The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-24
Musical Taste In Animals.

Musical Taste In Animals.
A remarkable instance of a toad's
endowment of music came under my
notice some years since. I was on q
visit with my husband and one of my
daughters to my father, who lived in the
south of England. He had very pretty
garden and lawn; and it was his delight
in the evening to sit at his drawing
room window while ! played on the
piano and sang to him. One evening
he said to me: my dear, here is a
toad under the window. 1t has been
here a long time without moving. I
believe it is listening to your singing"
When I ceased playing, the toad
slowly crept away; but every evening
when I sang the creature came, took its
place under the window, and there re-
mained. One evening", at my fathers
request, I suddenly stopped the music,
and in few minutes it went away.
We watched it until it reached the path ;
when, commencing another song, it
stopped, listened, and then slowly re-
turned to its place under the window.
When I left and went home, there was
no more music. The toad was never
again seen.
Some years previous to my malria2 e.
my father lived in an old hall in the
neignborhood of one of our large towns.
The grounds were extensive. 1t was
his delight to have sort OF model
farm, which gave me many opportuni-
ties OF studying the different characters
of the various animals upon it. Then
I saw the influence of music upon many
of them. There was beautiful horse,
the pride and delight of us all; and like
many others, he had an uncomfortable
dislike to be caught. My father had so
trained him to obedience that lie gave
very little trouble; a whistle and q
wave of he hand. and Robert would
come quietly to be saddieG. But If
left to our old gardener, Willy, he
would lead him chase, generally end
ing in defeat. One very hot summer
day was sitting at work in the garden,
when Willy appeared streaming with
perspiration.
"What is the matter, Willy ?"
"Matter enough, Miss. There's that
Robert, the uncamy beast; he won't be
caught, all I can do or say. I've give
him corn, and one of the best pears OF
the tree; but he's too deep for me-he
snatched the pear, kicked up his heels,
and off he is, laughing at me al the
bottom of the meadow"
Twas very sorry for the old man, but
I did not clearly see how to catch the
delinuuent. ! could well believe he
was laughing at our old friend, for he
was curious animal.
"Well, Willy, what can do? He
won't let me catch him, you know"
Gay, but miss, if you will only just
90 in and begin tocn on the peann@;
cook says he will come up to the fence
and hearken to you, for he is always
a-doing that, and maybe I can slip be-
hind and cotch him."
Invent in at once, not expecting my
stratagem to succeed. But in few
minutes the saucy creature was stand
ing quietly listening while played
"Scots wha haze wi Wallace bled. "
The halter was soon round his neck !;
and he went away to be harnessed quite
happy and contented.
There was a great popularity about
his taste for music. He never would
| SCdy W llSIel W ptanEFS SonS' =
soon observed this. 1fI'played Scots
wha haze" he would listen well pleased.
If I changed the measure and expires
sion, playing the same air -plaintivelly,
as for instan"e in the Land O. the
Leal," he would toss his head and walk
away, as if to say: THAT is not my sort
of music" Changing to something
martial. he would return, and listen to
me.
In this respect he entirely differed
from beautiful COW we had. She had
an awful temper. Old Willy used to
say: "She is the most contrariest beast
under the SUM-" If she were in one OF
her i'll humors it was with the greatest
difficulty she could be milkcd. She
never would 60 with the other COWS at
milking time. Nancy be MIXED wi, h
them, that was a thing not to be though.
of. She liked the cook; and when not
too busy, cook would manage Miss
, Nancy. But if she was not very. care
full, up would 60 Nancy's foot, and over
would 60 the milk-can and It's precious
contents. When the cook MIXED her,
it was always close to the fence, near
the drawing-room. if were playing,
, she would stand perfectly still. yield.
, ing her milk without any trouble. and
would remain until ceased. AS long
, as played plaintive music "The Land
O. the Leal," Home, Sweet Home,
, robin Adair," any sweet, tender air
she seemed entranced. Ihave tried her.
and changed to martial music, where
upon she Invariably walked away.
l could give many instances of love
! for music in animals. l will give an
, other. I was sitting in the drawing
room one evening, singing 10 mamma
1t was a double room, with folding
doors. She was in one where there
, was lamp. In my room, which Wal
unlighted, the window was open, anc
, close to the window was stand TO,
} music. When l ceased play ing hearc
peculiar sound, and was consciou!!
!: there was something in the room.
called for a light. There, sitting or
. the stand, was large white owl. H'
looked far less surprised than we did
In q minute or two he stepped quietly
out of the window, and flew away
! After this we did not leave the lowel
. sash of the window open; but the ow
still came, and sat upon the stone out
side, listening.-Chanlber'S Journal.