude my anecdotes about elephants, I must tell you two which +show, even more than the other incidents I have mentioned, the wonderful +sense they possess. + +An elephant had been severely wounded, and submitting to have his wound +dressed, used, after two or three times, to go alone to the hospital and +extend himself, so that the surgeon could easily reach the injured part. +Though the pain the animal suffered was so severe that he often uttered +the most plaintive groans, he never interrupted the operation, but +exhibited every token of submission to the surgeon, till his cure was +effected. + +Still more curious is the following:--A young elephant which had +accompanied its mother to the battle-field received a severe wound in +the head. Nothing could induce it to allow the injury to be attended +to. At length, by certain signs and words, the keeper explained to the +mother what was wanted. The sagacious animal immediately seized the +young one with her trunk, and, though it groaned with agony, held it to +the ground, while the surgeon was thus enabled to dress the wound. Day +after day she continued to act in the same way, till the wound was +perfectly healed. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +OXEN. + +The virtues of cows are more active than passive. I may sum them up by +saying that they are very affectionate mothers, and will sometimes, like +horses and dogs, find their way across the country to the spot where +they have been bred. + +THE PROUD COW. + +Mrs F--told me the following anecdote:--Her father had four cows, which +every evening, at milking-time, were driven from the field into their +byre. On their way they had to pass through the farmyard, when they +would endeavour to snatch as many mouthfuls of hay as they had time to +secure from the hay-stacks. One especially, who was accustomed to take +the lead of the other cows, was more particularly addicted to this +trick. She was thus sometimes the last to be driven into the byre. +When, however, she found that her three companions had entered before +her, nothing would induce her to follow them. She would stand with her +fore-legs just over the threshold, stretch forth her neck, and moo +angrily; but further than this, neither coaxing, blows, nor the barking +of the dog at her heels, would induce her to go. The contest always +ended in the rest of the cows being driven out; when she would at once +take the lead, and walk quietly into her stall without the least +persuasion. The dairy-maid called her the Proud Cow. + +Another Irish cow has been known to act in a similar manner. + +So her pride brought Mistress Cow many a whack on the back. Depend on +it, if you stand on your dignity, you may often suffer, as she did. + +THE COW AND HER TORMENTOR. + +In my younger days, I had a companion who used to catch our tutor's cow +by the tail, and make her drag him at full speed round and round the +field. One day, when he was quietly walking along the path to church, +the cow espied him, and making chase, very nearly caught him with her +horns as he leaped over the nearest gate. + +I will tell you of another cow, which was frequently annoyed by a boy +amusing himself with throwing stones at her. She had borne his mischief +for some time, when at length, making after him, she hooked the end of +her horns into his clothes, lifted him from the ground, carried him out +of the field, and laid him down in the road. She then, satisfied with +the gentle punishment she had inflicted, returned calmly to her pasture. + +A COW SEEKING HER CALF. + +Cows have as much affection for their young as have other animals, and +it is piteous to hear them mooing when deprived of their calves. + +A cow had her calf taken from her, and left at Bushy Park, while she was +driven off to Smithfield to be sold. The following morning, when it was +supposed the cow was in London, she appeared at the gate of the yard in +which her calf was confined. Influenced by her love for her offspring, +she had broken out of the pen, passed through all the streets of the +suburbs without being stopped by the police, who naturally supposed, +from her quiet demeanour, that the drover must be at her heels; and once +in the country, had quickly traversed the twelve miles which took her to +her former home. It is probable that she traversed the same road to +Bushy which she had followed when being driven from that place to +Smithfield. + +In Africa, the Hottentot shepherds employ a species of cow to guard +their flocks of sheep. They keep the animals together with all the +sagacity of Scotch sheep-dogs, and will attack with the utmost bravery +any enemy attempting to injure them. + +What difficulties does true love overcome! If that poor dull cow could +feel such love for her offspring as to overcome the usual apathy of her +kind, what must be the feelings of a human mother towards her children! +Can you, then, ever carelessly wound yours by your misconduct? + +A SAVAGE BULL TAMED BY KINDNESS. + +A savage bull was kept in a farmyard constantly chained on account of +its fierceness. A gentleman who went to stay at the farm was an +especial object of dislike to the animal. One night, during a +tremendous storm of thunder and lightning, the bull was heard to roar +piteously, evidently alarmed at the strife of the elements. The +servants were ordered to lead the bull from its open shed into a close +stable, where it would be less exposed; but they were afraid to go. The +visitor, therefore, compassionating the animal, although it had shown +itself his determined foe, went out into the yard. Here he found the +bull lying on its back; having, in its struggles to get free, almost +torn the ring through the gristle of its nose. No sooner did he appear +than the creature rose, and by its fawning actions showed how delighted +it was to obtain the companionship of a human being. Now quiet as a +lamb, it allowed the stranger to lead it into the stable; and the next +morning, when he went to visit it, it endeavoured to express its +gratitude by rubbing its nose against him. + +From that day forward it always treated him as a friend, while it +remained as savage as before towards every one else. + +There are times when the most savage hearts can be touched. Wait for +them, and then apply the soothing balm of gentleness. + +THE FAITHFUL BUFFALO. + +Ferocious in aspect as is the long hairy-skinned buffalo--or properly +the bison--of America, and savage when attacked, yet it is capable of +devoted affection towards its own kind. + +A party of hunters were riding on the prairies, when two fine +buffalo-bulls were seen proceeding along the opposite side of a stream. +One of the hunters took aim at the nearest buffalo, which was crossing +with his haunches towards him. The ball broke the animal's right hip, +and he plunged away on three legs, the other hanging useless. The +hunter, leaping on his horse, put spurs to its flanks, and in three +minutes he and his companions were close on the bull. To his +astonishment, and the still greater surprise of two older hunters, the +unhurt bull stuck to his comrade's side without flinching. He fired +another shot, which took effect in the lungs of the first buffalo. The +second sheered off for a moment, but instantly returned to his friend. +The wounded buffalo became distressed, and slackened his pace. The +unwounded one not only retarded his, but coming to the rear of his +friend, stood with his head down, offering battle. + +Here indeed was devotion! The sight was, to all three of the hunters, a +sublime one. They could no more have accepted the challenge of this +brave creature, than they could have smitten Damon at the side of +Pythias. The wounded buffalo ran on to the border of the next marsh, +and, in attempting to cross, fell headlong down the steep bank. Not +till that moment, when courage was useless, did his faithful companion +seek his own safety in flight. The hunters took off their hats, and +gave three parting cheers, as he vanished on the other side of the wood. + +THE AFFECTIONATE BUFFALO-BULL. + +The cow-buffaloes are frequently attracted by a ruse of the Indians, +which they call "making a calf." One of the party covers himself with a +buffalo-skin, and another with the skin of a wolf. They then creep on +all-fours within sight of the buffaloes, when the pretended wolf jumps +on the back of the pretended calf, which bellows in imitation of the +real one, crying for assistance. + +A white man and an Indian were hunting together. At length a solitary +bull and cow were seen in the distance. After the Indian personating +the calf had bellowed a short time, the cow ran forward, and attempted +to spring towards the hunters; but the bull, seeming to understand the +trick, tried to stop her by running between them. The cow now dodged +and got round him, and ran within ten or fifteen yards of them, with the +bull close at her heels, when both men fired, and brought her down. The +bull instantly stopped short, and bending over her, tried to help her up +with his nose, evincing the most persevering affection for her; nor +could they get rid of him, so as to cut up the cow, without shooting him +also--a cruel reward to the noble animal for his conjugal affection. + +This account, which is mentioned by Mr Kane the artist, and that +previously given, show that these animals are capable of great affection +for each other, though in general they leave their wounded comrades to +shift for themselves. + +THE KIND OX AND THE SHEEP. + +I have to tell you of an instance of the benevolence of an ox. Oxen may +possess many virtues, but are not in the habit of making a parade of +them. Sheep are sometimes seized with fits, when they fall on their +back, and are unable of themselves to regain their legs. While in this +helpless position, they are sometimes attacked by birds of prey, which +tear out their eyes, and otherwise injure them. + +An unfortunate sheep had fallen in the way I have described, and was in +vain endeavouring to struggle to its feet, when an ox, grazing near, +observed what had happened. Going up to it, it carefully turned the +animal over on its side; and when it had regained its feet, walked away, +and went on feeding as before, satisfied that it had done what was +wanted. + +My young friends, try to help those in distress, though there may be as +much difference between you and them as between that ox and the sheep. + +THE COURAGEOUS BULL. + +I remember meeting with an account of a bull, which fed on the savannahs +of Central America. He had gored so many cattle, that he was at length +caught with a lasso, and to prevent him doing further mischief, the tips +of his horns were blunted. Some weeks after, a cow belonging to his +herd was found killed by a jaguar, and from the state of the bull's head +and neck, which were fearfully torn, it was evident that he had fought +bravely for the animals under his care. It was now seen that it would +have been wiser not to have deprived the defender of the herd of his +weapons. + +To enable him to do battle in future, he was secured, his wounds were +dressed, and his horns made sharp again. The body of the cow having +been preserved from the birds and beasts of prey during the day, the +gallant bull was turned out again in the evening. The jaguar, as was +expected, returned at night, when a furious battle took place. The next +morning the jaguar was found dead, pierced through and through, close by +the cow; while the bull, which stood near, bleeding from many a wound, +was seen to rush, ever and anon, against his now helpless antagonist. + +THE BRAVE BULL AND THE WISE PIG. + +A pig had been stolen by two men, who were driving it at night along an +unfrequented path in the neighbourhood of Rotherham. As the pig +squeaked loudly, they feared they might be betrayed, and were about to +kill it. The pig, however, struggled violently, and had already +received a wound, when it managed to escape into a neighbouring field, +squeaking still louder, and with the blood flowing from its wound. The +robbers, pursuing the pig, found themselves face to face with a large +bull, which had been till now grazing quietly. Apparently understanding +the state of affairs, and compassionating, it may be presumed, the pig, +he ran fiercely at the men, compelling them to fly for their lives. It +was only, indeed, by leaping desperately over a hedge, that they escaped +an ugly toss from the horns of the animal. + +In vain did they wait, in the hope of recovering the pig. Piggy, having +found a powerful friend, was too wise to desert him, and kept close to +his heels, till the crowing of the cocks in the neighbouring farms +warned the robbers to make their escape. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +SAVAGE AND OTHER ANIMALS. + +THE LION AND HIS KEEPER. + +The majestic step, the bold look, the grace and strength of the lion, +have obtained for him the title of "king of beasts." He is greatly +indebted, however, to the imagination of the poet for the noble +qualities which he is supposed to possess. He is, though capable of +gratitude towards those from whom he has received kindness, often +treacherous and revengeful, and Dr Livingstone considers him an arrant +coward. The stories, however, which I have to narrate, describe his +better qualities. + +Mrs Lee tells us of a lion which was kept in the menagerie at Brussels. +The animal's cell requiring some repairs, the keeper led him to the +upper portion of it, where, after playing with him for some time, they +both fell asleep. The carpenter, who was employed in the work below, +wishing to ascertain whether it was finished as desired, called the +keeper to inspect what he had done. Receiving no answer, he climbed up, +when, seeing the keeper and lion thus asleep side by side, he uttered a +cry of horror. His voice awoke the lion, which, gazing fiercely at him +for a moment, placed his paw on the breast of his keeper, and lay down +to sleep again. + +On the other attendants being summoned, they aroused the keeper, who, on +opening his eyes, appeared in no way frightened, but taking the paw of +the lion, shook it, and quietly led him down to the lower part of the +den. + +THE GENEROUS LION AND HIS ASSAILANTS. + +The custom existed till lately on the Continent of having combats +between wild animals and dogs, although they were very different from +the spectacles exhibited in the days of ancient Rome. + +It had been arranged that a battle should take place between a lion and +four large bull-dogs. The lion, released from his den, stood looking +round him in the arena, when the dogs were let loose. Three of them, +however, turned tail, one alone having the courage to attack him. The +lion, crouching down as the dog approached, stretched him motionless +with one stroke of his paw; then drawing the animal towards him, almost +concealed him with his huge fore-paws. It was believed that the dog was +dead. In a short time, however, it began to move, and was allowed by +the lion to struggle up on to its feet; but when the dog attempted to +run away, the lion, with two bounds, reached it, showing it how +completely it was in his power. + +Pity, or it may have been contempt, now seemed to move the heart of the +generous lion. He stepped back a few paces, and allowed the dog to +escape through the door opened for the purpose, while the spectators +uttered loud shouts of applause. + +THE GRATEFUL LION. + +A remarkably handsome African lion was being sent to the coast, where it +was to be placed on board ship, to be carried to France, when it fell +ill. Its keepers, supposing that it would not recover, left it to die +on the wild open side of the mountain which they were at the time +crossing. There it lay, on the point of perishing, when a traveller, +who had been shooting in the interior of the country, happened to pass +that way. Seeing the condition of the noble-looking animal, he gave it +some new milk from the goats which he had in his camp. The lion drank +it eagerly, and at once began to revive, showing his gratitude by +licking the hand of the benevolent stranger. The traveller continued +his kind offices to the poor beast, which, in consequence of his care, +completely recovered. + +When the traveller moved on, the lion accompanied his camp, and became +so attached to his benefactor that he followed him about everywhere, +taking food from his hand, and being in every respect as tame as a dog. + +THE TIGER AND HIS COMPANIONS. + +On one of her voyages from China, the _Pitt_, East Indiaman, had on +board, among her passengers, a young tiger. He appeared to be as +harmless and playful as a kitten, and allowed the utmost familiarity +from every one. He was especially fond of creeping into the sailors' +hammocks; and while he lay stretched on the deck, he would suffer two or +three of them to place their heads on his back, as upon a pillow. Now +and then, however, he would at dinner-time run off with pieces of their +meat; and though sometimes severely punished for the theft, he bore the +chastisement he received with the patience of a dog. His chief +companion was a terrier, with whom he would play all sorts of tricks-- +tumbling and rolling over the animal in the most amusing manner, without +hurting it. He would also frequently run out on the bowsprit, and climb +about the rigging with the agility of a cat. + +On his arrival in England, he was sent to the menagerie at the Tower. +While there, another terrier was introduced into his den. Possibly he +may have mistaken it for his old friend, for he immediately became +attached to the dog, and appeared uneasy whenever it was taken away. +Now and then the dangerous experiment was tried of allowing the terrier +to remain while the tiger was fed. Presuming on their friendship, the +dog occasionally ventured to approach him; but the tiger showed his true +nature on such occasions, by snarling in a way which made the little +animal quickly retreat. + +He had been in England two years, when one of the seamen of the _Pitt_ +came to the Tower. The animal at once recognised his old friend, and +appeared so delighted, that the sailor begged to be allowed to go into +the den. The tiger, on this, rubbed himself against him, licked his +hands, and fawned on him as a eat would have done. The sailor remained +in the den for a couple of hours or more, during which time the tiger +kept so close to him, that it was evident he would have some difficulty +in getting out again, without the animal making his escape at the same +time. The den consisted of two compartments. At last the keeper +contrived to entice the tiger to the inner one, when he closed the +slide, and the seaman was liberated. + +Great is the danger of associating with those of bad morals--pleasant +and friendly as they may seem. + +THE TIGRESS AND HER YOUNG. + +The tigress generally takes much less care of her young than does the +lioness of her whelps. Occasionally, however, she shows the same +maternal affection. + +Two young tiger cubs had been found by some villagers, while their +mother had been ranging in quest of prey. They were put into a stable, +where, during the whole night, they continued to make the greatest +possible noise. After some days, during which it was evident that their +mother had been searching for them in every direction, she at length +discovered the place where they were confined, and replied to their +cries with tremendous howlings. The keeper, fearing she would break +into the stable, and probably wreak her vengeance on his head, set the +cubs at liberty. She at once made her way to them, and before morning +had carried them off to an adjoining jungle. + +If that savage tigress could thus risk the loss of her life for the sake +of her cubs, think what must be your mother's love for you. Do you try +to repay her in some part for all her care and tenderness, by your +affection, by doing all she wishes, and what you know is right, whether +she sees you or not; trying not in any way to vex her, but to please her +in all things? + +THE WOLF AND HIS MASTER. + +Even a wolf, savage as that animal is, may, if caught young, and treated +kindly, become tame. + +A story is told of a wolf which showed a considerable amount of +affection for its master. He had brought it up from a puppy, and it +became as tame as the best-trained dog, obeying him in everything. +Having frequently to leave home, and not being able to take the wolf +with him, he sent it to a menagerie, where he knew it would be carefully +looked after. At first the wolf was very unhappy, and evidently pined +for its absent master. At length, resigning itself to its fate, it made +friends with its keepers; and recovered its spirits. + +Fully eighteen months had passed by, when its old master, returning +home, paid a visit to the menagerie. Immediately he spoke, the wolf +recognised his voice, and made strenuous efforts to get free. On being +set at liberty, it sprang forward, and leaped up and caressed him like a +dog. Its master, however, left it with its keepers, and three years +passed away before he paid another visit to the menagerie. +Notwithstanding this lapse of time, the wolf again recognised him, and +exhibited the same marks of affection. + +On its master again going away, the wolf became gloomy and desponding, +and refused its food, so that fears were entertained for its life. It +recovered its health, however, and though it suffered its keepers to +approach, exhibited the savage disposition of its tribe towards all +strangers. + +The history of this wolf shows you that the fiercest tempers may be +calmed by gentleness. + +FOXES: THEIR DOMESTIC HABITS. + +Arrant thieves as foxes are, with regard to their domestic virtues Mrs +F--assures me that they eminently shine. + +Both parents take the greatest interest in rearing and educating their +offspring. They provide, in their burrow, a comfortable nest, lined +with feathers, for their new-born cubs. Should either parent perceive +in the neighbourhood of their abode the slightest sign of human +approach, they immediately carry their young to a spot of greater +safety, sometimes many miles away. They usually set off in the twilight +of a fine evening. The papa fox having taken a survey all round, +marches first, the young ones march singly, and mamma brings up the +rear. On reaching a wall or bank, papa always mounts first, and looks +carefully around, rearing himself on his haunches to command a wider +view. He then utters a short cry, which the young ones, understanding +as "Come along!" instantly obey. All being safely over, mamma follows, +pausing in her turn on the top of the fence, when she makes a careful +survey, especially rearward. She then gives a responsive cry, answering +to "All right!" and follows the track of the others. Thus the party +proceed on their march, repeating the same precautions at each fresh +barrier. + +When peril approaches, the wary old fox instructs his young ones to +escape with turns and doublings on their path, while he himself will +stand still on some brow or knoll, where he can both see and be seen. +Having thus drawn attention to himself, he will take to flight in a +different direction. Occasionally, while the young family are +disporting themselves near their home, if peril approach, the parents +utter a quick, peculiar cry, commanding the young ones to hurry to +earth; knowing that, in case of pursuit, they have neither strength nor +speed to secure their escape. They themselves will then take to flight, +and seek some distant place of security. + +The instruction they afford their young is varied. Sometimes the +parents toss bones into the air for the young foxes to catch. If the +little one fails to seize it before it falls to the ground, the parent +will snap at him in reproof. If he catches it cleverly, papa growls his +approval, and tosses it up again. This sport continues for a +considerable time. + +As I have said, no other animals so carefully educate their young in the +way they should go, as does the fox. He is a good husband, an excellent +father, capable of friendship, and a very intelligent member of society; +but all the while, it must be confessed, an incorrigible rogue and +thief. + +Do not pride yourself on being perfect because you possess some good +qualities. Consider the many bad ones which counteract them, and strive +to overcome those. + +THE FOX AND THE WILD-FOWL. + +Mrs F--gave me the following account of the ingenious stratagem of a +fox, witnessed by a friend. + +He was lying one summer's day under the shelter of some shrubs on the +banks of the Tweed, when his attention was attracted by the cries of +wild-fowl, accompanied by a great deal of fluttering and splashing. On +looking round, he perceived a large brood of ducks, which had been +disturbed by the drifting of a fir branch among them. After circling in +the air for a little time, they again settled down on their +feeding-ground. + +Two or three minutes elapsed, when the same event again occurred. A +branch drifted down with the stream into the midst of the ducks, and +startled them from their repast. Once more they rose upon the wing, +clamouring loudly, but when the harmless bough had drifted by, settled +themselves down upon the water as before. This occurred so frequently, +that at last they scarcely troubled themselves to flutter out of the +way, even when about to be touched by the drifting bough. + +The gentleman, meantime, marking the regular intervals at which the fir +branches succeeded each other in the same track, looked for a cause, and +perceived, at length, higher up the bank of the stream, a fox, which, +having evidently sent them adrift, was eagerly watching their progress +and the effect they produced. Satisfied with the result, cunning +Reynard at last selected a larger branch of spruce-fir than usual, and +couching himself down on it, set it adrift as he had done the others. +The birds, now well trained to indifference, scarcely moved till he was +in the midst of them, when, making rapid snaps right and left, he +secured two fine young ducks as his prey, and floated forward +triumphantly on his raft; while the surviving fowls, clamouring in +terror, took to flight, and returned no more to the spot. + +THE LABOURER AND THE SLY FOX. + +A labourer going to his work one morning, caught sight of a fox +stretched out at full length under a bush. Believing it to be dead, the +man drew it out by the tail, and swung it about to assure himself of the +fact. Perceiving no symptoms of life, he then threw it over his +shoulder, intending to make a cap of the skin, and ornament his cottage +wall with the brush. While the fox hung over one shoulder, his mattock +balanced it on the other. The point of the instrument, as he walked +along, every now and then struck against the ribs of the fox, which, not +so dead as the man supposed, objected to this proceeding, though he did +not mind being carried along with his head downward. Losing patience, +he gave a sharp snap at that portion of the labourer's body near which +his head hung. The man, startled by this sudden attack, threw fox and +mattock to the ground, when, turning round, he espied the live animal +making off at full speed. + +THE FOX IN THE HEN-ROOST. + +I cannot help fancying that Irish foxes are even more cunning than their +brethren in other parts of the world, I have heard so many accounts of +their wonderful doings. + +Near Buttevant, where some of Mrs F--'s family resided, there happened +to be a hole in the thatch of the fowl-house. A fox, finding it out, +sprang down through the aperture, and slew and feasted all the night to +his heart's desire. The intruder, however, had not reflected that he +might be unable to secure his retreat by the way through which he had +entered--_facilis descensus averni_. + +To spring upward, especially after a heavy supper, was a laborious +effort; and no doubt the villain had grown sufficiently uneasy in his +mind before the early hour at which the farm-servant opened the door to +liberate the fowls. When the door was opened, the man beheld the +poacher in the midst of his slaughtered game. Cudgel in hand, he sprang +in and fastened the door behind him, ready for a duel with Master +Reynard at close quarters. But well the rascal knew that discretion is +the better part of valour, and that "He who fights and runs away, May +live to fight another day." + +So, after being hunted about the house for some time, he seized an +opportunity, when the man stooped to aim a decisive blow at him, to +spring upon his assailant's back, and thence leap through the aperture +in the roof, which he could not otherwise have reached. Thus he made +his escape. + +It would have been amusing to see the countenance or the man, when he +found his fancied victim vanish from his sight like the wizard of a +fairy tale. + +Cunning rogues often get trapped, like the fox, when they hope to enjoy +their spoil in security. Beware, when you have such an one to deal +with, that he does not spring on your back, and leave you to be +answerable for his crime. + +To you, my young friend, I would say--You cannot be too cautious in +dealing with what is wrong. You may fancy yourself able to cope with +it, but it may prove too cunning for you. Better keep out of its way, +till you have gained strength and wisdom. + +THE FOX IN A PLOUGH FURROW. + +The hero of Scotch story escaped from his foes by making his way down +the course of a stream, that no trace of his footsteps might be found. +Equally sagacious was an Irish fox, which, pursued by the hounds, was +seen by a farmer, while he was ploughing a field, to run along in the +furrow directly before him. While wondering how it was that the sly +creature was pursuing this course, he heard the cry of dogs, and turning +round, saw the whole pack at a dead stand, near the other end of the +field, at the very spot where Reynard had entered the newly-formed +trench. The fox had evidently taken this ingenious way of eluding +pursuit; and the farmer, admiring the cleverness of the animal, allowed +it to get off without betraying its whereabouts. + +THE FOX AND THE BADGER. + +Long live Old Ireland! A countryman was making his way along the bank +of a mountain stream in Galway, when he caught sight of a badger moving +leisurely along a ledge of rock on the opposite bank. The sound of the +huntsman's horn at the same moment reached his ears, followed by the +well-known cry of a pack of dogs. As he was looking round, to watch for +their approach, he caught sight of a fox making his way behind the +badger, among the rocks and bushes. The badger continued his course, +while the fox, after walking for some distance close in his rear, leaped +into the water. Scarcely had he disappeared, when on came the pack at +full speed, in pursuit. The fox, however, by this time was far away, +floating down the stream; but the dogs instantly set upon the luckless +badger and tore him to pieces, before they discovered that they had not +got Reynard in their clutches. + +Evil-doers seldom scruple to let others suffer, so that they may escape. +Keep altogether out of the places frequented by such. + +THE FOX AND THE HARES. + +I have still another story to tell about cunning Reynard. Daylight had +just broke, when a well-known naturalist, gun in hand, wandering in +search of specimens, observed a large fox making his way along the +skirts of a plantation. Reynard looked cautiously over the turf-wall +into the neighbouring field, longing evidently to get hold of some of +the hares feeding in it, well aware that he had little chance of +catching one by dint of running. After examining the different gaps in +the wall, he fixed on one which seemed to be the most frequented, and +laid himself down close to it, in the attitude of a cat watching a +mouse-hole. He next scraped a small hollow in the ground, to form a +kind of screen. Now and then he stopped to listen, or take a cautious +peep into the field. This done, he again laid himself down, and +remained motionless, except when occasionally his eagerness induced him +to reconnoitre the feeding hares. + +One by one, as the sun rose, they made their way from the field to the +plantation. Several passed, but he moved not, except to crouch still +closer to the ground. At length two came directly towards him. The +involuntary motion of his ears, though he did not venture to look up, +showed that he was aware of their approach. Like lightning, as they +were leaping through the gap, Reynard was upon them, and catching one, +killed her immediately. He was decamping with his booty, when a +rifle-ball put an end to his career. + +BIRDIE, THE ARCTIC FOX. + +I must tell you one more story about a fox, and a very interesting +little animal it was, though not less cunning than its relatives in +warmer regions. + +Mr Hayes, the Arctic explorer, had a beautiful little snow-white fox, +which was his companion in his cabin when his vessel was frozen up +during the winter. She had been caught in a trap, but soon became tame, +and used to sit in his lap during meals, with her delicate paws on the +cloth. A plate and fork were provided for her, though she was unable to +handle the fork herself; and little bits of raw venison, which she +preferred to seasoned food. When she took the morsels into her mouth, +her eyes sparkled with delight. She used to wipe her lips, and look up +at her master with a _coquetterie_ perfectly irresistible. Sometimes +she exhibited much impatience; but a gentle rebuke with a fork on the +tip of the nose was sufficient to restore her patience. + +When sufficiently tame, she was allowed to run loose in the cabin; but +she got into the habit of bounding over the shelves, without much regard +for the valuable and perishable articles lying on them. She soon also +found out the bull's-eye overhead, through the cracks round which she +could sniff the cool air. Close beneath it she accordingly took up her +abode; and thence she used to crawl down when dinner was on the table, +getting into her master's lap, and looking up longingly and lovingly +into his face, sometimes putting out her little tongue with impatience, +and barking, if the beginning of the repast was too long delayed. + +To prevent her climbing, she was secured by a slight chain. This she +soon managed to break, and once having performed the operation, she did +not fail to attempt it again. To do this, she would first draw herself +back as far as she could get, and then suddenly dart forward, in the +hope of snapping it by the jerk; and though she was thus sent reeling on +the floor, she would again pick herself up, panting as if her little +heart would break, shake out her disarranged coat, and try once more. +When observed, however, she would sit quietly down, cock her head +cunningly on one side, follow the chain with her eye along its whole +length to its fastening on the floor, walk leisurely to that point, +hesitating a moment, and then make another plunge. All this time she +would eye her master sharply, and if he moved, she would fall down on +the floor at once, and pretend to be asleep. + +She was a very neat and cleanly creature, everlastingly brushing her +clothes, and bathing regularly in a bath of snow provided for her in the +cabin. This last operation was her great delight. She would throw up +the white flakes with her diminutive nose, rolling about and burying +herself in them, wipe her face with her soft paws, and then mount to the +side of the tub, looking round her knowingly, and barking the prettiest +bark that ever was heard. This was her way of enforcing admiration; and +being now satisfied with her performance, she would give a goodly number +of shakes to her sparkling coat, then, happy and refreshed, crawl into +her airy bed in the bull's-eye, and go to sleep. + +Mr Hayes does not tell us what became of Birdie. I am afraid that her +fate was a sad one. + +THE POLAR BEAR AND HER CUBS. + +The monarch of the Arctic regions, the monstrous white bear there reigns +supreme. Savage and ferocious as is his consort, as well as he, she +shows the utmost affection for her young. I have a sad tale to tell. + +The crew of an exploring vessel in the Arctic Seas had killed a walrus, +and set fire to part of the blubber. The steam of the flesh drew from +afar towards it a she bear and her two cubs. Putting their noses to the +tempting mess, they began to eat it eagerly. The seamen, seeing this, +threw other pieces on the ice nearer to the ship. The bear incautiously +approached, carrying off the pieces, which she bestowed on her cubs, +and, though evidently famished, taking but a small portion herself. The +thoughtless sailors shot the two cubs, and again firing, wounded the +mother. Though she herself was barely able to crawl to the spot where +they lay, she carried to them the last lump of blubber, endeavouring to +make them eat it. Discovering that they were unable to do so, she +endeavoured to raise first one, and then the other; but in vain. She +now began to retreat; but her motherly feelings overcoming her, though +conscious of the danger she was running, she returned to where they lay, +moaning mournfully. Several times did she thus behave, when, seemingly +convinced that her young ones were cold and helpless, she cast a +reproachful glance towards the vessel whence the cruel bullets had +proceeded, and uttered a low growl of angry despair which might have +moved the hearts even of the most callous. A shower of musket bullets, +however, laid her low between her two cubs, and she died licking their +wounds. + +You cry "Shame" on the rough sailors for their cruelty. Yes, they acted +cruelly, because they were thoughtless of the feelings of the poor bear. +Ask yourself, dear young friend, if you are ever thoughtless of the +feelings of those who merit your tenderest love. If you are, cry +"Shame" on yourself, and endeavour in future to regard them first of all +things. + +THE HONEY-SEEKER AND THE BEAR. + +The Indian believes the bear to be possessed not only of a wonderful +amount of sagacity, but of feelings akin to those of human beings. +Though most species are savage when irritated, some of them occasionally +exhibit good-humour and kindness. + +A story is told of a man in Russia, who, on an expedition in search of +honey, climbed into a high tree. The trunk was hollow, and he +discovered a large cone within. He was descending to obtain it, when he +stuck fast. Unable to extricate himself, and too far from home to make +his voice heard, he remained in that uncomfortable position for two +days, sustaining his life by eating the honey. He had become silent +from despair, when, looking up, what was his horror to see a huge bear +above him, tempted by the same object which had led him into his +dangerous predicament, and about to descend into the interior of the +tree! + +Bears--very wisely--when getting into hollows of rocks or trees, go +tail-end first, that they may be in a position to move out again when +necessary. No sooner, in spite of his dismay, did the tail of the bear +reach him, than the man caught hold of it. The animal, astonished at +finding some big creature below him, when he only expected to meet with +a family of bees, against whose stings his thick hide was impervious, +quickly scrambled out again, dragging up the man, who probably shouted +right lustily. Be that as it may, the bear waddled off at a quick rate, +and the honey-seeker made his way homeward, to relate his adventure, and +relieve the anxiety of his family. + +THE GOOD-NATURED BEAR AND THE CHILDREN. + +The brown bear, which lives in Siberia, may be considered among the most +good-natured of his tribe. Mr Atkinson, who travelled in that country, +tells us that some peasants--a father and mother--had one day lost two +of their children, between four and six years of age. It was soon +evident that their young ones had wandered away to a distance from their +home, and as soon as this discovery was made they set off in search of +them. + +Having proceeded some way through the wilds, they caught sight in the +distance of a large animal, which, as they got nearer, they discovered +to be a brown bear; and what was their horror to see within its clutches +their lost young ones! Their sensations of dismay were exchanged for +astonishment, when they saw the children running about, laughing, round +the bear, sometimes taking it by the paws, and sometimes pulling it by +the tail. The monster, evidently amused with their behaviour, treated +them in the most affectionate manner. One of the children now produced +some fruit, with which it fed its shaggy playfellow, while the other +climbed up on its back, and sat there, fearlessly urging its strange +steed to move on. The parents gave way to cries of terror at seeing the +apparent danger to which their offspring were exposed. The little boy, +however, having slipped off the bear's back, the animal, hearing the +sound of their voices, left the children, and retreated quietly into the +forest. + +THE WISE HARE AND HER PURSUERS. + +I will now tell you a story of a very different animal--the timid little +hare--which has to depend for safety, not, like the bear, on strength, +but on speed and cunning. + +A poor little hare was one day closely pursued by a brace of greyhounds, +when, seeing a gate near, she ran for it. The bars were too close to +allow the hounds to get through, so they had to leap over the gate. As +they did so, the hare, perceiving that they would be upon her the next +instant, turned round, and ran again under the gate, where she had just +before passed. The impetus of the hounds had sent them a considerable +distance, and they had now to wheel about and leap once more over the +upper bar of the gate. Again she doubled, and returned by the way she +had come; and thus, going backwards and forwards, the dogs followed till +they were fairly tired out, while the little hare, watching her +opportunity, happily made her escape. + +You may learn a lesson even from this little hare, never to yield to +difficulties. Persevere, and you will surmount them at last. + +THE CUNNING WOLF. + +Two hundred years ago there were wolves in Ireland, and it appears that +they were as cunning as the foxes of the present day. + +A man, travelling, as was the custom in those times, on horseback, with +a sword by his side, was passing between two towns, some three miles +from each other, when he was attacked by a wolf. He drove him off with +his sword, but again and again the animal assaulted him. He had nearly +reached the town to which he was going, when he met a friend who was +unarmed, whom he told of the danger he had encountered; and, as he +believed himself now safe from attack, he gave him the sword for his +defence. The wolf had been watching this proceeding, evidently intent +on attacking the person who was travelling without a sword. When he saw +that the first he had attacked was now defenceless, he made after him at +full speed, and overtaking him before he got into the town, leaped upon +him, unarmed as he now was, and deprived him of life. + +When striving for an object, continue your efforts and be cautious, as +at the first, till you have gained it. + +THE TIGER AND THE PARIAH-DOG. + +I have told you of a friendship formed between a tiger and a dog. I +will now narrate another tale, which speaks well for the good feeling of +both animals. + +In India it is the cruel custom, when a wandering dog is found, to throw +it into a tiger's cage for the purpose of getting rid of it. It +happened that one of these pariah-dogs was thrust into the den of the +savage beast. The dog, however, instead of giving himself up for lost, +stood on the defensive in the corner of the cage, and whenever the tiger +approached, seized him by the lip or neck, making him roar piteously. +The tiger, savage for want of food, continued to renew the attack, with +the same result; till at length the larger animal began to show a +respect for the courage of the smaller one, and an understanding was +finally arrived at between them. + +At last a mess of rice and milk was put into the cage of the tiger, when +he invited the dog to partake of it, and instead of treacherously +springing on him, as some human beings would have done on their foe, +allowed him to feed in quiet. From that day the animals not only became +reconciled, but a strong attachment sprang up between them. The dog +used to run in and out of the cage, looking upon it as his home; and +when the tiger died, he long evidently mourned the loss of his friend +and former antagonist. + +Observe how that poor outcast dog, by his courage and perseverance, +preserved his life, and indeed gained a victory, in spite of the fierce +assaults of his savage foe. Will you act less courageously when +attacked by the ridicule, the abuse, or the persuasions of those who may +try to drag you from the path of duty? + +THE DOE-CHAMOIS AND HER YOUNG. + +The agile inhabitant of the lofty Alps--the graceful chamois--shows the +greatest affection for her young. + +A Swiss hunter, while pursuing his dangerous sport, observed a mother +chamois and her two kids on a rock above him. They were sporting by her +side, leaping here and there around her. While she watched their +gambols, she was ever on the alert lest an enemy should approach. + +The hunter, climbing the rock, drew near, intending, if possible, to +capture one of the kids alive. No sooner did the mother chamois observe +him, than, dashing at him furiously, she endeavoured to hurl him with +her horns down the cliff. The hunter, knowing that he might kill her at +any moment, drove her off, fearing to fire, lest the young ones should +take to flight. + +He was aware that a deep chasm existed beyond them, by which he believed +the escape of the animals to be cut off. What was his surprise, +therefore, when he saw the old chamois approach the chasm, and, +stretching out her fore and hind-legs, thus form with her body a bridge +across it! + +As soon as she had done this, she called on her young ones, and they +sprang, one at a time, on her back, and reached the other side in +safety! By a violent effort, she sprang across after them, and soon +conducted her charges beyond the reach of the hunter's bullets. + +Trust your mother: she, in most cases, will find means to help you out +of trouble. + +THE CAPTURED WOLF. + +I have very little to say in favour of wolves. They are generally as +cowardly in their adversity as they are savage when at liberty. I give +you the following story, however, which I believe to be true. + +An English sportsman had been hunting during the winter in Hungary. He +was returning in a sleigh one evening to the village where he was to +remain for the night, the peasant owning the sleigh sitting behind, and +a boy driving. As they passed the corner of a wood, a wolf was seen to +rush out of it and give chase. The peasant shouted to the boy, "A wolf, +a wolf! Drive on, drive on!" Obeying the order, with whip and shout +the boy urged the horses to full speed. One glance round showed him the +savage animal close behind. The wolf was gaining upon them fast. The +village was scarcely two hundred yards off! The owner, however, saw +that the wolf would be upon them before they could reach it. +Frantically they shouted, pursuing their impetuous career. + +Taking another glance behind him, the peasant saw the fierce, panting +beast about to make his fatal spring. A thought struck him. Seizing +the thick sheep-skin which covered the sleigh, he threw it over his +head. Scarcely had he done so when the wolf sprang upon his back, and +gripped hold of the skin. In an instant more it would have been torn +from him, when, raising both his hands, he grasped the wolf's head and +neck with all his strength, hugging him with an iron clutch to his +shoulders. "On--on!" he shouted to the almost paralysed driver. The +courageous fellow still holding his fierce assailant in a death-gripe, +the sleigh swept into the village. The inhabitants, hearing the shouts, +rushed forth from their huts, and seeing the perilous condition of their +friends, gave chase with axes in their hands. No sooner had the boy +slackened the speed of his horses, than the men rushed at the savage +animal, still held captive, and quickly despatched it. Not without +difficulty, however, could the brave peasant, after the exertion he had +undergone, loosen his arms from the neck of the wolf. + +THE TAME OTTER. + +The otter, although not so expert an architect as the beaver, appears to +possess more sagacity. A fine one, caught in Scotland, became so tame, +that whenever it was alarmed it would spring for protection into the +arms of its master. + +It had also been taught to fish for his benefit; and so dexterous was it +at this sport, that it would catch several fine salmon during the day, +in a stream near his house. It could fish as well in salt water as in +fresh. Bravely it would buffet the waves of the ocean, and swim off in +chase of cod-fish, of which it would in a short time catch large +numbers. + +When fatigued by its exertions, nothing would induce it to re-enter the +water. On such occasions it received a part of the produce of the sport +for its own share; and after having satisfied itself, it would fall +asleep, and was generally in that condition carried home, to resume its +labours on another day. + +Though you may be very young and small, you may, if you try, help those +much older and bigger than yourself. + +THE OTTER AND HER YOUNG ONES. + +I have another story about an otter, which lived in the Zoological +Gardens in London. The otter-pond, surrounded by a wall, was on one +occasion only half-full of water, when the otter for whose use it was +intended had a pair of young ones. They, happening to fall into the +water, were unable to climb up its steep sides. The mother, afraid that +they would be drowned, endeavoured in vain, by stooping over the wall, +to drag them out. At last she jumped in, and after playing with them +for a short time, was seen to put her head to the ear of one of the +little creatures. This was to tell her child what she wanted it to do. +Directly after, she sprang out of the pond, while her young one caught +hold of the fur at the root of her tail; and while it clung tightly to +her, she dragged it out, and placed it safely on the dry ground. She +then again plunged in, and in the same way dragged out her other young +one. + +I am very sure that your parents will help you out of any difficulty +into which you may fall; but then you must do as they tell you, thus +following the example of the young otters. + +THE WISE BEAVER. + +You have often heard of the wonderful way in which beavers in America +construct their habitations and dams. They seem, however, in these +operations, to be influenced by instinct rather than by reason. I will +tell you of a beaver which lived in captivity in France. + +To supply him with nourishment, all sorts of things--fruits, vegetables, +and small branches of trees--were thrown to him. His keepers, knowing +that he came from a cold climate, bestowed little care, however, in +keeping him warm. Winter coming on, one night large flakes of snow were +driven by the wind into a corner of his cage. The poor beaver, who, in +his own country, forms a remarkably warm house for himself, almost +perished with the cold. If man would not help him, he must try and help +himself to build a cell which would shelter him from the icy blast. The +materials at his disposal were the branches of trees given him to gnaw. +These he interwove between the bars of his cage, filling up the +interstices with the carrots and apples which had been thrown in for his +food. Besides this, he plastered the whole with snow, which froze +during the night; and next morning it was found that he had built a wall +of considerable height, which perfectly answered his purpose. + +Make the best of the means at your disposal, as well as of the talents +you possess. + +THE RAT AND THE SWAN. + +Rats, in their ferocity, partake of the character of the wolf, and in +their cunning, of that of the fox. + +A great flood occurred some years ago in the north of England; and as a +number of people were collected on the banks of the Tyne, whose waters +had risen to an unusual height, a swan was seen swimming across the +flood. On its back was a black spot, visible among its white plumage. +As the swan came nearer, this was found to be a live rat. No sooner had +the swan, after bravely breasting the foaming torrent, reached the +shore, than the rat leaped off and scampered away. Probably it had been +carried into the water, and, unable to swim to land, on seeing the swan +had sought refuge on its back, thus escaping a watery grave. + +As the swan did, help those incapable of helping themselves, though you +dislike their appearance and character. They may not have had the +advantages you possess. + +THE RATS AND THE WINE-CASK. + +An old lady, wealthy and hospitable, lived in a large house, with +several servants to attend on her. Although no terrific murder or other +dark deed was ever known to have been perpetrated in the house, report +said it was haunted. Undoubtedly, noises were heard in the lower part +of the mansion. Night after night unearthly sounds arose after the +domestics had retired to their chambers. At last the old lady, +determined to resist this invasion of her domestic peace, told her +servants to arm themselves with such weapons as they could obtain, she +herself sitting up with a brace of loaded pistols before her. This +proceeding had the desired effect. The ghostly visitants, if such they +were, ceased from their nocturnal revels. All remained silent till +cock-crow. Night after night the brave old dame heroically watched, but +no ghosts came. + +To celebrate her victory, she invited a number of guests, and determined +to broach a cask of long-hoarded Madeira. With keys in hand, attended +by the butler, she entered the cellar; the spill was pulled out from the +cask, the cock duly inserted, but no wine came. The butler tapped; a +hollow sound was the return. On applying a light, teeth-marks were +visible at the very lowest part of the staves. + +By rats alone could such marks have been made. What a band of thirsty +topers must have been employed in the nefarious burglary! No doubt it +was the rats, inebriated by such unusual potations, which had caused the +mysterious uproar. Be that as it may, the lady lost her wine; and the +cask was placed in the museum of Mr Buckland, who tells the tale, and +there it stands to corroborate its truth. + +It is said that rats will insert their tails into oil-flasks, and allow +each other in turn to suck off the liquid thus obtained. + +THE MOUSE AND THE HONEY-POT. + +Mice, I suspect, are fully as sagacious as rats; perhaps they are more +so. In their foraging expeditions what cleverness do they exhibit! +When one or two have been caught in a trap, how careful are the rest of +the community not to be tempted by the treacherous bait. + +A honey-pot had been left in a closet, from the wall of which some of +the loose plaster had fallen down. In the morning, the honey being +wanted, the pot was found with a considerable portion abstracted. +Outside of it was a heap of mortar reaching to the edge, forming an +inclined plane, while inside a similar structure had been raised with +the loose plaster. From the marks on the shelf, it was clearly the work +of a mouse; which had thus, by means of a well-designed structure, +obtained entrance and exit. + +If a little mouse, to gain its object, which you deem a wrong one, can +employ so much intelligence, how much more should you exert your +superior faculties to attain a right object. + +THE EWE WHICH RETURNED TO HER OLD HOME. + +I have told you of dogs making their way from one end of the country to +the other in search of their masters, and of horses traversing wide +districts to the pastures where they were bred, but you would scarcely +expect to hear of a sheep performing a long journey to return to the +home of her youth. + +A ewe, bred in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, was driven into +Perthshire, a distance of upwards of one hundred miles. She remained +some time at the place, and there became the mother of a lamb. She took +a dislike to her new home, and thoughts of her early days stealing upon +her, she came to the resolution of returning to the scenes of her youth. + +Calling her lamb, she one night set off southward. Often she was +compelled to hurry on her young one with impatient bleatings. She took +the highroad, along which she had been driven. Reaching Stirling early +in the morning, she discovered that an annual fair was taking place, and +that the town was full of people. Unwilling to venture among them for +fear of being caught, or losing her lamb, she waited patiently outside +till the evening, lying close by the roadside. Many people saw her, but +believing her owner was near, did not molest her. During the early +hours of the morning she got safely through, observed by several people, +and evidently afraid lest the dogs prowling about the town might injure +her young one. + +Arriving at length at the toll-bar of Saint Ninians, she was stopped by +the toll-keeper, who supposed her to be a stray sheep. She escaped him, +however, and several times when the gate was opened endeavoured, with +the lamb at her heels, to make her way through. He each time drove her +back. She at length turned round, and appeared to be going the way she +came. She had, however, not abandoned her intention, for she either +discovered a more circuitous road to the south side of the gate, or made +her way through; for on a Sabbath morning early in June she arrived at +the farm where she had been bred,--having been nine days on her journey. + +So delighted was her former owner with this exhibition of affection for +the farm, and with her wonderful memory, that he offered her purchaser +the price he had received; and to the day of her death--when she had +reached the mature age, for a sheep, of seventeen years--she remained a +constant resident on her native farm. + +THE EWE AND HER LAMB. + +There is another story about a ewe which I should like to tell you, and +which shows the affection she had for her young. + +A lamb, frisking about near its mother, contrived to spring into a thick +hedge, in which its coat was so firmly held that it could not escape. +The ewe, after vainly trying to rescue her young one, ran off with +violent bleatings towards a neighbouring field, breaking in her way +through several hedges, to where there was a ram, and communicated to +him the disaster. He at once returned with her, and by means of his +horns quickly pushed the young creature out of the thorny entanglement +in which it had been entrapped. + +THE TWO WISE GOATS. + +On the crumbling walls of the romantic ruins of Caernarvon Castle, some +years ago, two agile goats were seen,--now leaping over a rugged gap, +now climbing some lofty pinnacle, now browsing on the herbage +overhanging the perilous paths. Presently they approached each other +from opposite ends of one of the narrow intersecting walls. When they +met, finding that there was no room to pass, they surveyed each other +face to face for some minutes in perfect stillness. Each had barely +standing ground for his own feet. However, they tossed their heads with +menacing looks, often making slight feints of butting or pushing +forward; but they took care not to come into actual contact, knowing +well that the slightest force might precipitate one or both from their +perilous position. Neither could they attempt to walk backward or turn +round on so narrow a spot. Thus they again stood quite still for above +an hour, occasionally uttering low sounds, but neither of them moving. + +At length they appeared to have settled the difficult point as to which +of the two should give way. The one which appeared the youngest lay +quietly down, while the other walked calmly over him, and pursued his +path contentedly. + +Their example might well be followed by human beings in many of the +affairs of life, where a contest must prove destructive to both. Many a +bloody war might be averted, did nations imitate the example of these +two animals. Not, however, by bowing the neck to the yoke of a +conqueror, but by amicably settling differences. How many law-suits +might also be avoided by the same means. + +And you, my young friends, understand that there is far more true +magnanimity and courage exhibited in giving way to others than in +battling for doubtful rights and privileges. + +THE AFFECTIONATE SEAL. + +If you have ever examined the head of a seal, with its large gentle +eyes, you will readily believe that the animal possesses a certain +amount of intellect, and is capable of very affectionate feelings. + +The story I am about to tell you is a very sad one. Perhaps you will +recollect the seal in the Zoological Gardens, which used to come out of +its pond at the call of the French sailor to whom it belonged, and, +climbing up while he sat on a chair, put its fins round his neck and +give him a kiss. How it immediately obeyed him when he told it to go +back to the water, and how adroitly it used to catch the fish which he +threw to it. I remember also hearing of a seal in Shetland which would +return with its prey in its mouth on being summoned by the owner. + +But the seal I am going to tell you about belonged to a gentleman in the +west of Ireland, near the sea. This seal was so tame, and so attached +to its master, that it would follow him about like a dog, and seemed +much pleased whenever allowed to lick his hand. + +People in that part of the country are sadly ignorant and superstitious. +Two bad harvests having succeeded each other, the foolish inhabitants +took it into their heads that the disaster was caused by the innocent +seal. So many were the complaints they made, some people even +threatening the owner, that, fearing the life of his favourite would be +endangered, he was obliged to consent to its being sent away. Having +been put on board a boat, it was taken to some distance and then thrown +into the sea. Very shortly afterwards, however, it found its way back +to its beloved master. Still anxious to preserve the animal's life, he +consented to its being again carried away to a greater distance; but +once more it returned. This made the ignorant people more certain than +ever that the poor seal was some evil being. + +Again it was put on board a boat, the crew of which rowed to a much +greater distance than before, determining that the poor seal should +trouble them no more. Though following the injunctions of their master +not to kill it, they cruelly put out its eyes, and then threw it +overboard, to perish in the wide ocean, as they believed. Some time +passed, when one stormy night the gentleman heard above the moaning +sounds of the gale the plaintive cry of his favourite close to his +house. He went to the door, and, opening it, there lay the body of the +affectionate animal quite dead. Though deprived of its sight, it had +found its way back to the shore on which its master's house stood, and +exerting all its strength, had crawled up to the door; thus exhibiting +an amount of affection for its human friend such as can scarcely exist +in a greater degree in the breast of any animal. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +BIRDS. + +When we observe the small heads and unmeaning eyes of birds, we do not +expect to find any great amount of intellect among them. They are, +however, moved by the same passions and feelings as larger animals, and +occasionally exhibit thought and reasoning power. I suspect, indeed, +could we understand their language, that we should find they can talk to +each other, and express their meaning as well as others of the brute +creation. + +THE GANDER AND THE BANTAM-COCK. + +A goose was seated on her eggs in a quiet corner, not far from a +horse-pond, in a farmyard. Up and down before her strode a game-cock, +which, watching the calm looks and contented manner of the goose, which +contrasted so greatly with his own fiery disposition, began to get +angry,--just as human beings who are out of sorts sometimes do with +those who appear happy and smiling. At last, working himself into a +downright passion, he flew at the poor goose, pecked out one of her +eyes, and while she was attempting to defend herself, trampled on and +destroyed several of her eggs. The gander, which was waddling about on +the other side of the pond, on seeing what was taking place hastened to +the aid of his consort, and attacked the savage cock. The cock of +course turned upon him, and a desperate battle ensued. The two +combatants, after a time, drew off from each other, both probably +claiming the victory. + +For some days after this, the cock, taught prudence, allowed the goose +to remain in quiet, the gander watching him narrowly. The latter at +last, trusting to the lesson he had given the cock, wandered away for +provender to a distant part of the yard. No sooner was he gone than the +cock, which had all the time been waiting for an opportunity, again +assaulted the poor goose. Her loud cries were fortunately heard by the +gander, which came tearing along with outstretched wings to her +assistance, and seizing the cock by the neck, before the angry bird +could turn his head, he hauled him along to the pond. In he plunged, +and soon had him in deep water. "I am more than your master now," +thought the gander, as he ducked the cock under the surface; "I will +take care you shall never more interfere with my dear goose." And again +and again, he ducked the cock, keeping his head each time longer under +water, till at last his struggles ceased, and he was drowned. + +It is sinful to harbour the slightest feeling of revenge in our hearts; +yet those who attack others unable to defend themselves, either by word +or deed, must expect to receive deserved punishment from the more +powerful friends of their victims. + +THE FARMER AND HIS GOOSE. + +A Cheshire farmer had a large flock of geese. As he was passing through +the yard one day, one of the geese quitted its companions and stalked +after him. Why it did so he could never tell, as he had shown it no +more attention than the rest of the flock. The following day the goose +behaved in the same way; and at length, wherever he went--to the mill, +the blacksmith's shop, or even through the bustling streets of the +neighbouring town--the goose followed at his heels. When he went to +church, he was obliged to shut up the goose. + +While ploughing his fields, the goose would walk sedately before him, +with firm step, and head and neck erect--frequently turning round and +fixing its eyes upon him. One furrow completed, and the plough turned, +the goose, without losing step, would adroitly wheel about; and would +thus behave, till it followed its master home. + +Even in the house, as he sat by the fire in the evening, it would mount +on his lap, nestle its head in his bosom, and preen his hair with its +beak, as it was wont to do its own feathers. + +Even when he went out shooting, the goose followed like a dog, getting +over the fences as well as he could himself. + +It is sad to think that gross superstition was the cause of the death of +the faithful bird. The ignorant farmer afterwards killed it, fancying +that the mysterious affection of the goose boded him some evil. + +Take warning from the fate of the poor goose, and do not bestow your +affection on those who seem unworthy of it, however clever or powerful +they may be. + +THE BLIND WOMAN AND HER GANDER. + +Bishop Stanley, who mentions the story, heard of an aged blind woman who +used to be led every Sunday to church by a gander, which took hold of +her gown with its bill. When she had seated herself, it retired to +graze in the churchyard till she came out again, and then it would lead +her safely home. + +One day the clergyman called at her house, and expressed his surprise to +the daughter that the mother should venture abroad. She replied: "O +sir, we are not afraid of trusting her out of sight, for the gander is +with her." + +When a poor despised goose can thus make itself of so much use, how much +more should you try to become useful. + +THE PRISONER SET FREE. + +Mrs F--, who has had much experience with poultry, considers them very +sensible and kind-hearted birds. The leg of a young duck had been +broken by an accident. She placed it in splints, and put the bird under +a small crate, on a patch of grass, to prevent its moving about till it +had recovered. It was one of a large family; and in a short time its +relatives gathered round the prisoner, clamouring their condolence in +every variety of quacking intonation. They forced their necks under the +crate, evidently trying to raise it, and thus liberate the captive; but +the effort was beyond their strength. Convinced, at length, of this, +after clamouring a little more they marched away in a body, while the +prisoner quietly sat down and appeared resigned. + +A short time afterwards a great deal of quacking was heard, and a +regiment of upwards of forty ducks was seen marching into the yard, +headed by two handsome drakes, known by the names of Robin Hood and +Friar Tuck. Evidently with a preconceived purpose, they all marched up +to the crate and surrounded it. Every neck was thrust beneath the +lowest bar of the prison; every effort was made to raise it,--but in +vain. At length a parley ensued. Then the noise ceased. Only the +deep-toned quacking of Robin Hood was heard, when their object became +clear. All the tribe gathered together on one side of the crate, the +strongest in front; and as many as could reach it thrust their necks +beneath the crate, while the rest pushed them forward from behind. Thus +they succeeded in overturning the crate, and setting free their +imprisoned friend. With clamourous rejoicings from the whole troop, the +liberated duck limped off in their midst. + +These sensible ducks teach us the important lesson that union is +strength. Not that they, you will agree with me, showed their wisdom +exactly in liberating their companion, who was placed in confinement for +his benefit. However, remember through life how much you may effect in +a good cause by sinking all minor differences, and uniting with others +like-minded with yourself. + +THE TWO SPORTING FRIENDS. + +My children have a black dog and a jackdaw; and though the bird shows a +preference for human companionship, when he cannot obtain that he hops +off to the dog's kennel, on the top of which he sits, talking to his +four-footed friend in his own fashion; and the dog seems well-pleased to +receive his visits. I fully expect, some day, to have some curious tale +to tell about them. + +In the meantime, I will tell you of a raven which had been brought up +with a dog in Cambridgeshire. They had formed an alliance, offensive +and defensive, and could certainly interchange ideas. The dog was fond +of hares and rabbits, and the raven had no objection to a piece of game +for his dinner. Being both at liberty, they used to set out together +into the country to hunt. The dog would enter a cover and drive out the +hares or rabbits, when the raven, which was watching outside, would +pounce down on the animals as they rushed from the thicket, and hold +them till the dog came to its assistance. They thus managed to obtain +their desired feast--indeed, they were probably more successful than +many human sportsmen. + +THE TWO HENS. + +In Mrs F--'s poultry-yard, some duck-eggs had been placed under a +Dorking hen. A few days afterwards, a bantam began to sit on her own +eggs--the nests being close together. In the accustomed twenty-one days +the bantams were hatched and removed; but after the usual thirty days +required for hatching the duck-eggs had passed, none appeared, and so +the Dorking hen was taken away and the nest destroyed. Although ten +days had elapsed since the hatching of the bantam's eggs, the Dorking +hen remembered her neighbour's good fortune, and tried to get possession +of her brood--calling the little ones, feeding them, and fighting to +keep them; but the true mother would by no means consent to resign her +rights. To prevent the interference of the Dorking, she was shut up for +several days; but directly she was liberated, she again flew to the +little chickens and acted as before. + +Two Muscovy ducklings having just been hatched under another hen, they +were offered, as a consolation for her disappointment, to the Dorking; +and such was her desire for maternity that she instantly adopted them. +To prevent further trouble, she and her charges were sent to a +neighbouring house. A fortnight later other ducks were hatched, and as +it seemed a pity to waste the time of the banished hen with two +ducklings only, they were sent for home. The little Muscovies were +placed with their own brethren, and the hen turned loose among the rest +of the poultry, it being supposed impossible that she would still +recollect the past. Her memory, however, was more tenacious than any +one fancied. Once more she hastened to the bantams, and lavished her +care on the tiny things, of whom only three were surviving. The bantam +mother, on this, appeared satisfied to regard her as a friend. They +disputed no longer, but jointly and equally lavished their cares and +caresses on the three chicks. + +Here is not only a curious example of tenacity of memory, but it is the +only instance of friendship Mrs F--has ever known to exist amongst +gallinaceous fowl. + +Do not be jealous of another's success, but try rather to assist and +support a rival, if your services are acceptable. + +THE WILD TURKEY AND THE DOG. + +Audubon, the American naturalist, whose statements we can thoroughly +trust, once possessed a fine male turkey of the wild breed common in the +Western States. He had reared the bird till it became so tame that it +would follow any one who called it. He had also a favourite spaniel, +which became thoroughly intimate with the turkey, and the two might +constantly have been seen running side by side. When the bird was about +two years old, it would fly into the forest, and occasionally remain +away for several days together. + +It happened one day, after it had been absent for some time, that as +Audubon was walking through the forest at some distance from his home, +he saw a turkey get up before him, but he did not recognise it as his +own. Wishing to secure it for the table, he ordered his dog to make +chase. Off went the spaniel at full speed; but the bird, instead of +flying away, remained quietly on the ground till its pursuer came up. +The dog was then about to seize it, when Audubon saw the former suddenly +stop, and turn her head towards him. On hastening up, he discovered, +greatly to his surprise, that the turkey was his own. Recognising the +spaniel, it had not flown away from her, as it would have done from a +strange dog. + +Unhappily, the turkey, again leaving home to range through the forest, +was mistaken for a wild one, and accidentally shot. Audubon recognised +it by a red ribbon being brought him which he had placed round its neck. +Do not forget old friends or former worthy companions, however humble, +but treat them with kindness and consideration. + +THE BRAVE HEN. + +A Spanish hen, in Mrs F--'s poultry-yard, was sitting on her nest in +the hatching-house, which had a small window, through which a person +might look to see that all was right. As the hens were usually fed upon +their nests, the ground was strewed with corn, which tempted the rats +and mice. The hens used frequently to punish the mice by a sharp tap on +the head with their beak, which laid them to rest for ever. + +One day Mrs F--was looking through the window, when she saw a +middle-sized rat peering forth from its hole. The rat scrambled into +the upper range of boxes, where sat the Spanish hen, and then remained +awhile still as a mouse. The hen evidently saw him, but she sat close, +her head drawn back and kept low on the shoulder, her eyes nearly +closed. She clearly feigned to be asleep. The rat, deceived, advanced +a few steps, and then sat on his haunches, looking and listening with +all his might. Again he moved, again paused, then sprang into one +corner of the nest, grappling an egg with his fore-paws at the same +instant. The hen had never stirred all the time; but now, suddenly +throwing forward her head, she seized her foe by the nape of the neck; +then, without withdrawing her bill, she pressed down his head repeatedly +with all her force. She then gave an extra peck or two, half rose, +settled her eggs beneath her again, and seemed happy; and before her lay +a half-grown rat, quite dead. + +This was, indeed, calm courage. Imitate, if you can, this brave hen. +Endeavour to be cool and collected when danger approaches. + +THE GALLANT SWAN AND HIS FOE. + +Swans show much bravery, especially in defending their young; indeed, +from their size, they are able to do battle with the largest of the +feathered tribe. They have been known also to attack people who have +ventured nearer their cygnets than they liked. + +I remember a lady being attacked by a swan on the banks of a lake, in +the grounds of a relative of mine. She had to take to flight, and was +met running along the path crying for aid, with the swan, its wings +outstretched, in full chase after her. + +THE RAVEN AND THE BIRD-TRAP. + +Only lately, a person paddling in a canoe near Chelmsford approached a +nest of cygnets, when the parent swan swam out, and seizing the bow of +the canoe, nearly upset it. The paddler had to back out of the way, +with difficulty escaping the violent assaults of the enraged bird. + +One morning, as a family of cygnets were assembled on the banks of one +of the islands in the Zoological Gardens of London, and the parent birds +were swimming about watching their little ones, a carrion-crow, thinking +that the old birds were too far off to interfere with him, pounced down +on one of the cygnets. The father swan, however, had his eye on the +marauder, and, darting forward, seized him with his bill. The crow in +vain struggled to get free. The swan, like the gander I before +mentioned, dragged the felon towards the lake, and plunging him under +water, held him there till his caws sounded no longer. + +Be brave and bold in defence of the helpless, especially of those +committed to your charge. + +THE RAVEN AND THE BIRD-TRAP. + +Ravens are supposed to be the most cunning and sagacious of birds. They +are knowing fellows, at all events. + +Some schoolboys in Ireland used frequently to set traps for catching +birds. A tame raven belonging to their family frequently watched the +proceedings of the young gentlemen, and it occurred to him that he had +as much right to the birds as they had. When, therefore, they were out +of the way, he would fly down to the trap and lift the lid; but as he +could not hold it up and seize his prey at the same time, the bird +invariably escaped. + +Not far off lived another tame raven, with which he was on visiting +acquaintance. After having vainly attempted on frequent occasions to +get the birds out of the trap by himself, he one day observed another +poor bird caught. Instead, however, of running the risk of opening the +trap as before, he hastened off to his acquaintance. The two ravens +then came back to the trap, and while one lifted the lid, the other +seized the poor captive. They then divided their prize between them. + +When you see rogues like these two ravens agree, do you not feel ashamed +when you take so little pains to assist your companions in doing what is +right? We are placed in this world to help one another. + +THE FACETIOUS RAVEN. + +A large dog was kept chained in a stable-yard, in the roof of one of the +out-buildings of which a raven had his abode. The dog and bird had +become great friends. Yet the latter could not help amusing himself at +the expense of his four-footed companion. Sometimes he would snatch a +piece of food from the dog's pan, often when he did not wish to eat it +himself. As the dog submitted without complaint at first, the raven +would come again and take another piece away, then bring it back just +within reach, and dangle it over the dog's nose. As soon as he opened +his mouth to catch it, the raven would dart off again out of his reach. + +At other times he would hide a piece just beyond the length of the dog's +chain, and then, with a cunning look, perch upon his head. + +Yet, mischievous as he was, the bird would never altogether run away +with the quadruped's food, but would after a while return it, with the +exception of any small bit which he might wish to keep for himself. +These tricks in no way offended the good-natured dog. He showed a +remarkable instance of his affection, when on one occasion the raven +happened to tumble into a tub of water, just beyond his range. Seeing +the poor bird struggling, he exerted all his strength, and dragged his +heavy kennel forward till he could put his head over the edge of the +tub, when he took the raven up in his mouth and laid him gently on the +ground to recover. + +THE ARCTIC RAVEN. + +Ravens vie with our brave Arctic explorers in the wide circuit they make +in their wanderings. + +When Captain McClure was frozen up in the ice, during his last +expedition to the North Pole, two ravens settled themselves near his +ship, for the sake of obtaining the scraps of food thrown to them by the +seamen. A dog belonging to the ship, however, regarding their pickings +as an encroachment on his rights, used, as they drew near, to rush +forward and endeavour to seize them with his mouth; but the ravens were +too cunning to be entrapped in that manner. No sooner were the +mess-tins cleared out than they would approach, and as he sprang after +them, would fly a few yards off, and there keep a sharp eye on his +movements. Having enticed him to a distance, they would fly rapidly +towards the ship, with a chuckle of satisfaction; and before the dog +arrived, all the best bits had been secured by his cunning rivals. + +THE EAGLE'S NEST. + +Magnificent as the eagle is in appearance, he certainly does not, on the +score of intellect, deserve the rank he holds as king of birds. Except +that he will fight bravely now and then for his young, I know of no good +quality he possesses. + +A countryman in the Highlands, to whose farmyard an eagle had paid +several unwelcome visits, carrying off ducklings and chickens, +determined to have his revenge. Sallying forth, gun in hand, he climbed +up the rocky side of a neighbouring mountain, when he saw, high above +him, the nest of the eagle. Shouting loudly, he discovered that neither +of the parents were at home. Taking off his shoes, he was ascending +towards the nest, when, about halfway up, while he was standing on a +ledge, holding on tightly to a rock, he espied a hen eagle rapidly +approaching, with a supply of food in her beak. Immediately, and with a +terrible scream, she darted towards the intruder. Unable to defend +himself, he expected to have his eyes torn out, when he let go, and +slipped to a broader ledge. Again the eagle pounced upon him; and so +close was she, that even then he could not get a shot at her. In +desperation, he took off his bonnet and threw it at the bird. She, +seeing it fall, immediately followed it to the foot of the rock. This +gave him an opportunity of bringing his gun to bear on her. The shot +took effect, and she fell dead far below him. + +THE TAME ROBINS. + +What interesting, confiding little birds are the robin redbreasts of our +own dear England! + +It was summer-time. An old lady lay in bed suffering from her last +illness. The bed was of large size, with a roof and four posts, the +foot of it being not far from the window. The lattice, with its diamond +panes, was open from morn till eve; and as the old lady thus lay calm +and composed, and often alone, she observed a pair of robins enter by +the window and fly round the corner of the roof of her bed. Chirruping +to each other, they seemed to agree that just inside of the bed would be +a nice spot for building their nest. Away they flew, and soon returned +with straws and little sticks. Thus they quickly had a cozy little nest +constructed in a secure position, which no bird of prey or marauding cat +was likely to reach. + +The lady would on no account allow of their being disturbed, and they +had free ingress and egress. Here the hen laid her eggs, sitting upon +them, while Cock Robin brought her her daily meals. The eggs were +hatched, and in this happy abode, greatly to the pleasure of the old +lady, their little family was reared; and before she died, they were +fully fledged, and had flown away. + +THE AFFECTIONATE DUCK. + +A Duck and drake lived together, as husband and wife should do, in the +bonds of mutual affection. The poultry-yard being assailed, the drake +was carried off by thieves. The poor bereaved duck exhibited evident +signs of grief at her loss. Retiring into a corner, she sat +disconsolate all day. No longer did she preen herself, as had been her +wont. Scarcely could she be induced to waddle to the pond, nor would +she touch the food brought to her. It was thought, indeed, that she +would die. + +While in this unhappy condition, a drake, which by the same marauders +had been deprived of his mate, cast his eyes on her, and began to +consider that she might replace his lost companion. She, however, +instead of offering him encouragement, repelled his advances with +evident disdain. + +Search had been made for the thieves; and though they escaped, their +booty was discovered, most of the birds alive and well, and among them +the affectionate duck's lost husband. On his return to the farmyard, +the loving couple exhibited the liveliest joy at meeting. She had a +long story to tell, which the drake listened to with stern attention. +No sooner was it finished than he glanced fiercely round the farmyard, +and then, evidently with fell intentions, made his way towards where the +rival drake was digging worms from the soft mud. His pace quickened as +he approached his antagonist; then, with a loud quack, he flew at him, +brought him to the ground, pecked out first one eye and then the other, +and otherwise assaulted him so furiously, that his unfortunate foe sank +at length lifeless beneath the blows of his strong bill. + +While I describe the bad example set by the drake, I must entreat you +not to harbour even for a moment any angry feelings which may arise at +injuries done you. + +OLD PHIL THE SEA-GULL. + +From the lofty cliffs at the back of the Isle of Wight, numerous +wild-fowl may be seen whirling in rapid flight through the air, now +rising above the green downs, now descending to the blue surface of the +water. Towards the west end of that romantic island, in a hollow +between the cliffs, is the village of Calbourne. Here, some time since, +might have been seen, sailing over the village green, Old Phil, one of +the white-winged birds I have described. Abandoning the wild freedom of +his brethren, he had associated himself with the human inhabitants of +the place. His chief friend was a grocer, near whose shop he would +alight on a neighbouring wall, and receive with gratitude the bits of +cheese and other dainties which were offered him. At certain times of +the year, however, he would take his departure, and generally return +with a wife, whom he used to introduce to his old friends, that she +might partake of their hospitality. Not, indeed, that she would venture +so close to the grocer's shop, even for the sake of the cheese-parings; +but she used to enter the village, and frequently spent her time at a +pond hard by, while Old Phil went to pay his respects to the purveyor of +groceries. + +THE TAME CROW. + +It is interesting to rear up animals or birds, and to watch their +progress as they gain strength and sense, and thus remark their various +habits and dispositions. Almost invariably, when kindly treated, they +return the care spent on them by marks of affection, though some exhibit +it in a much less decree than others. + +Crows are considered wise birds; but, while understanding how to take +care of themselves, they are not celebrated for their affectionate +disposition. Still a crow may become fond of its owner. + +A gentleman had reared one from the nest, and it had long dwelt with +him, coming at his call, and feeding from his hand. At length it +disappeared, and he supposed it to have been killed. About a year +afterwards, as he was out walking one day, he observed several crows +flying overhead; when what was his surprise to see one of them leave the +flock, fly towards him, and perch on his shoulder! He at once +recognised his old friend, and spoke to it as he had been in the habit +of doing. The crow cawed in return, but kept carefully beyond reach of +his hand; showing that, having enjoyed a free existence, it did not +intend to submit again to captivity. A few more caws were uttered. Its +companions cawed likewise. The crow understood their call. Probably +its mate, and perhaps its young ones, were among them. Glancing towards +them, and with a farewell caw at its old master, it spread its wings and +joined the flock; nor did it ever again return to its former abode. + +You will find it far more easy to give up good habits than to get rid of +bad ones. Be careful therefore to cherish the good ones. You can never +have too many of them. + +THE OSTRICH AND HER YOUNG. + +The ostrich, which, with its long strides and small wings, traverses the +sandy deserts of Africa at a rapid rate, lifting its head on the +look-out for danger, is generally spoken of as a stupid bird. +Notwithstanding this character, it displays great affection for its +young, and some sense in other matters. Sometimes a pair may be seen +with a troop of twelve or more young ones, watching all their movements, +and ready to call them away should a foe appear. Sometimes the young +are not much larger than Guinea-fowls; and as their parents are aware +that the little birds cannot run so fast as they themselves can, they +endeavour, when an enemy comes near, to draw him away from their +charges. The female generally undertakes this office, while the cock +bird leads the brood in an opposite direction. Now the hen ostrich +flies off before the horseman, spreading out or drooping her wings. Now +she will throw herself on the ground before the foe, as if wounded, +again to rise when he gets too near; and then, wheeling about, she tries +to induce him to follow her. Thus she will proceed, trying similar +devices, till she fancies that she has led her pursuer to a safe +distance from the brood, when, abandoning her former tactics, she will +dash off across the plain, fleet as the wind. + +THE BLACKBIRDS AND GRIMALKIN. + +Two blackbirds had built their nest in the thick bough of a tree which +overhung a high paling. Here they fancied themselves secure from the +prying eyes of idle boys or marauding cats. The hen laid her eggs in +her new abode, and in due time several fledgelings were hatched, which +her faithful mate assisted her to rear. While in the full enjoyment of +their happiness, watching over their helpless young ones, they one day +saw what to them appeared a terrific monster--a large cat--leap to the +top of the paling, and begin cautiously creeping along it. So narrow +was it, however, that even Grimalkin could not venture to move fast. + +The parent blackbirds watched him with beating hearts as he crept on and +on, his savage eyes turned up ever and anon when he stepped towards +their nest, where their young ones were chirping merrily, unconscious of +danger. In another instant he might make his fatal spring, and seize +them in his cruel jaws. The heart of the tender mother urged her to +risk her own life for the sake of her offspring. Downward she flew, +uttering loud screams of anger almost within reach of the marauder, but +the narrowness of the paling prevented him from leaping forward and +seizing her in his claws. The brave father was not behind his mate in +courage. He too pitched on the top of the fence directly in front of +Grimalkin. As the cat crept on he retreated, hoping to draw her past +his nest; but the cruel plunderer's eye was too securely fixed on that. +The cock, seeing this, darted with the courage of despair on the back of +his enemy, and assailed him with such fierce and repeated pecks on the +head, that the cat, losing his balance, fell to the ground, and, +astonished at the unexpected attack, scampered off, resolved, I hope, +never again to molest the heroic blackbirds; while they flew back to the +nest they had so bravely defended. + +CONCLUSION. + +I have often thought, while writing these stories, of a remark made by +one of my boys, whom, when he was a very little fellow, I took to hear a +sermon to children at the Abbey Church of Malvern. The vicar gave a +number of interesting anecdotes of children who had assisted poor +people, saved up their money for charitable purposes, made collections +for missionary objects; who had died young, happy to go to a better +world, or had been brought to love Jesus at an early age, and had been +the means of inducing their companions to love him too. + +My little boy, who was seated in my lap, listened, with eyes fixed on +the preacher, to every word that was said. At last one or two accounts +were given which seemed to puzzle him greatly, and, casting an inquiring +glance into my face, he whispered,--"Papa, papa! is 'um all true?" + +Now, perhaps some of you, my young friends, as you read the stories I +have given you, will be inclined to ask, as did my little boy, "Is 'um +all true?" I can reply to you, as I did to him, "Oh yes; I believe so." + +They are generally thoroughly well authenticated. A considerable number +have been narrated to me by friends who witnessed the behaviour of the +animals, while several have come under my own observation. + +I trust, therefore, my dear young friends, that the narratives I have +given you may not only prove interesting, but that you will learn from +them to pay due respect to all animals, however mean and insignificant +you have been accustomed to think them. They think and reason in their +way. They not only suffer bodily pain, but they have feelings in a +remarkable degree like your own; and you must own that it is cruel to +hurt those feelings by ill-treatment or neglect. + +It is pleasant to read an interesting book; it is good to remember what +you read, and better still to gain some useful lessons from it. This, I +hope, you will do from these stories about animals and the teachings +they afford. I trust, therefore, that you will derive benefit, as well +as amusement, from this little book; and with earnest wishes that you +may do so, I bid you farewell. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Stories of Animal Sagacity, by W.H.G. Kingston + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF ANIMAL SAGACITY *** + +***** This file should be named 23067.txt or 23067.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/0/6/23067/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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