68 A Walk from 



the World's Saviour and Ee-Creator. Poor, libelled, 

 hopeless beast ! I pity you from my heart's heart. 

 How I wish for Sterne's pen to do you some measure 

 of justice or condolence under this heavy load of oppro- 

 brium that bends your back and makes your life so 

 sunless and bitter ! Come here, sir ! here is a biscuit 

 for you, of the finest wheat ; few of your race get such 

 morsels ; so, eat it and be thankful. What ears ! No 

 wonder our friend Patrick called you " the father of all 

 rabbits " at first sight. No ! don't turn away your 

 head, as if I were going to strike you. 



Most animals are best described from a certain point 

 of view, in a fixed and quiescent attitude. But the 

 donkey should be taken in the very act of this charac- 

 teristic motion. You put out your hand in the gentlest 

 manner to pat any one of them you meet, and he will 

 instinctively turn away his head for fear of a beating. 



There is an interesting speculation now coming up 

 among modern reveries in regard to the immortality of 

 certain animals of great intelligence and domestic vir- 

 tues. A large and tender kindness of disposition is the 

 father of the thought, it may be ; but the thought seems 

 to gain ground and take shape, that so much of appa- 

 rently human mind and heart as the dog possesses 

 cannot be destined to annihilation at his death, but 

 must live and enlarge in another sphere of existence. 



