162 THE CHRONICLES OF A GAEDEN. 



advised, and that has the beneficial effect mentioned ; not 



tlie neglecting or tormenting them, which is too often 



called " keeping pets/' So let all encouragement be 



given to 



" Likings fresli and innocent, 

 That store the mind, the memory feed, 

 And prompt to manj^ a gentle deed." 



It would be easy to cite examples, among all classes, of 

 the great and good, of this love of animals, especially of 

 dogs. Poems have been composed on them, anecdotes 

 collected of them, biographies written of them, all telling 

 of the desire felt by the heart to have something to love 

 and protect that will love in return. 



They are to be pitied who have it not, for it is certainly 

 a source of innocent pleasure, to say the least of it ; and 

 considering, as an old gentleman used deploringly to say, 

 how few lawful pleasures there are in this world, it is as 

 well to enjoy such as we have. 



I began this chapter with the idea of merely pointing 

 out how much the presence and companionship of the 

 animal creation heightens the enjoyment of out-of-doors 

 occupations ; but I believe still more pleasure, and solace 

 too, is felt in the society of a pet by the solitary and the 

 invalid. Among the aged poor this is often met with ; 

 and harsh indeed must be the heart that w^ould blame 

 them for keeping and feeding what you may deem a 

 useless animal, " It is a kind of company to me," is the 

 touching excuse made by those who, either bedridden or 

 living alone, cherish a pet bird, a cat, or one of these queer 



