Kin] AND SYMBOLS. 187 



such aid. Human kindness in institutions is conspicuous for 

 the mode in which it selects and trains those little ones who 

 need a careful hand to form them for a higher life. And 

 although of course there must be ingratitude in an imperfect 

 world, do not the individual and the institution in numberless 

 cases find that kindness has borne beautiful blossom? How 

 many an uninteresting old life has become rejuvenescent through 

 the adoption of the young life ; has rejoiced in its productions, 

 and been glorified by its purity ! v. 



The Transforming Power of Kindness. 



There is nothing in the nature of the wildest animals to make 

 their future gentleness and sociability either impossible or im- 

 probable. Even the devourers and their prey may by kind and 

 judicious management be trained to live peaceably and harm- 

 lessly together. Nothing appears more effectual to produce this 

 pleasing melioration than patient and persevering, kind and 

 gentle treatment. They are now wild and savage from the 

 appointed circumstances amid which they are at present ordained 

 to live. The jackal, when taken young, acquires the same 

 affectionate disposition as the dog. The lion has been repeatedly 

 tamed, and so has the fox. Eubens had a tame lion four weeks 

 in his room to paint from. The large tiger-cat is easily tamed. 

 The otter may be taught to catch fish for its master. The 

 Egyptian ichneumon may be softened so as to be kept in a house 

 like a cat. The weasel may be trained to follow a person any- 

 where. We see the bear repeatedly in our streets. The badger 

 may be also made docile if caught young. The rhinoceros and 

 hippopotamus may be tamed in some degree. The tiger, if taken 

 young, may be domesticated. Cuvier describes a young wolf 

 that was brought up like a young dog, and differed in nothing 

 from the tamest dog. Father Carli, in his history of Angola, 

 mentions that he had taught monkeys to attend him, to guard 

 him whilst sleeping against thieves and rats, and to fetch water. 

 The little " arab " of the London streets may by taming become 

 a learned man. p. 



