The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-04-08
THE RED DEER AND HER BABIES.
The Story of Mother Love Almond Wild Animals.


by Ellen Velvin F. s., in Home Companion.)
In one of the thickest covers of a beautiful
shady forest in Germany a red deer was standing
one day looking placidly at the deepening shadows,
and wondering how soon she could venture out for
some food.
She had double reason for being anxious; she
was mother deer, and short distance away, art
fully concealed in the high heather, two pref
ty little fawns, with spotted bodies, dehcatey
formed legs and feet, wel-shaped heads, and beau
tiful eyes, just like their mother.
She had no fear of their being seen, for before
leaving them that morning she had made them lie
down By giving each of them a gentle pressure
with her soft nose, and told them not to until
she came back The little fawns were always very
obedient, and did just what she told them They
both lay quite still, hudded up in their pecu-
liar fashion, with their noses turned to their tails
much in the fashion that dog lies, and the
only sign of life was when they turned softly
around to change their position, took a quiet
peep around with their large, dark eyes,
At the same time that the mother deer
thinking about going back to them they also were
wondering when she would come, for they were
beginning to feel very hungry, and wanted their
supper. resently there was little rustic in the
heather and forgetting caution, the two little
fawns sprang up, tried to balance themselves on
their rickety little legs and looked around eagerly.
But instead of their mothers graceful, dignifed
form they saw, creeping stealthily and warily
through the heather, animal with a SOFT steel
gray, furry coat, round, hairy, wicked face, with
big cruel eyes that never wnked, outstanding whis
kers and sharp-pointed ears with curious little
tufts at the tops of them
This was lynx or wildcat, and one of the red
deers deadliest enemies when fawns about.
The little fawns did not know what it was, but
they knew, in some way other that it was sumo
thing to be afriad is and the cruel face, with its
tufted ears and the terrible, sharp teeth which it
showed at sight of the fawns, made them shiver
with fear
In vain they called for their mother in their soft,
gentle manner, while their slim, delicate bodies
sank down again on the ground, the thin, weak
legs refusing to hold them up any longer Not a
sound could be heard but the soft rustEng of the
heather as the wldcate made his way slowly but
steadily toward them.
But the mother deer knew all about It. She
was always careful to take up her position to the
windward So that she could catch the very faintest
scent of lynx, fox or any other enemy who might
be lingering around in her neighborhood She had
lust decided that the sun was sinking, and that it
was time for her little ones supper, when borne to
her on the evening air came a strong Whit of
wildcat.
Shy and timid like all red deer, in this case the
mother deer forgot everything but the fact that
there was wildcat about, and that it was probably
on the lookout for her fawns. In instant she be-
came nervous, restless and anxious, but there was
no sign of fear for her motherlove made her think
of nothing but the safety and protection of her
children.
Could she only tell exactly where the enemy was
it would not be so difficult but hidden foe always
made her uneasy. She came out of the forest-for
the wildcat was a long way off yet--and moved
slowly across the patch of heather where her little
ones were hidden. Then suddenly She stopped, her