Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1832-12-06
TIFF. TAME SEAL.

THE TAME SEAL.
One scarcely meets with more touching story,
ia reference to the brute creation, than we now
quote from recent work entitled Uiid Spor4s Of
Ae Uesf-of ireland.
"About forty years ago = young
seal was taken in Clew Bay, and do
mesticated in the kitchen Of a gentle
man whose house was situated on the
sea-shore. 1t grew apace, became ia
miliar with the servants, and attached
to the house and family, its habits were
innocent and gentle, itplayed with the
children, came at its masters call; and
az the old man described him to me,
was fond as dog, ard playful as u
kitten Daily the seal went out to
fish, and, after providing for his own
wants, frequently brought 10 a salmon
or turbot to his master. His delight in
summer was to bask in the Gun, and in
winter to lie before the fire, or, If per.
united, creep into large oven, which
at that time formed the regular APP
pendage Of an Irish kitchen. For four
years the seal had been thus domesti-
Gated, when, unfortunately, a disease,
called in this country the crippUcn-
a kind Of paraly,ic affection of the
limbs. which generally ends fatally
attacked some black cattle belonging
to the master o. the house; some died,
others became infected, and the Gus :
tomary cure produced by changing
them to drier pasture failed. A wise
woman was consulted; and the bag
assured the credulous owner, that the
mortality was ocessioned by his keep.
ing an unciean beast about his habita.
tion-the harmless and amusing seal.
Ii must 6e made way with directly, or
the crippawn would continue, and her
charms be unequal TO avert the maia-
dy. The superAtitious wretch consent
ell to the hays proposal: the seal was
put en- board boat, carried out be-
yond Clare Island, and there commit
ted to the deep, to manage for him
self as he best could. The beat re-
turned, the family retired to rest and
the next morning q servant awakened
her master TO tell him that the seal was
quietly sleeping in the oven. The
poor animal overnight came back to
his beloved home, crept through an
open window, aud took possession Of
its favorite resting place. Next morn
ing another COW was reported to be 1n-
we'll. The seal must now be finally
removed; a Galway fishing boat was
leaving Westport on her return home,
and the master undertook to carry of
the seal, aud not put him overheard
till he had gone leagues beyond IOnis
Bofiin. Ii was dOne-a day and q
night passed the second evening clos
ed-the servant was raking the fire
Tor the night--sOmeIhing scratched
gently at the doOr-it was Of course
the house dOg-she opened IL, aud in
came the seal! Wearied with his long
and unusual voyage, he testified de.
light 10 find himself at home, then
stretching himself before the glowing
embers Of the hearth he fell ia a deep
sleep. The master Of the house was
Immediately appraised Of this unexpeet.
ed and unweleome visit. In the ext
gency, the beldsms was awakened and
consulted; she averred that il was al
ways unlucky TO kill . seal, but sug-
gested that the animal should be de.
prIved Of sight, and q third time car
ried out to Sea. To this hsllish propo.
sitIon the besotted wretch who owned
the house consented, and the affection.
ate and eonfding creature WAS cruel
, robbed OF sight, Oh that very hearth
Tor which he had resigned hls native
element! Next morning. vriihing ia
agOhy, the matilatsd seal was embark.
ed, taken outside Clare Island, and
foe the last time committed TO the
waves.
Stop, Julius!' I exclaimed, sgive
the mSinsnt's time 90 curse ell con.
cerned 10 this bsrbsristn.' . BE patient.
Fraok. said my cousin, the fsGfe ~ ill
probably save you that trouble. The
skeleton Of the once plump animal
Tor, poor beast, Il persisted from hua.
geF, being ioeapacitated from blindness
TO procure its customary food-was
buried 10 = sand hili, and from that
moment m'sGoFtanes followed the sbst.
lefs aud perpetrators Of THE inhuIaan