ANIMAL FRIENDS 129 



Besides being very intelligent they have great 

 memories, and are very affectionate. They have 

 been known to remember people after years of 

 separation, even recognizing grown persons whom 

 they had loved as children. 



Horses cannot work or carry loads by themselves 

 as the elephants do, but they are very intelligent 

 animals, and great workers. 



Their memory is remarkable. They never forget 

 persons who have been good to them, and they often 

 remember quite as long those who have hurt or 

 vexed them. A delicately bred horse is as sensitive 

 as a person and cannot bear a sharp or harsh voice 

 or rough ways. Such horses are trained by kindness. 



Have you heard the story of how Alexander the 

 Great, when a boy, was able to get control of the 

 beautiful horse, Bucephalus, a horse which none of 

 his father's trainers could mount? He did it by 

 thoughtfulness and by kindness. Bucephalus, though 

 a powerful horse, throwing from his back all those 

 who had tried to mount him, recognized the loving 

 strength of the boy and became Alexander's most 

 faithful friend. For a faithful dog or horse or ele- 

 phant is more than a servant, — it is a friend, loving 

 with true devotion those who show it love and care 

 and comradeship. 



It is a marvelous gift which God has given us, — 

 that of training animals and teaching them to do as 

 we wish. Why do the animals obey us, do you 

 suppose? Perhaps it is because they feel the love 

 and interest that we give them; for if we start to 

 train an animal we learn to love it. All animals know 



