362 Life and Immortality. 



would be of the slightest avail. In most cases where an 

 animal is ferocious, I firmly believe that fear, and not ill- 

 temper, is the real cause of its conduct. Let a little kind- 

 ness be shown, and the animal will never forget it. Such 

 acts, repeatedly performed, assure it that your intentions 

 are well-meant, and it soon learns to recognize in you a 

 friend. The memory of your goodness will often be recol- 

 lected after long years of separation, and the most joyous 

 feelings be manifested at the sight of your presence upon 

 returning home. Everyone who has had personal experi- 

 ence of domesticated animals must have remarked the great 

 strength and endurance of their powers of memory. The 

 dog, the cat, the horse and the ass afford so many familiar 

 anecdotes in point, that I shall be obliged to pass them over 

 and restrict my illustrations to a few animals about which 

 little has been said. 



For obstinacy of opinion no animal can excel the pig. 

 He is a creature whom few, on account of his uncleanly 

 person and disgusting habits, would care to caress. Yet 

 there is no animal under man's care that enjoys such treat- 

 ment better than he does. He will stand for hours while 

 you rub his head and back, the very impersonation of con- 

 tentment, never failing to express his thanks and apprecia- 

 tion by occasional monosyllabic grunts. A friend of ours, 

 living in Northern Indiana, had a fine fellow, whom he had 

 raised from infancy. When he was quite young, he began to 

 show him considerable attention, picking him up in his arms, 

 and fondling him in the most affectionate manner. The 

 choicest food was always reserved for him, and the cosiest 

 bed of straw provided for his nightly rest. In process of 

 time the animal grew to great size, but he never forgot these 

 early attentions. He expected them all the same. When 

 denied what he deemed were his lawful rights, he would set 

 up an unearthly squealing, enough to split the ears of the 

 groundlings, and refuse to be comforted until his demands 

 were satisfied. Never was the master, when out of the 



