Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-11-21
Among the Wishes al the A0narlnm.

After you have once seen the whale
there is an end of it, for he is not II special
ly interesting creature to watch; but let us
of observing-the seals. Their tank, you
see, is sunk in the floor, so that when they
come out upon their platform they are
just upon level with your feet. They
are droll creatures, with their fat round
bodies and their futile little flipprrs, which
seem meant for any thing in the world but
walking. As you watch them dragging
themselves painfully along by their aid,
you are reminded of the sack-raCes which
they sometimes have at county fairs in
England. where they tie old women up in
bags, all but their heads, and leave them
to hop or wiggle along to the goai us best
they may. The head of the seal is shaped
very much like II cats, but their express
sion is more that of faithful, intelligent,
half dog. Such wonderful eyes I!
large and bright, and full of intelligence
and observation. They are inquistive little
creatures, too, and always want to know
all that is going on. | was here one day
when the sea lion suddenly splashed from
his cave into the pool below, and, ut the
sound, everybody in the room rushed III
to see what was going on. As | turned
away, saw two little round heads bob
bling up behind the wire which partly sur
rounded the seal tank. They had heard
the commotlon, too, and were doing their
little best to see what it all meant. Ito
you know there is something very piIiful
TO me in the curiosity of animals2 This
world must be such IL hopeless puzzle to
them, and it is SO impossible for them to
understand what they see.
However, my object just at present is
not to discuss animals in general, but to
talk about the seals. As told you, though
they are so much smaller than the sea-
lion, they have ten times his sense. You
should see them when feeding time comes
The gentleman who has rained them goes
up an inclined plane to II platform, which
is raised above the center of the tank, and
rings bell. Pop! two little round heads
are above the water in no time, and two
little fat bodies are urging their way with
all speed to the Anding-place. Clumsy us
they look on dry land, they can make
pretty good time when dinner is in ques-
ton. and it does not take them long to
wiggle up the inclined plane. One of the
seals has been trained They say that
seals can learn to do anything for which
they have strength, only they must always
be taught by kindness. a blow is thing
which they never forget. Well, the train
ed seal-Fanny is her name, [ think
supports herself upon her hind hippers by
resting one of her front ores upon board,
like Il dog standing upon his hind legs.
Do you want iishP" asks her master,
holding one up.
Fanny bows her head.
But, before giving it to her, lie pushes
forward large bell, one of the sort which
you ring by pressing down knob, Fan
nY's flipper is on the knob in an instant,
and she rings and rings and rings, until
the bell is taken away from her. Evident
ly she likes the fun. The fish is divided
equally between her and her companion,
and both behave very we'll waiting their
turns like little gentlemen. Once when
was there, however there was third seal
in the tank, which had just been brought
in. He was wild creature, who had not
yet learned to follow his companions to the
eeding place, and his proportion was
brown over to him. Fanny did not be-