Chatterbox Stories of Natural History | Page 9

STRENGTH.
See this monster of the forest uprooting trees, as a test of its strength before entering on a fight with one of its companions, which is often a bitter struggle for supremacy. There are two species of Elephants, the Indian and African; the ears of the latter are much larger than the Indian, covering the whole shoulder, and descending on the legs. Elephants live in herds, and each herd has a leader--generally the largest and most powerful animal--who exercises much control over the herd, directing its movements, and giving the signal in the case of danger. The trunk of the Elephant is of great service to it, and is a wonderful combination of muscle; Curier, the famous Naturalist, stating that there is not far short of 40,000 muscles, having distinct action, and so giving it an acute sense of touch and smell--so much so, that it can pick up a pin, or pluck the smallest leaf. The Elephant is generally about ten feet high, and sometimes reaches to twelve feet, and lives to the age of seventy or eighty years.
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A WISE DOG.
There is a curly retriever at Arundel bearing the name of "Shock," which sets an example of good manners and intelligence to the animals which are not dumb. He carries the cat of the stables tenderly in his mouth, and would carry the kitten, but at present the kitten prefers its own means of locomotion. When Sanger's elephant got into trouble in the river Arun, this wise Shock was sent to turn him out, and his perseverance succeeded. He often will insist on carrying a bundle of umbrellas to the station, and safely he delivers them to their owners, and then, with many wags of his brown tail, he demands a halfpenny for his trouble. This halfpenny he carries to the nearest shop, lays it on the counter, and receives his biscuit in return. Need we say this dog has a kind, sensible master?
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[Illustration: SUMMER.]

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M--THE MANDRILL.
In Africa the Mandrill lives, Full five feet tall he stands; With furrowed cheek-bones, tufted hair, And hairy arms and hands.
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N--THE NYLGHAU.
In Hindustan's dense forest-depths, Among the tangled groves, With slender limbs but powerful frame The shapely Nylghau roves.
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O--THE OSTRICH.
O'er desert sands the Ostrich skims, Beneath a burning sky; Swift as the swiftest horse he runs, But has no wings to fly.

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SPRING.
When Spring's soft breath sets free the rills, And melts the Winter's hoards of snow, How fast they leap adown the hills, How wildly t'wards old ocean flow!
Jack Frost! we gladly part with thee, For long indeed thy iron hand Hath crushed the flowers relentlessly That longed to brighten all the land.
And now the busy plow can trace Its furrows through the fallow ground, While countless lovely blossoms grace The blooming fruit trees all around.
Yet though the snow amidst the brook Is gliding fast--it fain would stay, And as it takes a lingering look, Says:--"Listen ere I flow away!
"Soon as Spring spoke its royal word, I humbly doffed my wintry cap-- But when the north wind's voice was heard, I covered up the earth's green lap.
"And gently swathed each baby flower, As snug as in a feather bed-- Until in field, and wood, and bower, Their fragrance might be safely shed.
"And now my snowdrops gaily ring A merry peal to herald May-- And all rejoice at coming Spring, While I must hasten far away!"
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SUMMER.
Now the corn has grown ripe in the Summer's hot days, And the reaping began with the sun's early rays, Mike and Jack since the morn, Have been cutting the corn, Which is bound up by Peggy and Sue; And gay, flaunting poppies and flow'rets of blue Wag their heads o'er the sheaves and seem nodding at you.
But when noon's sultry hour proves oppressively hot, The reapers look out for a cool, shady spot, And a respite they snatch, Their short meal to dispatch, And well earned indeed is their rest! While the children give chase to the hare that's hard prest, Or the bird by the harvest disturbed from her nest.
For what care the children for heat or for work, At that age when all labor so gaily we shirk? Play, then, little ones, play, And enjoy while ye may, But to all of God's creatures be kind-- Then when months have rolled by and left Summer behind, Its joys unalloyed shall still dwell in your mind.

TIMOTHY.
Timothy was our pet hedgehog. I bought him in Leadenhall Market, brought him home, and put him into the back-garden, which is walled in. There, to that extent, he had his liberty, and many, and many a time did I watch him from my study window walking about in the twilight among the grass, searching for worms and other insects. And very useful was he to the plants by so doing. When the