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diff --git a/old/tsdgc10.txt b/old/tsdgc10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..56a1b3f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tsdgc10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1751 @@ +Project Gutenberg's True Stories About Dogs and Cats, by Eliza Lee Follen +#2 in our series by Eliza Lee Follen + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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I should say to help and teach them to be good and happy; for +boys and girls must make themselves good; and then, of course, they +will be happy; and no one can be made good or happy against his +will. + +I hear some boy or girl who reads this say, "How old were they, and +what were their names?" No boy can get along with another boy till +he knows his name and age, and so, that you may be sure that they +were real, live boys, I will tell you these important facts. The +eldest was called Frank, and was nine years old. His brother was +called Harry, and was seven. They were very much like other boys, +somewhat disposed to have their own way in every thing, and a little +vexed when they could not do as they pleased; sometimes really +wishing to do right, and be obedient, and make their mother happy. + +The little fellows were fond of saying to their mother that when +they grew bigger they should take care of her; and the idea that she +depended upon them for her happiness often made them stop and think +when they were disposed to do a wrong thing. + +When Harry said to Frank, "Mother will be so sorry if we do it," +Frank would stop and think, and that was enough. + +Stop and think. Grand words, and worth attending to. I believe that, +if boys and girls would only keep these words well in mind, there +would be only a small number of really naughty children. + +It was a custom with this good and faithful mother to have a little +talk with her boys, every night before their bed time, of what had +passed during the day. Sometimes she told them stories, sometimes +they repeated poetry. + +The hours they passed in this way were the happiest in the whole +day. Some of their twilight talks and stories Mrs. Chilton wrote +down, thinking they might amuse some little cousins, who lived at a +distance. Perhaps some other little boys and girls may like to hear +them too. + +One evening, early in November, when tea was over, and the tea +things were removed; when the nice hearth was swept clean, and the +great wood fire was blazing brightly, and sending forth its cheering +light and heat through the whole room, Frank and Harry had taken +their accustomed places, one on each side of their mother who was +sitting on the old-fashioned sofa. Each one appropriated a hand to +himself, when they both, almost in the same breath, said to her, +"You promised us, Mother, if we were good boys, to tell us a story +this evening. Now, have we not been good boys all day?" + +"Yes, you have," she replied; "you have not quarrelled, and you have +got your lessons well; and I will gladly perform my promise. But I +hardly know whether I can remember or make up any story to tell you. +However, I will do my best. What sort of a story will you have?" + +"I," said Frank, "should like a real good true story about a dog, or +any other animal." + +"And I like a made-up story best," said Harry. + +"I have an anecdote of a dog for you, Frank, which a friend related +to me the other day, and which I determined to remember to tell you, +as I recollected your love for dogs. The lady who told me the story +is an English woman. She was in the place where the thing happened, +at the very time, and knew the dog and his master. + +An English gentleman had a small dog, I think a terrier; he took it +with him across the English Channel to Calais which, you know, is in +France. He had business there, and remained some time. One day his +poor little dog was severely treated by a French dog, much larger +than himself. + +The little terrier knew that he could not punish the big French dog. +For some days you might see him with his head hanging down as well +as his tail, and a most melancholy expression in his face. At last, +he disappeared. His master, who was very fond of him, made every +inquiry after him. In vain--his little four-footed friend was +nowhere to be found. + +One day, not long after, in walked the terrier, bringing with him a +dog much larger than himself. He and his big friend looked very busy +and important, as if they had on hand some weighty affair to +transact. They showed how seriously they were cogitating, by curling +up their tails even more than common. + +The terrier, after receiving gratefully his master's caresses, and +taking care that his great friend should receive his full share of +the food which was given them, led the way, through the court yard, +to the front of the house. There they took their place, and sat for +a long time, looking as solemn as two judges hearing a cause, or two +deacons at church watching some troublesome boys. + +It seems the little terrier had been to England, and told of the bad +treatment he had received from the large French dog, and had brought +over a great dog friend to avenge the insult. + +Patiently they sat for some time, looking up street. + +At length, the terrier began to prick up his ears, and, in dog +language, he told his big friend that the enemy was approaching. +They waited quietly till he was near them, and then they both sprang +upon the cowardly fellow, gave him a good drubbing, and sent him off +with his tail between his legs. + +After this, the big English dog, without looking round to see what +they did, and said, and how they looked in France, wagging his tail +with great satisfaction, and perhaps saying to the little dog that +he could not understand French, and pitied him for having a master +who could endure living in a foreign land, especially France, his +dogship walked aboard a packet, and, with a solemn face and self- +satisfied, triumphant air, without paying his passage, and with his +tail turned towards France and the ship's company, placed himself in +the forward part of the vessel, and so returned to his native land. + +"Hurrah for dogs!" cried Harry, clapping his hands. "I say they are +as good as men any day. They say, Mother, that the Indians believe +their dogs will go to heaven with them. Will they, Mother?" + +"We know nothing of the future state of animals, Harry. We only know +that they are more gentle and intelligent the more kind we are to +them. The most savage animals are tamed by constant kindness. Who +does not remember Sir Walter Scott's pet pig? The reason why the pig +was so fond of his master was that Sir Walter had not treated him +piggishly, but humanely. + +You have been told of Baron Trenck's spider. Men have had pet lions +and tigers. When I see a fine, gentle horse, or an intelligent, +loving dog, I find myself repeating Miss Barrett's beautiful words,- +- + + "Be my benediction said + With my hand upon thy head, + Gentle fellow-creature." + +Now I have a funny story for you of a dog and a hen which a friend +told me that she knew to be true. + +A small dog had a litter of puppies in a barn close by a hen who was +sitting on her eggs, waiting patiently, as hens do, for the time +when her chickens should pop their pretty heads out of their shells +into this pleasant world. + +The puppies, however, came first, and, as soon as they were born, +she left her nest, and insisted upon brooding them. + +The little dog, no doubt, thought her very impertinent, and barked +at her, and tried to drive her away; but she would not go. They had +always been good friends, and the dog was unwilling to hurt her; and +so Mrs. Dog, after showing, in every way, her desire to get rid of +her troublesome acquaintance, and finding that Madame Hen would not +budge one inch, let her alone. + +From that time, the hen brooded the puppies. She let their mother +suckle them, but the rest of the time took charge of them. The poor +dog mother felt cheated, but she went off and amused herself as well +as she could. + +The poor chickens never showed their heads outside of their little +oval prison, for they missed the gentle warmth of their unnatural +mother's wings." + +"She was a real funny hen," said Frank; "but she could not have had +much brains, not even so much as common hens, and that's little +enough; but, as for the dog, she must be as lazy as Dick Doolittle, +to be willing to have such a stupid nursery woman as a hen take care +of her own puppies. Dick lets Tom Jones do all his sums for him, but +then he never hides it, so we only laugh at him. He says, What's the +use of being named Doolittle and yet have to do much? + +But, Mother, it is not bed time yet. Have you not some more stories +of animals" + +"Yes, Frank; but Harry wants his story now. It is his turn to +choose.' + +"I can wait till to-morrow evening," said Harry; "and I like the dog +and hen stories very much." + +"Harry shall have his turn, then, to-morrow," said Mrs. Chilton; +"and I will tell you some more stories of dogs, for I now remember +some more that are perfectly true. + +You never know how intelligent an animal is till you treat it with +kindness. All animals are easily frightened by human beings, and +fear makes them stupid. Children naturally love animals, but +sometimes a foolish boy loves to show his power over them, and so +learns to be cruel. + +A little boy of my acquaintance, when he was told that he might ask +some friends to pass his birthday with him, and was asked who should +be invited, named over all the dogs in the neighborhood, and was +much grieved when his choice was greeted with laughter. + +I have seen a little fellow of three years of age with his hand in +the mouth of a large, hungry dog, trying to get a piece of bread out +of it, and the dog not resenting the liberty at all, but merely +trying to retain his share of the bread, and allowing the child to +take a part. + +We all know that dogs have chosen to die upon the graves of their +masters, refusing food even when it was brought to them. We look at +such animals as if we saw in them an angel in prison. We feel as if +such a nature could not die. + +There is no doubt that dogs understand language. My friend, Mr. S. +P. Miles, who was remarkable for his tender love for animals, as +well as for many other noble and lovely qualities, told me some +remarkable facts which came under his own personal observation, and +which I am, therefore, sure are true, showing that intelligent dogs +understand language. + +He said that in his father's house was an old dog, to whom they were +much attached, who however became liable to fits. The dog was very +fond of hunting, and the moment he saw any one take the gun, to go +into the woods, he would show his ecstasy by leaping about. + +Mr. Miles's mother one day, when caressing the dog and lamenting +that he was subject to these fits, told her son that he had better +shoot him the next time that he went out hunting with him. A few +days after, Mr. Miles went hunting; but the moment he reached up for +his gun, which was laid up on hooks in the wall, the dog, instead of +showing joy by jumping about, ran directly to the good lady who had +condemned him to death, got under the table at which she was +sitting, looked up in her face, and would not move from that place. +Never after could the poor fellow be induced to go out with any one +who had a gun in his hand. + +The same friend told me of a still more remarkable instance of +intelligence in a dog, though I confess it does not prove that this +dog had much conscience. + +Mr. Miles said that he knew the man who owned the dog, and knew the +truth of the whole story. He said that a neighbor had an uncommonly +fine dog, well trained, and, as it seemed, perfect in all things. + +One day, a man came and complained that the dog killed his sheep. +The owner said he was sure that it was impossible. Hero was so well +trained, he was always in his kennel at the right hour, and he knew +that he must not kill sheep. After a while, the neighbor came again +with the accusation. The dog was then tied in the barn. The man came +again with the same charge against the dog. + +Hero's master now told the accuser that the dog was tied in the barn +on the very night when the sheep were killed. He now made much of +his dumb favorite from the feeling that he was unjustly suspected. + +He was, however, much surprised when the owner of the sheep came +again and declared that he had seen his dog kill a sheep that very +night; that he knew the dog, and was sure of the fact. He, of +course, thought he must be mistaken; but said he would watch the +dog. He did so. + +At a certain hour of the night, when the dog supposed no one saw +him, the cunning fellow put up his two fore paws, pushed off the +collar to which a chain was attached, darted through the open window +close by, and made for the sheep pasture. He returned in good +season, put his nose into his collar, pushed it down into its place +with his paws, and lay down to sleep. + +The master returned to his bed with the painful conviction that he +must kill his intelligent but unprincipled four-footed friend. It is +said nothing will cure a dog of the habit of sheep killing. + +In the morning the sorrowful master went to the stable. As he +approached, he said, "O, Hero, how could you do so wrong? I must +have you killed." Quick as thought, the dog pushed his collar over +his ears, darted through the window, and flew like lightning away. +No one in that town ever saw him again. + +Mr. Miles told me also that he knew a dog that would carry letters +to persons when told their names; and that no one dared touch the +letter but the person to whom it was directed. No bribe, no coaxing +would induce him to stop when going on these errands. If other dogs +annoyed him, he would not notice them, but run the faster, and take +care to chastise them at another time. + +Creatures that show such intelligence, who can understand our +language, and are capable of what is best in our nature, that is, of +self-forgetting love, should be treated with the greatest +tenderness. We know not what they may be capable of till we have +tried the influence of constant justice and kindness. It is +questionable whether poor Hero could have been cured of his fault. +But I would give all a chance." + +"I should like to have Hero for my dog," said Frank, "and live with +him in a place where there were no sheep; and then, after many +years, he might forget his bad tricks." + +"I must say something in favor of the much-abused cat. Doubtless she +would be a much better member of society, if she were better +treated, if she had a better example set before her. + +Sportsmen are very angry because she catches birds, and because she +is sly. They will themselves lie down in the grass so that the birds +may not see them, and be as sly as the very slyest old puss, and yet +they cannot forgive her for watching noiselessly for birds. Has not +she as good a right as any sportsman to a little game? She takes +only what she wants to eat. She does not kill them in order to boast +to another cat of how many she has bagged. + +They say she must be bad, for she kills singing birds. Do not +sportsmen kill larks and thrushes? Were you once to see a lark +rising up into the blue sky higher and higher, and hear him singing +as he rises louder and louder, as if he saw heaven opening, and +wanted to tell you how beautiful it was, and call you up there; and +then to think of killing and eating him, you would say, What cat can +be so unfeeling as a man? Who, with any music in his soul, could do +so? Yet men do eat larks for dinner, and then scold at the poor cat +who treats herself with only one perhaps. Why should she not be a +little dainty? Men, women, and hoys and girls are often cruel and +unreasonable, not merely cats. The cat is as good as she knows how +to be." + +"So you are, pussy," said Harry, taking up his pet cat in his lap, +and stroking her. "You never do any harm, but catch the mice in our +mother's barn. But you are a little sly, and, if you should catch +birds, right or wrong, I'm afraid I should box your ears. You must +learn to do without birds for your dinner." + +"When I was in England," said Mrs. Chilton, "I saw, exhibited in a +cage about five feet square, rats, mice, cats and dogs, a hawk, a +guinea pig, a rabbit, some pigeons, an owl and some little birds, +all together, as amiable and merry as possible. Miss Puss sat in the +midst, purring. The others ran over her, or flew upon her head. She +had no thought of hurting them, and they were not afraid of her. + +I found, on inquiring, that the way the keeper establishes such +peace and harmony is by systematic and constant gentleness, and by +keeping the animals all well fed. They are called the happy family. + +The cage was always surrounded by a crowd of people curious to see +such natural enemies so happy together. Nothing but the law of +kindness could make all those creatures so civil and well behaved to +each other. But I must not forget my anecdotes of that respectable +animal, the cat. + +You need not smile; I mean to make you respect, as well as love +cats. There are some men, and many boys who say they are domestic +tigers, that they are sly, that they steal, that you cannot trust +them; that the cat heart is bad, and that there is no harm in boys' +teasing them, since it is no more than cats deserve; that they were +made for us to plague; and that the only good thing they do is to +catch rats and mice. + +Now, if this were true, and they were really ever so bad, they ought +never to be treated cruelly, never teased and tormented. None but +the meanest boy will ever torment any animal. + +He who created us created also the little fly that crawls upon the +window pane. I am not now thinking of those boys who do not +remember, or have never learned this truth, but of those who have a +cruel prejudice against cats, of those who are kind to dogs and +horses, but unkind to cats. I shall speak to you of the poor cat +with almost as much respect and seriousness as if I were talking +about any of my fellow- creatures who were injured and ill treated. + +We take it for granted that cats have no love in them, and so we +never act towards them as if they had any; now I believe they have, +on the whole, pretty good hearts, and, if they were treated with +justice and kindness, would be far more respectable members of +society than they are. To show this I will mention some facts of +which I have heard, and, some which I have witnessed. + +In the first place, the cat is accused of never caring for the +inhabitants of a house, but only for the house itself. Now I knew an +affectionate cat who manifested much disturbance when the family +were making preparations for moving; at last, all was gone from the +house except herself and the cook. The cook, in order to make sure +that the cat should not escape from the carriage on the way, put her +into a cage and fastened her in. + +When they arrived, the cat walked quietly out of her cage, looked at +her old friend the cook, went into another room where she met +another friend, and began forthwith to purr her satisfaction. + +Two years afterwards, this family moved again. As soon as the cat +saw the preparations making for moving, she showed great uneasiness, +and went down into the cellar, where she remained during all the +confusion. + +When all else was gone, the cook went to the cellar stairs, and +called her. The cat came up directly. The cook stroked her, and +showed her a basket just big enough to hold her, and said, "Get in, +get in, pussy, and take a pretty ride!" The cat got in, and, without +the least resistance, allowed herself to be shut into the basket by +a cloth tied over it. As soon as she saw the different members of +the family in the new house, she manifested her contentment. + +In six months the family moved again. The cat again submitted +herself, and showed her preference to her friends over their house. + +A cat has been known to nurse and bring up a rat with her own +kittens. I once took a little rabbit who was starving to death from +the neglect of its own mother, and placed it before the same cat who +preferred the people to the house. She had just come from nursing +her kittens, and when she saw the little trembling rabbit before +her, her first thought was, evidently to make a good meal of it. I +took up the little thing and caressed it, and then put it down +again. She now approached it in a motherly way, and looked at it; +its ears seemed evidently to puzzle her. After a while, she tried to +take it up as she did her kittens, but saw she could not safely; +then she went to her nest and mewed, and then came to me and rubbed +herself against me; and then went to the rabbit and licked it +tenderly; I now ventured to put the rabbit in with her kittens, and +she nursed, and took the best care of it. + +A friend of mine who killed a squirrel not knowing that she had +young ones, took all the little squirrels, brought them into the +house, and put them before his pet cat who had lost all her kittens +but one. Pussy looked at them for a while; probably her cattish +nature thought a little of eating them; but her better nature soon +prevailed, for she took them, one after another, and carried them +all to her nest, and proved a faithful nursing mother to them, and +ere long there was no part of the house in which the old cat and her +roguish adopted children were not to be found. + +What will not cats submit to from a loving child? I have seen a +child lie down with a cat for its pillow, and the cat merely move +herself a little, so as to bear the weight as easily as possible. + +A cat can be taught to stand and walk on her hind legs, which seems +at first very disagreeable to her. + +I remember, when I was a child, seeing a Maltese cat come in every +morning and wait till my father had finished his breakfast, then, at +a certain signal, rise up on her hind legs, and beg for her +breakfast, and take just what was given her with the utmost +propriety, asking for nothing more. + +I will tell you a well-authenticated anecdote which I read the other +day. A cat had been brought up in close friendship with a bird. Now +birds, you know, are the favorite food of cats. One day she was seen +suddenly to seize and hold in her claws her feathered companion who +happened to be out of the cage. + +The first thought of those who saw her was that, at last, her tiger +nature had come out, and that she was going to make a meal of her +little trusting friend; but all the cat did was to hold the +trembling bird still, and, on looking around the room, it was +discovered that another cat had come in, and that catching the bird +was only the means the friendly cat used to keep it safe till the +intruder should leave the room. As soon as the other cat was gone, +she let go the bird, who it was found was not in the least hurt. + +A cat who had been petted and always kindly treated by a family of +children, was present one day when the mother thought it necessary +to strike one of them for some bad action; the cat flew violently at +the mother and tried to scratch her, and from that time she never +could strike one of the children with impunity in the presence of +their faithful, loving friend. + +A friend related to me that they had a cat in her father's family +who was a great favorite, and who was particularly fond of the baby; +that one day this child was very fretful, and sat for a long time on +the floor crying, and that nothing would pacify her. + +The cat was by her side on the floor, and finding herself not +noticed, and perhaps wearied at the noise, she suddenly stood up on +her hind legs and boxed the child's ears in exactly the same way in +which she was in the habit of boxing her kitten's. + +It seems that this cat was not so amiable as the other, and did not +object to giving a box on the ear to a naughty child. + +I have another story from a good authority which is still more in +favor of poor pussy, and puts her upon a par with the most faithful +dog. + +During a hard snow storm last winter, a kitten with a broken leg and +almost frozen hopped into the hall door of a gentleman's house in +Brooklyn, New York, and set up a most piteous mewing. + +The master of the house ordered the servants to throw the kitten +into the street, when his little daughter, a child eight years of +age, caught up the poor little creature, and begged to be allowed to +keep and nurse it. The father, at first, refused. The child, +however, begged so earnestly that he at last allowed her to keep the +kitten. + +The little girl, whom we will call Emma, nursed her pet until it got +quite well. The kitten returned, in full measure, all the love of +her gentle nurse, and was never quite happy away from little Emma. + +Some time afterwards, the loving child was taken severely ill, and +was confined to her bed. Kitty had grown into a cat. It was found +impossible to keep her away from the bed of her suffering friend. +The cat would watch at the door when turned out of the room, dart in +again, and mew, and jump upon the bed where little Emma lay. There +Kitty was quiet. + +As the child grew more ill, it was impossible to get the cat out of +the room; until, at last, when little Emma was dying, pussy +stretched herself out near the bed, and seemed to be dying too. + +The cat was taken into the next room, and put gently upon a rug. + +"Take care of my poor kitten!" said the kind little Emma, as she saw +them take it away; and her loving spirit went to the land of loving +spirits. + +When the sorrowing friends went into the adjoining room, the life of +her "poor kitten" had departed too. + +Does not the fact that love and kindness can make such an irritable +animal as the cat so loving and grateful, teach us all their +heavenly power? Ought we not to do all which we can to bring out +this better nature? + +We have made cats our slaves. We have taken them from the woods, +that we may have them to catch our rats and mice. We make them do +just as we please, and ought we not to make them as comfortable and +happy as we can? + +Can we not be patient with their bad or disagreeable qualities, and +encourage all their good dispositions? We never know the true +character of any living being till we treat that creature with +entire justice and kindness. I therefore am the friend of the poor, +despised, abused, neglected, suspected, calumniated cat. I confess +she is sometimes a little disposed to thieving, that there are +strong reasons for supposing that she is somewhat addicted to +selfishness, that she may justly be suspected of occasional +hypocrisy, and that she is to blame for too readily using her claws. + +These are, all of them, human as well as cattish faults; but, if +pussy has in her the capacity for something better, for self- +forgetting and devoted affection, we must treat her with such +patient, enduring kindness and perfect justice as may cherish all +that is good in her nature. In short, can we not overcome her evil +by our good? Let us try, boys! + +One thing I have not yet told you in relation to cats, and that is +what pets they are made in France. No drawing room seems complete +without a beautiful cat. The cats are well trained and are very +gentle. + +The Angora cat is most prized. She is fed with the greatest care, +and, in all respects, is treated like a respected member of the +family; and noticed, of course, by visitors. I have seen a beautiful +cat go from one guest to another to be caressed like a little child. + +These pet cats are playthings. They are not expected to catch rats +and mice, but are idle creatures, and only amuse themselves and +others. It is considered a special attention for any gentleman or +lady to make a present of a pet cat." + +"What's the use of cats who can't catch rats and mice?" said Frank. +"Do the French pet the mice, too? I wonder what comes of the bread +and cheese?" + +"O, the people have another set of cats, whom they call gutter cats, +who catch rats and mice. The gutter cats never come into the drawing +room; but they are treated well in the kitchen, and made as happy as +possible. + +I was told that these working cats were far more intelligent than +the pets of the drawing room. + +I knew a French seamstress who had a gutter cat, of which she was +very fond. One day the cat fell from the roof of the house. She +seemed dead, but her faithful friend put her upon a soft bed, gave +her homoeopathic medicine, and watched all night by her to put a +drop of something into her mouth if she moved. At last the cat gave +signs of life, and by good nursing her life was saved. + +I saw once in Paris a man carrying about a splendid large mouse- +colored cat, dressed up with ribbons. + +The creature was twice the common size, and gentle as a lamb. He was +for sale; the price, sixty francs, which is twelve dollars. Every +body who was not too busy, stopped to stroke Master Puss." + +"He would have done to wear boots," cried Harry. "I should like him +right well. Such a big cat would be worth having." + +"The French are very humane to animals, and never inflict +unnecessary pain upon the meanest. In the street in which I lived in +Paris, there was a hospital for cats and dogs." + +"Is not a hospital a place where sick folks go to be cured, Mother; +and do they like to have dogs and cats there?" + +"This was a hospital devoted to sick cats and dogs." + +"Do they have cats and dogs for nurses?" said Harry, giggling as he +spoke. + +"I never heard they did, you little goose. But I could not help +being pleased with such an evidence of the kind-heartedness of a +people in their treatment of animals." + +"Mother," said Frank, "where did dogs and cats come from? Have men +always had them living with them? Did Adam and Eve have a dog and +cat, do you suppose? Was there an Adam and Eve cat and dog?" + +"It would take more knowledge than I can boast of, Frank, to answer +these questions. I will tell you all I have been able to learn. It +is supposed by some persons that the domestic dog is the descendant, +that is, the great great great grandchild of a wolf." + +A man who wanted to see if a wolf could be gentle, and faithful, and +loving as a dog, took a baby wolf, treated him with the greatest +kindness, and fed him on food that would not make him savage. + +The wolf was always gentle, and much attached to his master. If the +sons and sons' sons of the wolf were always treated in the same +manner, you may suppose it possible that, in time, they would be as +loving and good as our dogs. + +There seems, however, to be more reason to think that our domestic +dog is descended from a wild dog; as there are wild dogs in various +parts of the world; in Africa, Australia, and in India. The dog of +the Esquimaux was a wolf. There is a distinct kind of dog for almost +every part of the world, each sort differing in some things from the +wolf. + +The earliest history of man speaks of his faithful companion, the +dog. Every schoolboy has read of the dog of Ulysses; and how, when +Ulysses returned, after a very long absence, so changed as not to be +recognized in his own house, his dog knew him immediately. + +Cuvier, the great French naturalist, says that the "dog is the most +complete, the most remarkable, and the most useful conquest ever +made by man." + +"Every species has become our property. Each individual is +altogether devoted to his master, assumes his manners, knows and +defends his goods, and remains attached to him until death; and all +this proceeds neither from want nor constraint, but solely from true +gratitude and real friendship." + +"The swiftness, the strength, and the scent of the dog have enabled +him to conquer other animals; and, without the dog, man perhaps +could not have formed a society. The dog is the only animal which +has followed man into every part of the earth." + +"The Exquimaux employ their dogs as we do horses. The dogs are made +slaves; but are docile and faithful, particularly to the women, who +manage them by kindness and gentleness. In Germany you often see +dogs drawing carts; and in London dogs are harnessed into little +carts to carry round meat for the cats." + +Here Harry expressed his opinion that this was abusing the dogs. + +"I am told," continued Mrs. Chilton, "that when the driver of these +dog carts cries 'Cats' Meat,' all the cats look out from their holes +and hiding-places for their accustomed piece." + +"We," said Harry, "give pussy something out of our plates all cooked +and nice, and so I suppose she is a better cat, and less cattish." + +I dare say you know that there are a great variety of dogs. The +Newfoundland dog not only drags carts and sledges, but has a sort of +web foot that makes him a particularly good swimmer. He often saves +the lives of his human friends. + +The Lapland dog looks after the reindeer, and drives them with the +greatest gentleness to their homes or away from any danger. + +The shepherd's dog does the same for the flock. He runs after any +stray sheep, and just says, with a very amiable little bark, "Friend +sheep," or "My little lamb, that's not the way." + +Then there is the terrier to catch our rats; the mastiff and spaniel +to guard our houses; the lapdog for ladies to play with; the poodles +to laugh at; and once there was the turnspit to roast our meat for +us. + +Besides these and many I have not mentioned there are all the +different hunting dogs; the pointers and setters for birds; the +hounds for hares, rabbits, foxes, and deer. + +When I was in England, I saw the start for a deer hunt. The hunters, +with their red jackets, were assembled on horses longing to start. +The dogs were all fastened together and held still by the keepers. A +large open heath was before us. + +Presently a covered cart was driven up. One end was opened, and a +stag leaped out. + +He stood still, and looked up and all around him, as much as to say, +"What are we all about?" He had, apparently, no thought of running +any where. + +At last, they sent a little dog to bark at him, and soon away he +scampered over fences and through fields; like the wind, he flew. + +When he was out of sight, the keeper let his dogs loose. They did +not run at first, but smelt all around, one dog leading the others. +At last, he pricked up his ears, and they all set up a race after +him, like a streak of lightning, as our Jem would say. + +Now the huntsmen started, and they followed as near as they could. +The dogs leaped over a hedge, a pretty high one. Away went the +huntsmen after them. + +I saw one man thrown as he tried to leap the hedge, and away went +his horse and left him. + +I saw two, three, four go over as if they were flying. O, how +beautiful it was to see them! + +Then I saw a rider and his horse both fall into a ditch they were +trying to leap. Then came another, and over he went, all clear, as a +cat might jump. + +The hunter in the ditch scrambled out, but his horse was hurt and +could not move. + +Some men from the farm house, before which I was sitting, looking at +the hunt, took ropes and went to help the maimed horse. + +By this time, we heard but faintly the huntsmen's horn and merry +shouts; and soon they were all out of sight, save the four or five +men who were aiding the poor horse to get out of the ditch. + +I returned home, thinking that, after all, hunting tame deer was a +poor amusement. But I am an American lady; and were I an English +gentleman, I might feel very differently. + +"I think I should like hunting right well. It would be real good +fun," said Harry. + +"And so should I," said Frank. + +The dog of the St. Bernard, who is called the Alpine spaniel, you +have heard and read of; and you have that pretty picture of one of +those dogs with a boy on his back. + +I have, as you know, been among the Swiss mountains; and the thought +of the good monks living in those awful solitudes through the storms +of winter, with the avalanches for their music, and only an +occasional traveller for society, and with these gentle, loving dogs +for companions, gave me a new love for these excellent animals. + +I thought, too, of the poor traveller who had lost his way, and +found his strength failing. I imagined his joy at the sight of one +of these dogs with a cloak on his back, and a bottle of cordial tied +to his neck. + +I saw, in my mind, the good "fellow-creature" showing the way to the +shelter which his truly Christian masters are so glad to afford. + +These monks, it is said, keep a bell ringing during storms. It seems +to me I can see one of the old monks sitting over his fire, putting +on more wood, and making his tight chalet as warm as he can, in case +a traveller should come. + +Presently he hears a cheerful bark from one of the dogs. He opens +his door; the poor, frozen, half-starved traveller enters. + +The monk takes off the wet garments; he rubs the stiff, cold hands; +he speaks kind words to the stranger, and gives him something warm +to drink. + +Meanwhile, the good dog lies down on the floor, looking with his +big, kind eyes at the wayfarer, and seems to say, "I'm glad I found +you and brought you here to my master. Eat and drink, and be +comfortable; don't be shy; there's enough here always for a poor +traveller." + +It is a sad thing to turn from this pleasant picture to the history +of the bloodhounds in the West Indies. Who would believe that the +good and great Columbus employed bloodhounds to destroy the Indians +who made war against the Spaniards? + +"When the Indians were conquered, the bloodhounds were turned into +the woods and became wild, so that there are now many of these wild +dogs on the islands. I grieve to say that, here in this civilized +land, bloodhounds are sometimes used to catch runaway slaves." + +"Runaway slaves, Mother? Do you mean men, like Anthony Burns," asked +Frank. "He was a slave, was he not?" + +"Yes, Frank, men like Anthony Burns, when they try to get their +freedom, if they are known to be hiding in a wood, are often hunted +with dogs." + +"O, it is very wicked, Mother!" + +"So I think, Frank; let us hope that the time will come when every +man and woman and child in our land will think so, and then there +will be no more slaves." + +"And now, let us turn away from the history of bloodhounds to some +pleasant thoughts before we finish our twilight talk." + +"The poet Cowper was a great friend to animals. Many of his most +beautiful letters to his friends have very pleasant passages about +his pretty tortoise shell kitten, and his distress that she would +grow up into a cat, do what he would." + +"He was a lover of tame rabbits and hares, and speaks of all these +animals as if they were his friends and fellow-creatures. In one of +his little poems he tells a pretty story of his spaniel Beau. I was +so pleased with it that I learned it by heart unconsciously, from +reading it over so often." + +"Do repeat it, Mother," cried both the boys. + +Mrs. Chilton then repeated the poem; and, as some of my young +readers may not be familiar with it, they shall have a copy, too. + +"This, also, boys, is a true story," said their mother. + + + +THE DOG AND THE WATER LILY. + +NO FABLE. + + The noon was shady, and soft airs + Swept Ouse's silent tide, + When, 'scaped from literary cares, + I wandered on his side. + + My spaniel--prettiest of his race, + And high in pedigree-- + (Two nymphs adorned with every grace, + That spaniel found for me--) + + Now wantoned, lost in flowery reeds, + Now, starting into sight, + Pursued the swallow o'er the meads, + With scarce a slower flight. + + It was the time when Ouse displayed + His lilies newly blown. + Their beauties I intent surveyed, + And one I wished my own. + + With cane extended far, I sought + To steer it close to land; + But still the prize, though nearly caught, + Escaped my eager hand. + + Beau marked my unsuccessful pains, + With fixed, considerate face; + And, puzzling, set his puppy brains + To comprehend the case. + + But, with a chirrup clear and strong + Dispersing all his dream, + I thence withdrew, and followed long + The windings of the stream. + + My ramble finished, I returned; + Beau, trotting far before, + The floating wreath again discerned, + And, plunging, left the shore. + + I saw him with that lily cropped + Impatient swim to meet + My quick approach; and soon he dropped + The treasure at my feet. + + Charmed with the sight, "The world," I cried, + "Shall hear of this thy deed. + My dog shall mortify the pride + Of man's superior breed." + + But, chief, myself I will enjoin, + Awake at duty's call, + To show a love as prompt as thine + To Him who gives me all. + +"I think that's a right pretty story, Mother," said Frank, when his +mother had finished reciting it; "but will you tell me what 'high in +pedigree' means; for I'm sure I don't know. I never heard the word +before; and who are nymphs, who found the spaniel for Cowper?" + +"'High in pedigree,' Frank, means nothing but that he had a very +respectable grandfather and mother." + +"Then, Mother, we are high in pedigree; for I'm sure that +grandfather and grandmother--, at the farm, are the very best and +most respectable people in the world, and send us the best butter +and cheese. But what are nymphs?" + +"There was, in olden times, Frank, before the birth of Christ, and +among many people since there is a belief in a sort of fairies, or +fanciful existences. They thought that in each stream, and wood, and +grotto lived a beautiful young woman, invisible to common eyes, and +these lovely fairies were called nymphs. So it became common to call +any beautiful young woman a nymph." + +"The best line in it," said Harry, "is, 'And, puzzling, set his +puppy brains.' That I can quite understand." + +"Now," said Mrs. Chilton, "it is time to light the candles, and for +little boys to go to bed." + +"I have still a little more to say to you about animals," said Mrs. +Chilton, one evening, to her two boys, "as you seemed pleased with +what I told you, some time ago, about dogs and cats." + +A friend told me, the other day, that, when she was at Hopkinton, +where she went for the benefit of the baths, the mistress of the +hotel told her that their cat understood language; for that a +gentleman, who was there and was going fishing, told the cat to go +and catch him a frog. The cat disappeared, and, a little while +after, brought in a frog. She added, that the next day he told the +cat again to go and catch him a frog. The cat again set off on the +same errand, and brought in two frogs; but she had bitten off the +head of one of them, as if to pay for her labor." + +"Do you believe that story, Puss?" said Harry. "See, Puss shakes her +head. Do you believe it, Mother?" + +The authority was very good. I could not easily disbelieve it. The +more we notice animals the more we shall be astonished at them, and +interested in their history; the more we shall see in them evidences +of the wisdom and the goodness of the Power that created them. + +I knew a good, great man who would never tread upon the meanest +flower he met in his walks; who would not wantonly destroy a shell +upon the sea shore. + +When I was very young, I was walking in a garden with one of the +true lovers of God in His works: suddenly he bent his head very low, +and bade me bend mine also. "See," he said, "that beautiful web: do +not break it; the little creature who made it has worked very hard; +let us not destroy it." + +This lesson was given many years ago. I have forgotten many things +since then; but this will last me through life, let it be ever so +long. + +Who does not love good Uncle Toby who, when a troublesome fly +tormented and tickled his nose and sipped his wine, put him tenderly +out of the window, saying to him, "Go: there is room enough in this +world for thee and me"? But to my stories. One is a sad one, but it +is true, as are also all the others. + +A gentleman was once travelling in France, on horseback, followed by +his dog; presently the dog began to show great uneasiness, and run +and jump up at him and bark violently. The man saw no one near, and +could not understand what was the matter. + +The dog persisted in barking. At last, the man scolded him. This did +no good. The dog still barked and jumped up trying to get hold of +his master's legs; the man scolded the animal repeatedly, but all in +vain. The dog barked louder and louder. At last, the man struck him +with the butt-end of the whip harder than he intended; for he only +wished to silence the dog. + +The thoughtless man went on satisfied. After a while, he found that +he had lost his purse. He went back some miles, till, at last, he +saw his dog lying dead in the road with one paw over a purse. + +The poor creature had staggered back to the place where he had seen +it fall, and, faithful to the last in spite of his master's cruelty, +even in death, guarded his property. + +A knowledge of character, comprehension of language, or some other +faculty, beyond what we can explain, is often discovered in dogs. + +There was a family who had given leave to two poor men to come and +saw wood, do chores, &c. One of these was very honest; the other +often took what did not belong to him. + +The family dog took no especial notice of the honest man, and +treated him in a friendly way, but the thief he watched all the +time, to guard the property of the family. + +Another dog was on board a vessel bound to some place in Europe. The +vessel was driven in a storm against a rocky coast, and struck under +a steep, perpendicular cliff perfectly inaccessible. It was evident +that if relief was not soon given, the vessel must go to pieces, and +the men all perish. + +The dog leaped into the angry sea, and with some difficulty swam +ashore. He ran on till he came to the dwelling of a poor man, and +then barked loudly, till the owner was roused and came out. + +The dog showed great joy at seeing him, ran towards the shore and +then back to him, and leaped upon him and licked his hands; this he +did repeatedly till the man followed him. + +It was some distance to the shore; and, after a while, the man was +tired, thought it was foolish to go after the dog, and turned to go +home. The dog immediately showed great distress, and tried the same +arts to entice him on; but the man seemed resolved to go home. + +At last, the dog stood upon his hind legs, put his paws upon the +man's shoulders and looked him in the face, with such a human +meaning, such a piteous expression, that the man determined to +follow him. + +The dog led him, not to the cliff under which the vessel was lying, +as there she could not be seen, but to a distant place on a point +where she was visible. + +Ropes were immediately obtained, the crew were all hoisted up. and +every life saved; and this was by the intelligent love of this +faithful fellow-creature--we cannot call him a brute. + +These true stories were told me by Mr. W. R. of New Bedford, who +gave the name of the captain of the wrecked vessel, and said he was +sure they were true. + +A fact of this kind fell once under my own observation. One night, +our dog Caesar made a barking at the door, till, at last, he brought +some one out. The dog then ran towards the road, and when he found +he was not followed, came back and barked, and then ran to the road +and back again, and so on till we understood he wanted to be +followed, and some one went with him. + +Caesar immediately led the way to a ditch over which there was a +bridge without any guard. There a horse and wagon had been upset. +The wagon had fallen upon the driver in such a way that he could not +move. The men came immediately to the aid of the poor man, took him +out, put him in his wagon and new harnessed his horse, and set him +off comfortably on his way again. The dog sat by and saw it all. Who +shall say how much of the compassionate love of the good Samaritan +was in his canine heart? Who shall exactly measure and justly +estimate the joy of the other faithful, intelligent animal who saved +the crew of the wrecked vessel? + +One more story of a dog I remember which is too good to be +forgotten; as it shows, not only the sagacity, but the love and +self-denial of one of these faithful creatures. + +A shepherd, whose flocks were in the high pastures on the Grampian +Hills, took with him one day his little boy who was about three +years of age. They had gone some distance, when he found it +necessary, for some reason or other, to ascend the summit of one of +the hills. He thought it would be too fatiguing for the child to go +up; so he left him below with the dog, telling the little fellow to +stay there till he returned, and charging the good and faithful dog +to watch over the boy. + +Scarcely had the shepherd reached the summit, before there came up +one of those very thick fogs which are common among these mountains. +These heavy mists often come up so suddenly and so thick that it is +like a dark night--you can see absolutely nothing. + +The unhappy father hurried down the mountain to his little boy; but, +from fright and from the utter darkness, lost the way. + +The poor shepherd for many hours sought his child among the +treacherous swamps, the roaring cataracts and the steep precipices. + +No little boy, no faithful dog could he see or hear. At length, +night came on, and the wretched father had to return to his cottage, +and to the mother of his child, and say the sad words, "He is lost. +My faithful dog is gone too, or he might help me find the boy." + +That was a sad night for the poor cottagers. At break of day, the +shepherd, with his wife and his neighbors, set out to look for the +child. They searched all day long, in every place where it seemed +possible that lie could be, but all in vain. No little boy could +they find. The night came on, and again the poor shepherd and his +wife came home without their child. + +On their return home, they found that the dog had been there; and, +on receiving a piece of oatmeal cake, had instantly gone off with +it. The next day and the day after, the shepherd renewed the search +for his child. On each day when they returned, they heard that the +dog had been to the house, taken his piece of cake, and immediately +disappeared. The shepherd determined to stay at home the next day +and watch his dog. He had a hope in his heart that the dog would +lead him to his child. + +The dog came the next day, at the same hour, took his piece of cake, +and ran off. The shepherd followed him. He led the way to a cataract +at some distance from the place where the father had left the child. + +The bank of the cataract was steep and high, and the abyss down +which the water rushed was terrific. Down the rugged and almost +perpendicular descent, the dog, without any hesitation, began to +make his way. At last, he disappeared into a cave, the mouth of +which was almost on a level with the cataract. + +The shepherd, with great difficulty, followed. What were his +emotions, who can tell his joy, when he beheld his little boy +eating, with much satisfaction, the piece of cake which the faithful +animal had just brought? The dog stood by, eying his young charge +with the utmost complacence. + +The child had doubtless wandered from the place where he was left by +his father; had fallen over the precipice; had been caught by the +bushes near the cave, and scrambled into it. The dog had either +followed or found him by the scent, and had since prevented him from +starving by giving to him every day his own food. + +The faithful, loving creature had never left the child day or night, +except to get the piece of oaten cake; and then the dog went at full +speed, neither stopping by the way, or apparently reserving any of +the cake for himself. + +Shall we not, all of us, learn love, fidelity and self-forgetfulness +from such an affectionate and faithful creature? + +"I don't believe I could be as good as that dog," said Frank. + +"I know I could not," said Harry. "How the shepherd and his wife +must have loved him! If I had been in their place, I should have +treated him like the little boy's brother, and kept him always in +the parlor." + +"I dare say they did," said Mrs. Chilton. + +There is an anecdote I have lately read, which shows that dogs have +compassion for other dogs, and will help a fellow in distress. + +When the ice suddenly melted on a river in Germany, a little dog was +seen on a small piece of ice in the middle of the river. It was not +known how he got into that situation. He set up the most piteous +cries. A large dog who saw him dashed into the river, soon reached +the poor spaniel, seized him by the neck, and brought him safe to +shore, amidst the shouts and praises of the spectators. + +Animals, when treated kindly, attach themselves to human beings. +Birds build their nests near the habitations of men. In the wild, +distant woods all is still. One hears no song of birds. In England, +where the robin is courted and made much of, he comes into the house +and takes his food from the table. + +In many parts of Europe storks build their nests on the roofs. +Swallows, martins, sparrows and wrens often make their nests under +our roofs. They confide in us, and trust in our friendship and care. +Let us never, my boys, betray or abuse their confidence. + +There is a kind of birds who travel all over the United States. They +go from South to North, from North to South. They have not, like the +martins, the bob-o'-links, and some others, regular times for going +and coming; but travel more to obtain food than to escape the +winter, and, when once settled in a place with enough suitable food +and water, remain there till it is exhausted, and then take flight +to some other place. + +"Are you telling us a made-up story, Mother?" said Harry. + +"No, Harry, it is really and truly the wild pigeon of America of +which I am speaking. Indeed, if it were not for their great power of +flight, they must, many of them, starve to death. A proof of their +swiftness is the fact that a pigeon has been killed in the +neighborhood of New York, with rice in his crop that he must have +swallowed in the fields of Georgia or Carolina." + +"How could any one know that?" asked Harry. + +"By remembering the fact that in one of those states is the nearest +spot at which the bird could have found rice growing. It is a well +ascertained fact that their power of digestion is so great, that +their food is in the course of twelve hours so entirely changed, +that one cannot know what it was. Now the distance of the rice +fields from New York--that is, the number of miles travelled in +twelve hours--is such that the pigeon must have flown at the rate of +about a mile in a minute; so that if he pleased he might go to +England in two days; but, Frank, if you will give me that pamphlet +that lies on the table, I will read the account of the wild pigeon +of America from the book itself." + +"It was written by the celebrated Audubon, who resided a great many +years in America, and who most faithfully watched the birds he +described." + +After giving an account of the speed of the pigeon, he goes on to +say, "This great power of flight is seconded by as great a power of +vision, which enables them, as they travel at that great rate, to +view objects below, and so discover their food with facility. This I +have proved to be the case by observing the pigeons, as they were +passing over a barren part of the country, keep high in the air, and +present such an extensive front as to enable them to observe +hundreds of acres at once." + +"If, on the contrary, the land is richly covered with food, or the +trees with mast, (the fruit of the oak and beech trees,) the birds +fly low, in order to discover the portion of woods most plentifully +supplied, and there they alight. The form of body of these swift +travellers is an elongated (lengthened) oval steered by a long, +well-plumed tail,"--just as you know, Harry, you steer your boat by +the rudder in the great tub of water; "they are furnished with +extremely well set muscular wings. If a single bird is seen gliding +through the woods and close by, it passes apparently like a thought, +and the eye, on trying to see it again, searches in vain--the bird +is gone." + +The multitudes of pigeons in our woods are astonishing; and, indeed, +after having for years viewed them so often, under so many +circumstances, and I may add in many different climates, I even now +feel inclined to pause and assure myself that what I am going to +relate is fact. + +In the autumn of 1813, I left my house in Henderson, on the banks of +the Ohio, on my way to Louisville. Having met the pigeons flying +from north-east to south-west in the barrens or natural wastes, a +few miles beyond Hardensburgh, in greater apparent numbers than I +had ever seen them before, I felt an inclination to count the flocks +that would pass within the reach of my eye in one hour. I +dismounted, and, seating myself on a little eminence, took my pencil +to mark down what I saw going by and over me; and I made a dot for +every flock which passed. Finding, however, that this was next to +impossible, and feeling unable to record the flocks as they +multiplied constantly, I arose, and counting the dots already put +down, discovered that one hundred and sixty-three had been made in +twenty-one minutes. + +I travelled on, and still met more flocks the farther I went. The +air was literally filled with pigeons. The light of noonday became +dim as during an eclipse. The continued buzz of wings over me had a +tendency to incline my senses to repose. + +Whilst waiting for my dinner at Young's Inn, at the confluence of +Salt River with the Ohio, I saw, at my leisure, immense legions +still going by, with a front reaching far beyond the Ohio on the +west, and the beech wood forest directly on the east of me. Yet not +a single bird would alight, for not a nut or acorn was that year to +be seen in the neighborhood. + +The pigeons flew so high that different trials to reach them with a +capital rifle proved ineffectual, and not even the report disturbed +them in the least. A black hawk now appeared in their rear. At once +like a torrent, and with a thunder-like noise, they formed +themselves into almost a solid, compact mass, all pressing towards +the centre. + +In such a solid body, they zigzagged to escape the murderous falcon, +now down close over the earth sweeping with inconceivable velocity, +then ascending perpendicularly like a vast monument, and, when high +up, wheeling and twisting within their continuous lines, resembling +the coils of a gigantic serpent. + +Before sunset, I reached Louisville, fifty-five miles distant from +Hardensburgh. The pigeons were still passing, and continued for +three days. The banks of the river were crowded with men and +children, for here the pigeons flew rather low passing the Ohio. + +The whole atmosphere, during the time, was full of the smell +belonging to the pigeon species. It is extremely curious to see +flocks after flocks follow exactly the same evolutions when they +arrive at the same place. If a hawk, for instance, has chanced to +charge a portion of the army at a certain spot, no matter what the +zigzags, curved lines, or undulations might have been during the +affray, all the following birds keep the same track; so that if a +traveller happens to see one of these attacks, and feels a wish to +have it repeated, he may do so by waiting a short time. + +It may not perhaps be out of place to attempt an estimate of the +number of pigeons contained in one flock, and of the quantity of +food they daily consume. + +We shall take, for example, a column, one mile in breadth, which is +far below the average size, and suppose the birds to pass over us, +without interruption, for three hours, at the rate we have +mentioned, of one mile in a minute. This will give us a line one +hundred and eighty miles long by one broad, and covering one hundred +and eighty square miles. Now, allowing two pigeons to the square +yard, we have one billion, one hundred and fifteen million, one +hundred and thirty-six thousand pigeons in one flock. As every +pigeon consumes fully half a pint of food a day, the quantity +required to feed such a flock for one day must be eight million, +seven hundred and twelve thousand bushels. + +As soon as these birds discover a sufficiency of food to entice them +to alight, they fly round in circles, reviewing the country below, +and, at this time, exhibit all the beauty of their plumage. Now they +display a large glistening sheet of bright azure, by exposing their +back to view. Suddenly turning, they exhibit a mass of rich, deep +purple. + +Now they pass lower over the forest and are lost among the foliage, +for a moment, but reappear as suddenly above. Now they alight, and +then, as if affrighted, the whole again take to wing with a roar +equal to loud thunder, and wander swiftly through the forest as if +to see if danger is near. + +Hunger, however, soon brings them all to the ground, and then they +are seen industriously throwing up the fallen leaves to seek for +every beech nut or acorn. The last ranks continually pass over and +alight in front, in such quick succession that the whole still has +the appearance of being on the wing. The quantity of ground thus +harvested (moissonee) is astonishing, and so clean is the work that +no gleaners think it worth while to follow where the pigeons have +been. + +During the middle of the day, after the repast is finished, the +whole settle on the trees to enjoy rest, and digest the food; but, +as the sun sinks, the army departs in a body for the roosting place, +not unfrequently hundreds of miles off. This has been ascertained by +persons keeping account of the arrival at, and departure from the +curious roosting places, to which I must now conduct the reader. + +To one of these general nightly rendezvous, not far from the banks +of the Green River, in Kentucky, I paid repeated visits. The place +chosen was in a portion of the forest where the trees were of great +height with little under-wood. I rode over the ground lengthwise +upwards of forty miles, and crossed it in different parts, +ascertaining its average width to be a little more than three miles. + +My first view of this spot was about a fortnight after the birds had +chosen it. I arrived there nearly two hours before sunset. Few +pigeons were then to be seen, but a great number of persons with +horses and wagons, guns and ammunition, had already established +different camps on the borders. + +Many trees two feet in diameter I observed were broken at no great +distance from the ground, and the branches of many of the largest +and tallest so much so that the desolation already exhibited +equalled that of a furious tornado. The sun was lost to our view, +yet not a pigeon had arrived. All on a sudden, I heard a general cry +of, "Here they come!" + +The noise which they made, though distant, reminded me of a hard +gale at sea passing through the rigging of a close-reefed vessel. As +the birds arrived and passed over me, I felt a current of air that +surprised me. The stream of birds still kept increasing. Fires were +lighted, and many people had torches, and a most magnificent, as +well as wonderful and terrifying sight was before me. + +The pigeons, coming in by millions, alighted every where, one on the +top of another, until masses of them, resembling hanging swarms of +bees as large as hogsheads were formed on every tree. These heavy +clusters were seen to give way as the supporting branches, breaking +down with a crash, came to the ground, killing hundreds of birds +beneath, forcing down other equally large and heavy groups, and +rendering the whole a scene of uproar and distressing confusion. + +I found it quite useless to speak, or even to shout to those persons +nearest me. Even the reports of the guns were seldom heard, and I +knew only of their going off by seeing their owners reload them. It +was past midnight before I perceived a decrease in the numbers +arriving. + +The uproar continued, however, the whole night; and, as I was +anxious to know to what distance the sound reached, I sent off a +man, who told me afterwards, that at three miles he heard the sound +distinctly. Towards the approach of day, the noise rather subsided; +but long ere objects were at all distinguishable, the pigeons began +to move off in a direction quite different from that from which they +had arrived the day before. + +The place they choose for building their nests, is very unlike the +scene of confusion the roosting place presents. There you see the +tenderest affection. The birds find some forest where the trees are +very high and large, and at a convenient distance from the water. To +this place myriads of pigeons fly. There, in harmony and love, they +build their nests with parental care. Fifty or a hundred nests, made +of a few dried sticks, crossed in different ways, and supported by +suitable forks in the branches, may be seen on the same tree. The +two birds take turns to sit on the eggs; but the mother sits the +longest. The male feeds her from his bill with the greatest +tenderness, takes care of her, and does every thing he can to please +her. + +Now it is bed-time, so good night!" + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's True Stories About Dogs and Cats, by Follen + diff --git a/old/tsdgc10.zip b/old/tsdgc10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..55bbf68 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tsdgc10.zip |