ANOTHER WORLD FOR ANIMALS. 355 



And surely the idea is harmless, even if erroneous. Surely 

 it is no profane infringement as some, we believe, have 

 viewed it on our own blessed and brighter inheritance of 

 immortality. Did our prospects of that rest alone on reason- 

 ings drawn from nature, we should be almost forced, as it 

 seems to us, to admit our humble fellow-beings and fellow- 

 sufferers to a share of our anticipated future. 



But it is more in our province to illustrate than to argue. 

 Let us show, in conclusion, how two poetic minds Christian 

 men of different countries and differing creeds have thought 

 and written on this our reconciling speculation. A canine 

 favourite is the object whereon is made to hang with both 

 poets their sentiment and belief; but allowing continued 

 existence to the dog, we must not deny it (admitting the re- 

 semblance of their forms of mind) to the ant or to the bee. 

 Thus, our Southey, on the death in old age, by drowning, of 

 a faithful friend and companion of his youth : 



" But fare thee well ! mine is no narrow creed, 

 And He who gave thee being did not frame 

 The mystery of life to be the sport 

 Of merciless man ! There is another world 

 For all that live and move a better one ! 

 Where the proud bipeds, who would fain confine 

 Infinite Goodness to the little bounds 

 Of their own charity, may envy thee."* 



And thus, in substance, though in words which do but sorry 



* Southey, 1796. 



VOL. Ill 22. 



