THE FARMER AT HOME J27 



of many an African king", the absolute master of the lives and liber- 

 ties often thousand naked savages. 



DOCK. This is the name of a well known plant ; and, it is ap- 

 plied to several species of the family ; sometimes cultivated in gar- 

 dens, but generally considered a troublesome weed. It has stout roots 

 and long leaves. Their roots have an austere taste, are stringent, 

 and styptic, and the seeds are sometimes used in hemorrhage. For- 

 tunately the dock does not, like the Canada thistle, spring from the 

 lower roots when the crown of the plant is cut off; and all that is 

 necessary, therefore, to eradicate it, is to strike it off below the sur- 

 face. If this is done cleanly and at once, the plant is destroyed. 



DOG. The largeness of the make, the elegance of the form, the 

 strength of the body, the freedom of the motions, and all the exterior 

 qualities, are not the noblest properties in an animated being ; and. 

 as, in mankind, understand icg is preferred to figure, courage to 

 strength, and sentiment to beauty ; so the interior qualities are those 

 which w r e esteem most in animals ; for it is in these that they differ 

 from the automaton ; it is by these they are raised above the vegeta- 

 ble, and made to approach nearer to ourselves ; it is their sense 

 which ennobles their being, which regulates, which enlivens it, which 

 commands the organs, makes the members active, gives birth to de- 

 sire, and gives to matter progressive motion, will, and life. 



The Dog, independently of his beauty, vivacity, strength, and 

 swiftness, has all the interior qualities which can attract the regard 

 of man. The tame dog comes to lay at his master's feet his courage, 

 strength, and talents, and waits his orders to use them ; he consults, 

 interrogates, and beseeches ; the glance of his eye is sufficient ; he 

 understands the signs of his will. Without the vices of man, he has 

 all the ardor of sentiment ; and what is more, he has fidelity and 

 constancy in his affections ; no ambition, no interest, no desire of re- 

 venge, no fear but that of displeasing him ; he is all zeal, all warmth, 

 and all obedience ; more sensible to the remembrance of benefits than 

 of wrongs, he soon forgets, or only remembers them to make his at- 

 tachment the stronger ; far from irritating, or running away, he even 

 exposes himself to new proofs ; he licks the hand which is the cause 

 of his pain, he only opposes it by his cries, and at length entirely dis- 

 arms it by his patience and submission. 



More docile and flexible than any other animal, the dog is not 

 only instructed in a short time, but he even conforms himself to the 

 motions, manners, and habits of those who command him ; he has all 

 the manners of the house where he inhabits; like the other domestics, 

 he is disdainful with the great, and rustic in the country, always at- 

 tentive to his master ; and striving to anticipate the wants of his 

 friends, he gives no attention to indifferent persons, and declares war 

 against those whose station makes them importunate ; he knows 

 them by their dress, their voice, 1heir gestures, and prevents their ap- 



