For, settling on his grated roof, He chirped and kissed him, giving proof That he desired no more; Nor would forsake his cage at last, Till, gently seized, I shut him fast, A prisoner as before. O ye who never knew the joys VIII.- TAMING OF FISHES. [This piece is found in the Child's Friend for 1848. It is there stated to have originally appeared in a newspaper.] THERE is a little girl of six years old, residing on the borders of the pond which supplies water for the furnace works at Weare River, in the town of Hingham, in Massachusetts, who has a most wonderful control over a class of animals hitherto thought to be untamable. For a year or two past, the little girl has been in the habit of playing about the pond, and throwing crumbs into the water for the fishes. By degrees these timid creatures have become so tame as to come at her call, follow her about the pond, and eat from her hand. A gentleman went down there a few days since, with his daughter, to see the little creatures and their mistress. At first the fishes were mistaken, and came up to the surface of the water as the gentleman's daughter approached; but in a moment they discovered their mistake, and whisked away from the stranger in evident dissatisfaction. Their own mistress then came up and called, and they crowded towards her, clustering about her hands to receive the crumbs. She has, besides, a turtle, or tortoise, which has been injured in one of its feet. This creature lives in the pond, and seems * Fandango, a kind of dance. to be entirely under the control of the little girl, obeying her voice, and feeding from her hand. We have just returned from a visit to the pond, and have seen the bright-eyed girl sporting with her obedient swarms of pickerel, pouts, and shiners, patting them on the head, touching their sides, and letting them slip through her hands. She has her favorites among them. A pout, which has been marked on the head in some way, and the turtle we spoke of, seem uncommonly intelligent. A more beautiful instance of the influence of kindness and gentleness can hardly be found. Lions and tigers have been subjected to man, but this instance of taming fishes is as novel as it is interesting. [The following account of an educated monkey is taken from the Student and Schoolmate, a periodical publication for young persons. It was written by a French gentleman who visited Pernambuco, in Brazil, in 1854] A SHORT time ago I dined at a Brazilian merchant's. The conversation turned upon the well-tutored monkey of Mr. Vanneck, a Creole gentleman, which had been caught in the woods, and brought to its master in a wild state. Every one praised the accomplished animal, giving such wonderful accounts of its talents that I could not help expressing some incredulity. My host smiled, saying that I was not the first who would not believe in these results of animal education until he had seen it with his own eyes. He therefore proposed to me to call with him on Mr. Vanneck. I gladly consented, and on the following morning we set out. The house of this gentleman was in the country, about an hour's ride from town. We proceeded along splendid hedges of cactus, shaded by bananas and palm trees, and at last observed the charming villa. A servant received us at the entrance, and took us to the parlor; hastening to tell his master of our visit. The first object which caught our attention was the monkey, seated on a stool, and sewing with great industry. Much struck, I watched him attentively; while he, not paying any attention to us, proceeded with his work. The door opened, and Mr. Vanneck, reclining on an easy chair, was wheeled in. Though his legs are paralyzed, he seemed bright and cheerful; and he welcomed us most kindly. The monkey went on sewing with great zeal. I could not refrain from exclaiming, "How wonderful!" for the manner and movements of the animal were those of a practised tailor. He was sewing a pair of striped pantaloons, the narrow shape of which showed that they were intended for himself. A servant now appeared, announcing Madame Jasmin, whom Mr. Vanneck introduced as his neighbor. Madame Jasmin was accompanied by her little daughter, a girl of twelve years, who immediately ran to the monkey, greeting him as an old friend, and beginning to prattle with him. Jack furtively peeped at his master; but as Mr. Vanneck's glance was stern, the tailor went on sewing. Suddenly his thread broke, and he put the end to his mouth, smoothed it with his lips, twisted it with his left paw, and threaded the needle again. Mr. Vanneck then turned to him, and speaking in the same calm tone in which he had conversed with us, said, "Jack, put up your work, and sweep the floor." Jack hurried to the adjoining room, and came back without delay, with a broom in his paw, and swept and dusted like a clever housemaid. I could now perfectly make out his size, as he walked upright, and not on his four hands. He was about three feet in height, but stooped a little. He was dressed in linen pantaloons, a colored shirt, a jacket, and a red cravat. At another hint from his master, Jack went and brought several glasses of lemonade on a tray. He first presented the tray to Madame Jasmin and her daughter, then to us, precisely like a well-bred footman. When I had emptied my glass, he hastened to relieve me of it, putting it back on the tray. Mr. Vanneck now took out his watch, and showed it to the monkey; it was just three. Jack went and brought a cup of broth to his master, who remarked that the monkey did not know the movements of the watch, but that he knew exactly the position of the hands when they pointed to three, and kept in mind that his master required his luncheon at that time. If the watch were shown to him at any other hour, he did not go to fetch the broth; but if the hour of three went by without the luncheon's being called for, he grew fidgety, and at last ran and brought it. In this case he was always rewarded with some sugar plums. "You have no notion," said Mr. Vanneck, "how much time and trouble, and especially how much patience, I have bestowed on the training of this animal. Confined to my chair, however, I continued my task methodically. Nothing was more difficult than to accustom Jack to his clothes; but at last he submitted to them. Whenever he walks out he wears a straw hat, but never without making fearful grimaces. He takes a bath every day, and is, on the whole, very cleanly." "this gen "Jack," exclaimed Mr. Vanneck, pointing to me, tleman wants his handkerchief." The monkey drew it from my pocket and handed it to me. "Now show your room to my guests," continued his master; and Jack opened a door, at which he stopped to let us pass, and then followed himself. Every thing was extremely tidy in the small room. There was a bed with a mattress, a table, some chairs, drawers, and various toys; and a gun was hanging on the wall. The bell was rung; Jack went out and reap, eared with his master, wheeling in the chair. Meanwhile, I had taken the gun from the wall; Mr. Vanneck handed it to the monkey, who fetched the powder flask and the shot bag; and in the whole process of loading acquitted himself like a rifleman. I had already seen so much that was astonishing, that I hardly felt surprised at this feat. Jack now placed himself at the open window, took aim, and discharged the gun. |