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Dogs and
Inconsolable Grief
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| From
the earliest known
history dog was the protector of the habitation of the human being. In
every age, and almost in every part of the globe, dog has played a
principal
part in the labours, the dangers, and the pleasures of the chase.
Many
of dog's expressive
actions tells us how much he is pleased and thankful. He shares in our
abundance, and he is content with the scantiest and most humble fare.
He
loves us while living, and has been known to pine away on the grave of
his master.
The
following old story
is also an authentic instance of the inconsolable grief displayed by a
small cur-dog at the death of his master:
A
poor tailor in the parish
of St.Olave, having died, was attended to the grave by his dog, who had
expressed every token of sorrow from the instant of his master's death,
and seemed unwilling to quit the corpse even for a moment. After the
funeral
had dispersed, the faithful animal took his station upon the grave, and
was with great difficulty driven by the sexton from the church ground;
on the following day he was again observed lying on the grave of his
master,
and was a second time expelled from the premises.
Notwithstanding
the harsh
treatment received on several succeeding days by the hands of the
sexton,
this little creature would persist in occupying this position, and
overcame
every difficulty to gain access to the spot where all he held most dear
was deposited.
The
minister of the parish,
learning the circumstances of the case, ordered the dog to be carried
to
his house, where he was confined and fed for several days, in hopes of
weaning him by kind treatment to forget his sorrow occasioned by the
loss
of his master. But all his benevolent efforts were of no utility, as
the
dog availed himself of the first opportunity to escape, and immediately
repaired to his chosen spot over the grave.
This
worthy clergyman now
allowed him to follow the bent of his own inclinations and, as a
recompense
for true friendship and unfeigned sorrow, had a house built for him
over
this hallowed spot, and daily supplied him with food and water for the
space of two years, during which time he never wandered from his post,
but, as a faithful guardian, kept his lonely watch day and night, till
death at last put an end to his sufferings, and laid him by the side of
his long-expected master.
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| The
dog is the only animal
that is capable of disinterested affection. He is the only one that
regards
the human being as his companion, and follows him as his friend. Dog is
the only one that seems to possess a natural desire to be useful to us,
or from a spontaneous impulse attaches himself to us. |
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| It
is stated that the favourite
lap-dog of Mary, Queen of Scots, that accompanied her to the scaffold,
continued to caress the body after the head was cut off, and refused to
relinquish his post till forcibly withdrawn, and afterwards died with
grief
in the course of a day or two. |
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Early
Zoological History
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The
very first
animal of the domestication of which we have any account, was the
sheep. "Abel was a keeper of sheep."
It is difficult
to believe
that any long time would pass before the dog who now, in every country
of the world, is the companion of the shepherd, and the director or
guardian
of the sheep would be enlisted in the service of man.
In process of
time, man began to
surround himself with many servants from the animal world, but among
them
all he had only one friend - the dog. Dog was the only animal whose
service
was voluntary, and who was susceptible of disinterested affection and
gratitude.
In every country, and in every time, there was a special connection
existed
between man and the dog, a very different from that which is observed
between
him and any other animal.
The ox and the
sheep submit to
our control, but their affections are principally, if not solely,
confined
to themselves. They submit to us, but they can rarely be said to love,
or even to recognise us, except as connected with the supply of their
wants.
The horse will share some of our pleasures. He enjoys the chase as much
as does his rider; and, when contending for victory on the course, he
feels
the full influence of emulation. Remembering the pleasure he has
experienced
with his master, or the daily supply of food from the hand of the
groom,
he often exhibits evident tokens of recognition; but that is founded on
a selfish principle, he neighs that he may be fed, and his affections
are
easily transferred.
We could take the
bridle from the
mouth of the horse, and turn him free into the pasture, and he
testifies
his joy in his partially recovered liberty. We exact from the dog the
service
that is required of him, and he still follows us. He solicits to be
continued
as our companion and our friend. |
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