FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61  
62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   >>   >|  
, 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 durin
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61  
62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

bantam

 

terrier

 

recovered

 

warmth

 

friend

 

patient

 

passed

 

beings

 

suffering

 
kennel

passers
 

coming

 

dragged

 
attempting
 

COMPASSIONATE

 

Liverpool

 
curious
 

instance

 
stoned
 

number


animals
 

friendship

 

impart

 

beginning

 

stretched

 

licked

 

revive

 

behaviour

 

noticing

 

obtain


people

 

witnessed

 

interfere

 
Barking
 

furiously

 

induced

 

indignation

 
brutal
 

proceedings

 
rushed

senseless
 
Talbot
 

belonged

 

bleeding

 

carried

 

physician

 

fearless

 

prison

 
understood
 

feelings