“In cutting down some trees on the estate recently purchased by the crown at Petersham, for the purpose of being annexed to Richmond park, the axe was applied to the root of a tall tree, on the top of which was a squirrel’s nest.  A rope was fastened to the tree for the purpose of pulling it down more expeditiously; the workmen cut at the roots; the rope was pulled; the tree swayed backwards and forwards, and at length fell.  During all these operations a female squirrel never attempted to desert her new-born young, but remained with them in the nest.  When the tree fell down, she was thrown out and secured unhurt, and was put into a cage with her young ones.  She suckled them for a short time, but refused to eat.  Her maternal affection, however, remained till the last moment of her life, and she died in the act of affording all the nourishment in her power to her offspring.

“We are too apt, Boys, to overlook the admirable lessons which such stories as these inculcate.  They should teach us kindness to each other—­kindness, indeed, not only to those of our own species, but kindness to all created creatures.  If the lower animals love each other so warmly and affectionately, how much more ought man, to whom the Creator has been so beneficent, to love his fellow creatures.  But though the attachment of animals to their offspring is an admirable mode of its developement, it is far from being the only one.  After all the STORIES ABOUT DOGS—­their love of their master—­their fidelity—­their sagacity—­which I will relate to you at a future time, it is hardly necessary for me to bring forward evidence in favour of this position.  Here is an instance of friendship, as it is called, between horses, which was so strong as to terminate fatally.

“During the Peninsular war, two horses, which had long been associated together, assisting to drag the same piece of artillery, and standing together the shock of many battles, became so much attached to each other as to be inseparable companions.  At length one of them was killed.  After the battle in which this took place, the other was picquetted as usual, and his food brought to him.  He refused, however, to eat, and was constantly turning round his head to look for his companion, sometimes neighing as if to call her.  All the attention which was bestowed upon him was of no avail; though surrounded by horses he took no notice of them, but incessantly bewailed his absent friend.  He died shortly after, having refused to taste food from the time his former companion was killed!

“Such is but one solitary instance.  But there are many such scattered up and down in the ample records of nature, bearing silent but emphatic testimony to the kindness and beneficence of the Creator.  Let them but be searched for in a proper and gentle spirit, and they are sure to be found.

                              “Not a tree,
    A plant, a leaf, a blossom, but contains
    A folio volume:  we may read, and read,
    And read again, but still find something new—­
    Something to please, and something to instruct,
    E’en in the noisome weed.”