St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-01-07
HOUSEHOLD PETS.
The Best of All Is Little Child Old
Enough to Talk and Play.

The Best of All Is Little Child Ole
Enough to Talk and Play.
/ Human affections demand something
to pet. Paternal instinct delights in
having pet, preferably a child of its
own, but it may be another's child, and
even cat, or dog, or q horse. This
instinct requires that the object of its
petting shall be small, usually, and at
any rate it must be more or less help
less. The larger pet the smaller, and
the stronger pet the weaker.
j Responsive to his masters manifesto
tons of regard, the intelligent dog
wags his tail, gambols and banks, and
the master pats him on the head and
would fight for him against any one
who should abuse him. To the dog is
given a comfortable, perhaps luxuri-
GUS home; he is the companion of the
children, as childlike and frisky as
they, partaking in their sports and a
friend of unvarying constancy so long
as they do not maltreat him. To this
he is sensitive, for he appreciates the
signs of regard, and he turns SORROW
fully away from ill treatment.
L 1t is said that as the human race ad-
vances in civilization, the workings Of
the mind will appear more and more
in facial expression. The Indians and
all the lower races have but slight fac
ial expression, compared with that of
more advanced races.
How worthy of kinship with man,
then, is the dog! Watch him as he APP
proaches his master, tail motionless,
and with sober demeanor, perhaps not
in doubt as to what his reception will
be, but respectfully waiting for the first
advances to come from his owner. The
first slight token OF kind notice is re-
Elected in the movement of the eye and
the slight motion of the tail, and when
there can be no further doubt of the
nature of the reception, the dogs nat
ural language of feeling makes up for
his poverty of vocal language, and
mans faithful friend and servant re-
spends with abundant demonstrations
to his masters confidence and regard.
Though less demonstrative than the
dog, the mistress cat no less appreci-
ates kind care and friendship. The
slow elevation of the back and tail, the
purring and the rubbing against his
mistress gown or hand, or his nesting
in her lap, tell in the words of dumb
animal, his trust in superior being
But petting can become disgusting.
When your neighbor is in constant
solicitude for an unattractive, spiritless
pug dog, which is fed at the common
table and sleeps with his mistress;
when her parrot annoys whole neigh
borhood wit his uncouth noise; when
affection that should be bestowed on
human beings is wasted on all sorts of
animals in feather and fur, that can
appreciate it no more than so many
squashes can; human feelings may be
said to run riot, and petting becomes
offensive and nauseating to disgusted
observers.
The best pet of all is the little child
old enough to talk and to understand,
with a child's comprehension. The
child that is pet is always promising
to be a better pet, because a more APP
preciative one. Its receptive and re-
tentive mind is greedily gathering ten
thousand facts and then ten thousand |
more, and with each added year the
little one not only fills a larger place in
your affections, but you are becoming
more to the youngster, to be treasured |
in fond regard through all the years of
mature life.
Every month, ard week, and day is
step toward manhood or womanhood,
evincing expanding intelligence and
growing affections, and cementing the
bonds of friendship and love between |
the little pet and the elder persons who
are nourishing its absorbing mind and
guiding its otherwise uncertain foot
steps in the best path of life toward the
goal of thought, love and action
Good Housekeeping.