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Page 65.

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from the field of conflict.

He involves his

friends and his foes alike in one common ruin."

"There can be no certainty, papa, then, that they will be of much use to those who employ them."

"I think there is not. I was lately reading Forbes's Oriental Memoirs: there is an interesting account of the utility and the sagacity of the elephant. Give me the volume: I think it is on the sideboard. I have not quite finished it. He says, 'I performed many long journeys upon an elephant: nothing could exceed the sagacity, docility, and affection of this noble quadruped. If I stopped to enjoy a prospect, he remained immovable till my sketch was finished. If I wished for ripe mangoes, growing out of the common reach, he selected the most fruitful branch, and breaking it off with his trunk, offered it to the driver for the company on his back; accepting of any part given to himself with a respectful bow, by raising his trunk three times above his head, in the manner of the oriental obeisance, and as often did he express his thanks by a murmuring noise. When a bough obstructed our progress, he twisted his trunk around it, and though of considerable magnitude, broke it off with ease; and often gathered a leafy branch, either to keep off the flies, or as a fan to agitate the air around him,

by waving it with his trunk. He generally paid a visit to the tent-door during breakfast, to procure sugar-candy or fruit, and to be cheered by the encomiums and caresses he deservedly met with. No spaniel could be more innocently playful, nor fonder of those who noticed him, than this docile animal, which, on particular occasions, appeared conscious of his exaltation above the brute creation.'

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"This is a very pleasing passage, papa. You see, Forbes notices what I thought was very visible, the satisfaction and joy of the elephant on being commended. How surprising it is, that the flies should annoy so huge a creature."

"It is. We should never make a foe of any person, however low he may be in the scale of society. Some time or other he may be in a state to do us essential service or injury."

"Forbes remarks, papa, that he went long journeys on an elephant: surely he must have been a long time going."

"No, though it is so unwieldy a creature, it often travels very rapidly. It will often, for five or six weeks together, go on at the rate of forty or fifty miles a day, and do it very cheerfully, and with a considerable load on its back." "How, papa, can they tame so prodigious a creature?"

66

By various methods; and they often do it

in a few days. They fasten the animal they have taken by ropes thrown round the legs and body, which they make secure. They place the wild captive usually between two tame ones: these caress and soothe him. The keepers also assiduousiy attend him with food, and refresh him by throwing water over him occasionally; till, in a very little while, he loses his ferocity, and does as his attendant bids him."

'

"It was said, papa, in the chapter you read this morning at family devotion, that every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind. But the tongue," the apostle says, is more ungovernable than the very beasts of the forests: this he declares 'no man can tame: it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.""

"But there are methods of taming an unruly tongue, Edwin."

it.'

"But, papa, James says, no man can tame

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"True, not in his own strength. But if, by the help of God, he endeavours to watch over his thoughts, and to keep the door of his lips, the tongue may, and often has been tamed, and is tamed; and the good fruit it produces is compared by Solomon to that of the tree of

life. But what other animals did you see, Edwin?"

"I did not make any memoranda of those I had repeatedly seen before. There was a lion, a hyæna, and a bear; but you know, papa, we have repeatedly seen these."

"Yes.

seen."

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Mention only those you had not

They were but a few. There was an orang outang. They called him the wild man of the woods. I was disappointed in this animal. I did not see any very striking resemblance to the human form."

"This has always been the impression on my own mind. Indeed, it generally walks on all fours. This is its natural position; and it clings to the branches of trees with its toes, which are as long as fingers, as well as with its hands. It seems to me to be only a superior species of ape. Buffon, indeed, says of one, that he had seen him sit down at table, unfold his napkin, wipe his lips, use a spoon or fork to carry the victuals to his mouth, pour his liquor into a glass, and make it touch that of a person who drank along with him. When invited to take tea, he brought a cup and a saucer, placed them on the table, put in sugar, poured out the tea, and allowed it to cool before he drank it. All these actions he performed by the signs

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