Voices for the Speechless Part 43

Verily there are rewards for our doing good to dumb animals, and giving them water to drink. A wicked woman was forgiven who, seeing a dog at a well holding out his tongue from thirst, which was near killing him, took off her boot, and tied it to the end of her garment, and drew water in it for the dog, and gave him to drink; and she was forgiven her sin for that act.

_Table Talk of Mohammed_.

PRAYERS.

It is recorded of the Prophet, that when, being on a journey, he alighted at any place, he did not say his prayers until he had unsaddled his camel.

POOLE'S _Mohammed_.

DUMB MOUTHS.

By these dumb mouths be ye forgiven, Ere ye are heard pleading with heaven.

_Pearls of the Faith_.

THE Pa.r.s.eES.

FROM THE ZEND AVESTA.

Of all and every kind of sin which I have committed against the creatures of Ormazd, as stars, moon, sun, and the red-burning fire, the _Dog_, the _Birds_, the other good creatures which are the property of Ormazd, if I have become a sinner against any of these, _I repent_.

"If a man gives bad food to a shepherd Dog, of what sin is he guilty?"

Ahura Mazda[4] answered:

"It is the same guilt as though he should serve bad food to a master of a house of the _first rank_."

"The dog, I, Ahura Mazda, have made self-clothed and self-shod, watchful, wakeful, and sharp-toothed, born to take his food from man and to watch over man's goods.

"I, Ahura Mazda, have made the dog strong of body against the evil-doer and watchful over your goods, when he is of sound mind."

[4] Ahura Mazda or Ormazd is the King of Light; the Good. The Zend Avesta is of great but uncertain antiquity; believed to be three thousand years old.

HINDOO.

He who, seeking his own happiness, does not punish or kill beings who also long for happiness, will find happiness after death.

_Dhammapada_.

Whoever in this world harms living beings, and in whom there is no compa.s.sion for living beings, let one know him as an outcast.

_Sutta Nipata_.

THE TIGER.

Tiger, tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And, when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand forged thy dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? What dread grasp Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears, And watered heaven with their tears, Did He smile his work to see?

Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

WILLIAM BLAKE.

VALUE OF ANIMALS.

n.o.body doubts their general value, as n.o.body doubts the value of sunlight; but a more practical appreciation may be felt of their moneyed value if we look at that aspect of the question in some of its details.

We quote from a hand-book published for the South Kensington Museum:--

"CLa.s.s I.--_Animal Substances employed for Textile Manufactures and Clothing._ Division I. Wool, Mohair, and Alpaca. Division II. Hair, Bristles, and Whalebone. Division III. Silk. Division IV. Furs. Division V.

Feathers, Down, and Quills. Division VI. Gelatin, Skins, and Leathers.

"CLa.s.s II.--_Animal Substances used for Domestic and Ornamental Purposes._ Division I. Bone and Ivory. Division II. Horns and Hoofs. Division III.

Tortoise-sh.e.l.l. Division IV. Sh.e.l.ls and Marines. Animal Products for Manufacture, Ornaments, etc. Division V. Animal Oils and Fats.