CHAPTER XIV 



The Character of Moses — He Learns a Human Word — He Signs 

 His Name to a Document — His Illness — Death 



I KNOW of nothing in the way of affection and loyalty 

 among animals that can exceed the devotion of my 

 Moses. Not only was he tame and tractable, but he never 

 tired of caressing me and being caressed by me. For hours 

 together he would cling to my neck, play with my ears, 

 lips, and nose, bite my cheek, and hug me like a last hope. 

 He was never willing for me to put him down from my lap, 

 never willing for me to leave my cage without him, never 

 willing for me to caress anything else but himself, and never 

 willing for me to discontinue caressing him. He would cry 

 and fret for me whenever we were separated ; and I must 

 confess that my absence from him during a journey of three 

 weeks hastened his sad and untimely death. 



From the second day after we became associated he 

 appeared to regard me as the one in authority. He would 

 not resent anything I did to him. I could take his food 

 out of his hands, but he would permit no one else to do so. 

 He would follow me and cry after me like a child. As 

 time went by, his attachment grew stronger and stronger. 

 He gave every evidence of pleasure at my attentions, and 

 evinced a certain degree of appreciation and gratitude in 

 return. He would divide any morsel of food with me. 



l 34 



