London to John O Groat's. 69 



Having thus opened, if it may be said reverently, a 

 back-door into immortality for sagacious and affec- 

 tionate dogs and horses, they leave it ajar for the 

 admission of animals of less intelligence even for all 

 the kinds that Noah took into the ark, perhaps, although 

 the theory is still nebulous and undefined. Now, I 

 would beg the kind-hearted adherents to this theory 

 not to think I am seeking to play off a satirical plea- 

 santry upon it, if I express a hope, which is earnest 

 and true, that, if there be an immortality for any class 

 of dumb animals, the donkey shall go into it first, and 

 have a better place in it than their parlor dogs or 

 nicely-groomed horses. Evidently they are building 

 up a claim to this illustrious distinction of another 

 existence for these pets on the sole ground of merit, 

 not of works, even, but of mere intelligence, fidelity, 

 and affection. Granted ; but the donkey should go in 

 first and take the highest place on that basis. When 

 you come to that standard of moral measurement, it 

 may be claimed as among the highest of human as 

 well as animal virtues, " to learn to suffer and be 

 strong." And this virtue the donkey has learned and 

 practised incomparably beyond any other creature that 

 ever walked on four legs since the Flood. Let these 

 good people remember that their fanciful and romantic 

 favoriteisms are not to rule in the destinies awarded to 



