THE VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL KINGDOMS. 163 



kind and gentle treatment, much more does the essentially 

 weaker character of the dumb creature. And if the innocence 

 of infancy is touching, still more so is the even more harmless 

 character, which (overlooking carnivorous instincts implanted 

 in certain families for a wise purpose) attaches to the lower 

 animals. It is common, under the influence of prejudice, to 

 do gross injustice to the characters of these denizens of nature's 

 common. We do not sufficiently reflect on their respectable 

 qualities. Yet we must go to the dog for a type of the virtue 

 of fidelity, and to the bee for that of industry. The parental 

 affection of many animals is not below, if it is not considerably 

 above, that of human mothers. Man nowhere exemplifies the 

 virtue of patience, in the practical perfection in which we see 

 it in the horse and many other creatures which become the 

 slaves of his convenience. Nowhere does he display that per- 

 fect moderation in wants. Alas for man's boasted superiority 

 in how many respects does it fail beside the unassuming 

 merits of the mere commonalty of nature ! 



M 2 



