Stories of Animal Sagacity Read online

  CHAPTER SIX.

  OXEN.

  The virtues of cows are more active than passive. I may sum them up bysaying that they are very affectionate mothers, and will sometimes, likehorses and dogs, find their way across the country to the spot wherethey have been bred.

  THE PROUD COW.

  Mrs F--told me the following anecdote:--Her father had four cows, whichevery evening, at milking-time, were driven from the field into theirbyre. On their way they had to pass through the farmyard, when theywould endeavour to snatch as many mouthfuls of hay as they had time tosecure from the hay-stacks. One especially, who was accustomed to takethe lead of the other cows, was more particularly addicted to thistrick. She was thus sometimes the last to be driven into the byre.When, however, she found that her three companions had entered beforeher, nothing would induce her to follow them. She would stand with herfore-legs just over the threshold, stretch forth her neck, and mooangrily; but further than this, neither coaxing, blows, nor the barkingof the dog at her heels, would induce her to go. The contest alwaysended in the rest of the cows being driven out; when she would at oncetake the lead, and walk quietly into her stall without the leastpersuasion. The dairy-maid called her the Proud Cow.

  Another Irish cow has been known to act in a similar manner.

  So her pride brought Mistress Cow many a whack on the back. Depend onit, if you stand on your dignity, you may often suffer, as she did.

  THE COW AND HER TORMENTOR.

  In my younger days, I had a companion who used to catch our tutor's cowby the tail, and make her drag him at full speed round and round thefield. One day, when he was quietly walking along the path to church,the cow espied him, and making chase, very nearly caught him with herhorns as he leaped over the nearest gate.

  I will tell you of another cow, which was frequently annoyed by a boyamusing himself with throwing stones at her. She had borne his mischieffor some time, when at length, making after him, she hooked the end ofher horns into his clothes, lifted him from the ground, carried him outof the field, and laid him down in the road. She then, satisfied withthe gentle punishment she had inflicted, returned calmly to her pasture.

  A COW SEEKING HER CALF.

  Cows have as much affection for their young as have other animals, andit is piteous to hear them mooing when deprived of their calves.

  A cow had her calf taken from her, and left at Bushy Park, while she wasdriven off to Smithfield to be sold. The following morning, when it wassupposed the cow was in London, she appeared at the gate of the yard inwhich her calf was confined. Influenced by her love for her offspring,she had broken out of the pen, passed through all the streets of thesuburbs without being stopped by the police, who naturally supposed,from her quiet demeanour, that the drover must be at her heels; and oncein the country, had quickly traversed the twelve miles which took her toher former home. It is probable that she traversed the same road toBushy which she had followed when being driven from that place toSmithfield.

  In Africa, the Hottentot shepherds employ a species of cow to guardtheir flocks of sheep. They keep the animals together with all thesagacity of Scotch sheep-dogs, and will attack with the utmost braveryany enemy attempting to injure them.

  What difficulties does true love overcome! If that poor dull cow couldfeel such love for her offspring as to overcome the usual apathy of herkind, what must be the feelings of a human mother towards her children!Can you, then, ever carelessly wound yours by your misconduct?

  A SAVAGE BULL TAMED BY KINDNESS.

  A savage bull was kept in a farmyard constantly chained on account ofits fierceness. A gentleman who went to stay at the farm was anespecial object of dislike to the animal. One night, during atremendous storm of thunder and lightning, the bull was heard to roarpiteously, evidently alarmed at the strife of the elements. Theservants were ordered to lead the bull from its open shed into a closestable, where it would be less exposed; but they were afraid to go. Thevisitor, therefore, compassionating the animal, although it had shownitself his determined foe, went out into the yard. Here he found thebull lying on its back; having, in its struggles to get free, almosttorn the ring through the gristle of its nose. No sooner did he appearthan the creature rose, and by its fawning actions showed how delightedit was to obtain the companionship of a human being. Now quiet as alamb, it allowed the stranger to lead it into the stable; and the nextmorning, when he went to visit it, it endeavoured to express itsgratitude by rubbing its nose against him.

  From that day forward it always treated him as a friend, while itremained as savage as before towards every one else.

  There are times when the most savage hearts can be touched. Wait forthem, and then apply the soothing balm of gentleness.

  THE FAITHFUL BUFFALO.

  Ferocious in aspect as is the long hairy-skinned buffalo--or properlythe bison--of America, and savage when attacked, yet it is capable ofdevoted affection towards its own kind.

  A party of hunters were riding on the prairies, when two finebuffalo-bulls were seen proceeding along the opposite side of a stream.One of the hunters took aim at the nearest buffalo, which was crossingwith his haunches towards him. The ball broke the animal's right hip,and he plunged away on three legs, the other hanging useless. Thehunter, leaping on his horse, put spurs to its flanks, and in threeminutes he and his companions were close on the bull. To hisastonishment, and the still greater surprise of two older hunters, theunhurt bull stuck to his comrade's side without flinching. He firedanother shot, which took effect in the lungs of the first buffalo. Thesecond sheered off for a moment, but instantly returned to his friend.The wounded buffalo became distressed, and slackened his pace. Theunwounded one not only retarded his, but coming to the rear of hisfriend, stood with his head down, offering battle.

  Here indeed was devotion! The sight was, to all three of the hunters, asublime one. They could no more have accepted the challenge of thisbrave creature, than they could have smitten Damon at the side ofPythias. The wounded buffalo ran on to the border of the next marsh,and, in attempting to cross, fell headlong down the steep bank. Nottill that moment, when courage was useless, did his faithful companionseek his own safety in flight. The hunters took off their hats, andgave three parting cheers, as he vanished on the other side of the wood.

  THE AFFECTIONATE BUFFALO-BULL.

  The cow-buffaloes are frequently attracted by a ruse of the Indians,which they call "making a calf." One of the party covers himself with abuffalo-skin, and another with the skin of a wolf. They then creep onall-fours within sight of the buffaloes, when the pretended wolf jumpson the back of the pretended calf, which bellows in imitation of thereal one, crying for assistance.

  A white man and an Indian were hunting together. At length a solitarybull and cow were seen in the distance. After the Indian personatingthe calf had bellowed a short time, the cow ran forward, and attemptedto spring towards the hunters; but the bull, seeming to understand thetrick, tried to stop her by running between them. The cow now dodgedand got round him, and ran within ten or fifteen yards of them, with thebull close at her heels, when both men fired, and brought her down. Thebull instantly stopped short, and bending over her, tried to help her upwith his nose, evincing the most persevering affection for her; norcould they get rid of him, so as to cut up the cow, without shooting himalso--a cruel reward to the noble animal for his conjugal affection.

  This account, which is mentioned by Mr Kane the artist, and thatpreviously given, show that these animals are capable of great affectionfor each other, though in general they leave their wounded comrades toshift for themselves.

  THE KIND OX AND THE SHEEP.

  I have to tell you of an instance of the benevolence of an ox. Oxen maypossess many virtues, but are not in the habit of making a parade ofthem. Sheep are sometimes seized with fits, when they fall on theirback, and are unable of themselves to regain their legs. While in thishelpless position, they are sometimes attacked by birds of prey, whichte
ar out their eyes, and otherwise injure them.

  An unfortunate sheep had fallen in the way I have described, and was invain endeavouring to struggle to its feet, when an ox, grazing near,observed what had happened. Going up to it, it carefully turned theanimal over on its side; and when it had regained its feet, walked away,and went on feeding as before, satisfied that it had done what waswanted.

  My young friends, try to help those in distress, though there may be asmuch difference between you and them as between that ox and the sheep.

  THE COURAGEOUS BULL.

  I remember meeting with an account of a bull, which fed on the savannahsof Central America. He had gored so many cattle, that he was at lengthcaught with a lasso, and to prevent him doing further mischief, the tipsof his horns were blunted. Some weeks after, a cow belonging to hisherd was found killed by a jaguar, and from the state of the bull's headand neck, which were fearfully torn, it was evident that he had foughtbravely for the animals under his care. It was now seen that it wouldhave been wiser not to have deprived the defender of the herd of hisweapons.

  To enable him to do battle in future, he was secured, his wounds weredressed, and his horns made sharp again. The body of the cow havingbeen preserved from the birds and beasts of prey during the day, thegallant bull was turned out again in the evening. The jaguar, as wasexpected, returned at night, when a furious battle took place. The nextmorning the jaguar was found dead, pierced through and through, close bythe cow; while the bull, which stood near, bleeding from many a wound,was seen to rush, ever and anon, against his now helpless antagonist.

  THE BRAVE BULL AND THE WISE PIG.

  A pig had been stolen by two men, who were driving it at night along anunfrequented path in the neighbourhood of Rotherham. As the pigsqueaked loudly, they feared they might be betrayed, and were about tokill it. The pig, however, struggled violently, and had alreadyreceived a wound, when it managed to escape into a neighbouring field,squeaking still louder, and with the blood flowing from its wound. Therobbers, pursuing the pig, found themselves face to face with a largebull, which had been till now grazing quietly. Apparently understandingthe state of affairs, and compassionating, it may be presumed, the pig,he ran fiercely at the men, compelling them to fly for their lives. Itwas only, indeed, by leaping desperately over a hedge, that they escapedan ugly toss from the horns of the animal.

  In vain did they wait, in the hope of recovering the pig. Piggy, havingfound a powerful friend, was too wise to desert him, and kept close tohis heels, till the crowing of the cocks in the neighbouring farmswarned the robbers to make their escape.