156 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



else to term it, and we could refer our readers to 

 well-authenticated stories in print — as our dear 

 old nurse used to say when she was determined to 

 silence all incredulity — that go as far, and even 

 farther, to show that these animals can calculate 

 intervals of time. 



We conclude with 

 dote illustrative of 



a very touching anec- 



THE AFFECTION OF A WOLF. 



The wolf, truculent though he be, is capable 

 of a most cordial attachment to man. We have 

 seen one follow his master about with all the 

 manners of a faithful dog, and doing his bidding 

 as obediently. In the instance recorded byM.F. 

 Cuvier, the wolf was brought up and treated like 

 a young dog; he became familiar with everybody 

 whom he saw frequently, but he distinguished his 

 master, was restless in his absence, and happy in 

 his presence, acting almost precisely as a favorite 

 dog would act. But his master was under the 

 necessity of being absent for a time, and the un- 

 fortunate wolf was presented to the Menagerie du 

 Roi — where he was incarcerated in a den — he who 

 had " affections, passions." Most disconsolate of 

 wolves was he, poor fellow ! he pined — he refused 

 his food — but the persevering kindness of his 

 keepers had its effect upon his broken spirit, he 

 became fond of them, and everybody thought that 

 his ancient attachment was obliterated. Eighteen 

 long months had elapsed since his imprisonment, 

 when his old master came to see him. The first 

 word uttered by the man, who was mingled in the 

 crowd, had a magical eifect. The poor wolf 

 instantly recognised him with the most joyous de- 

 monstrations, and being set at liberty, fawned 

 upon his old friend, and caressed him in the most 

 affecting manner. We wish we could end the story 

 here ; but our wolf was again shut up, and another 

 separation brought with it sadness and sorrow. 

 A dog was given to him as a companion. Three 

 years had elaj sed since he last lost sight of the 

 object of his early adoration ; time had done much 

 to soothe him, and his chum and he lived happily 

 together — when the old master came again. 



The " once familiar word " was uttered — the 

 impatient cries of the faithful creature, and his 

 eagerness to get to his master, went to the hearts 

 of all ; and when he was let out of his cage, and 

 rushed to him, and with his feet on his shoulders, 

 licked his face, redoubling his cries of joy, 

 because he who had been lost was found ; the eyes 

 of bearded men, who stood by, were moistened, 

 His keepers, to whom a moment before he had 

 been all fondness, now endeavored to remove him ; 

 but all the wolf was then aroused within him, and 

 he turned upon them with furious menaces. Again 

 the time came when the feelings of this unhappy 

 animal were to be sharply tried. A third separa- 

 tion was effected. The gloom and sullenness of 

 the wolf were of a more deep complexion, and his 

 refusal of food more stubborn, so that his life ap- 

 peared to be in danger. His health, indeed — if 

 health it could be called — slowly returned ; but 

 he was morose and misanthropic, and though the 

 fond wretch endured the caresses of his keepers, 

 he became savage and dangerous to all others who 

 approached him. Here was a noble temper 

 ruined. 



Excelsior, — No. 1. Nisbet and Co. 



This is a new monthly aspirant for fame, 

 professing to help Religion, Science, and 

 Literature. The first glance at it, aided by 

 the pedantry of its title, tells us at once that 

 it is not for the multitude, but for a particular 

 class of people. 



Supported, as a periodical like this is sure 

 to be, by a certain clique, its success as a 

 speculation cannot be doubtful. It is a 

 medley, however, that can never become 

 generally popular ; although it contains some 

 subjects of pleasing interest. The admixture 

 of religion with its other features, is in the 

 most questionable taste ; for however good 

 anything may be, there is a time and a place 

 for everything, and cant is at all times ob- 

 jectionable. We can afford to speak our 

 mind openly. 



Let us, however, turn from the blemishes, 

 to give an example of the beauties. From 

 a very interesting paper on u Life in its lower 

 Forms," we extract the following : — 



WHAT IS LIFE? 



There is a mystery couched under that little 

 word, which all the research of philosophers has 

 not been able to solve. Science, with the ex- 

 perience of ages, with all the appliances of art, 

 and with all the persevering ingenuity and skill 

 that could be brought to bear upon it, has ardently 

 labored to lift the veil; but philosophy, and 

 science, and art, stand abashed before the problem, 

 and confess it a mystery still. The phenomena, 

 the properties of life, are readily observable. We 

 take a bird in our hands; a few moments ago it 

 was full of energy and animation ; it shook its 

 little wings as it hopped from perch to perch ; its 

 eyes glanced brightly, and its throat quivered as 

 it poured out the thrilling song which delighted 

 us. Now, the voice has ceased, the eye is dim, 

 the limbs are stiffening, and we know that it will 

 move no more. Chemical changes have already 

 begun to operate upon its organs ; decomposition 

 is doing its work, and soon the beautiful little 

 bird will be a heap of dust. We say that its life 

 has gone ; but what is it that has gone ? If we 

 put the body in the most delicate balance, it 

 weighs not a grain less than when it was alive ; 

 if we measure it, its dimensions are precisely the 

 same ; the scalpel of the anatomist finds all the 

 constituent parts that made the living being ; and 

 what that mighty principle is, the loss of which 

 has wrought such a change, alike eludes research 

 and baffles conjecture. We are compelled here to 

 recognise the Great First Cause, and to say, "In 

 Him we live, and move, and have our being." 



The researches of modern science, however, 

 aided by the inventions which it has brought into 

 requisition, though they have been unable to throw 

 a single ray of light on the nature of Life itself, 

 have yet done much to make us familiar with its 

 phenomena. The microscope, in particular, has 

 opened to our inquiry what we may call a world 

 of life, under phases and forms as strange and 

 surprising as they were before unknown. It has 

 enabled us also to separate and analyse the various 

 substances or tissues of which the highest forms 



