fifteen] happy animals 



a fine almond grove. In summer, when the nuts 

 begin to ripen and fall to the ground, the cat and its 

 mistress work side by side, every fine morning, 

 gathering the nuts. "Richelieu darts back and 

 forth, busily picking up the almonds, one at a 

 time, with his teeth, and dropping them into the 

 basket. This he continues to do until he has 

 made a much more sure cleaning of the ground 

 than his mistress could do. When she feels a 

 gentle tug at her dress, and a loud purring as he 

 rubs against her skirt, she understands that the 

 nuts are all in the basket." This same cat is re- 

 ported to be quite as expert at a small churn as a 

 Newfoundland dog. What is more curious is, 

 that he knows just when the butter has come and 

 should be taken from the churn. I think the secret 

 is very much as it is with children ; train an animal 

 to find its fun in work, and work becomes its 

 passion. 



We need to comprehend the fact that we are 

 not so far removed from other living creatures. 

 There is a possible communication between us 

 much more wide and much more deep than we are 

 fond of confessing. We must not wait for animals 

 to learn our language, but must have the courtesy 



[345] 



