Animal Friends 

 and Helpers 



OST CHILDREN look upon their cats and dogs 

 as affectionate companions, bound to them 

 by strong ties of love and loyalty. On a farm, they quickly take 

 full charge of colts, lambs, calves, and kids, giving them infinite 

 care and consideration. Young animals or small ones seem to* 

 be a child's natural playmates. It often comes as quite a surprise 

 to a boy or girl to learn that these friendly, docile creatures are; 

 descended from wild beasts that once feared man or fought with 

 him. 



The story of how animals were tamed has been an important 

 one to all mankind, not merely to children. No one knows when 

 the first wild animal was domesticated. Certainly it was long, 

 long ago, before the building of the pyramids. It happened in 

 what we call prehistoric times. 



In those times, our ancestors were mostly wanderers on the 

 face of the earth. Some had learned to garden and raise crops 

 but others had not. Famine was always at their heels. They had 

 to be constantly on the move in search of the wild beasts from 

 which they took their food and clothing. Stone-tipped spears, 

 bows and arrows, and crude axes were the weapons with which 

 they fought for their livelihood in the primeval forest. 



Somehow, in some way, ancient man captured animals. Perhaps 

 he started with those that haunted the outskirts of his camp, 

 waiting to feed on his leavings. He tamed them, fed them and 

 bred them. Little by little, this new practice of his worked a 

 tremendous revolution in his way of life. Flocks and herds meant 

 a sure supply of flesh for food and pelts for clothing. With these 



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