The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-06-20
Sflistellaueous,
The Death Bed Of a Lion.

Every one may not be scientific; but eve
ry one may at least be close observer OF
nature animate, and nature inenimate. II
plain people, with good eyes and open
hearts, would but keep note book for their
original observations, and jot down in lew
words the simple facts of life among Gods
lower creatures, the great men OF the day
would always have good store OF fine ma
terials to deal with. The philosopher would
stand ut ease on the grand platform OF TRUTH
und build with stones readily hewn to his
hand, instead of having to send his thoughts
wide over the land in search Of straw where
with to make bricks for the house OF his
wisdom, or perhaps to gather eziers for the
waddled wigwam Of a nomadiac theory.
ado animals understand what death is
Do they recognize it's coming signs !" asks
the unintiated. "No," says gifted Philoso.
pher of our acquaintance, "you never see
animals upprehend the meaning Of DEATH"
Very we'll, then here is fact:
The writer once strayed into a ineliagerie
in the North of England, which had camped
for day or Two in little mountain metro!
polls. A large elderly lion was making an
involuntary tour of the country in company
with his wife and fine family Of young
people. What an insult to put the desert
monarch into such vulgar clap''ruP taSel
ling carriage as this
But what is the matter with the grand old
lion? He is in pain; surely he is III pain.
His breathing is short and is drawn with ef'
fort: his nostrils are spread wide, lips drawn
back, end that great, shaggy chest heavea
uneosiIy. He is suffering from Bronchitis
for he evidently cannot bear the keen air ot
the North. He is couchant; but now he
lifts his head high, and looks routid sht
round the show, into the hundred faces o.
that unfeeling crowd as il searching FOL
sympathy.
But, no; they cannot read his eye OF mute
appeal; he is nothing to them but great
tawny lion, with shaggy name, and su'tee
tail. Suddenly he rears himself up to hi
full stature, throws back his grand head, ut
,ers tremendous desert roar, and falls dowE
ke.vily on his sde-dead. Dead; but will
an imperial GESTURE, such as Casar's wheI
he fell.
Look ot the widow She has been takini
short and stately turns up and down the den
very Juno in her gait, and in her temper
too. But she stops, looks iEquiringly at tn
prostrate figure, draws nearer, bends he
head with On anxious, bewildered look, an
then, as if at last receiving the great idea
she throws herself down upon the dead mon
arch with great abandonment. Present.
I'D comes the heir; crown prince he was
be is the young king now. He steps shor'
in q fierce, brusque attitude, spreads his no'
trils, flashes his eyes, and snorts aloud
That was long searching gaze, truly. B'
at last he, too, filings himself down, with
great sounding flop upon the dead body
the old lion. Up comes the coarse lookin
keeper, and fogs away the widow and sol
But they watch their opportunity, and stal
forward again, and throw themselves dow
in the same attitude Of grief. Again tt
hateful whip, and again they spring to tt
further end Of the cage. with short, imp
tieut rour. Three times did this take plac
and three times did they return to the san
position, abandoning themselves to the san
eloquent symbols of grief. Not many CT
say that they have been present at the dea'
bed Of a lion; and never can the scene,
touching, and yet so grand, be forgotten
the writer.