Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-05

avoided Domino as though he We're
an enemy. When he tried to follow
into the den, she savagely warned him
to keep away. This was puzzling; but
the tall, black fox, was of race that
had learned to respect the she ones
way simply because it was the way of
the she one, and this, though on the
lowest and most animal plane, is sure
" the foundation stone Of chivalry.
He kept away from the den for days.
and during that absence the great
event took place.
Who is it bids the human mother
love ana fondle and feed the new
born babe Who guides her hand TO
lit it gently, wisely? Who teaches her
to keep it warm. to shield it from all
danger with her body, or to buy its
safety with her very life? Who is her
teacher Not another woman; not
any human mind. The untaught sa-
wage mother does the same as the
visest of our kind. And call this
teacher any name you Will, it was the
very same that taught that little
mother fox Alone alone by prefer
ence, was she in that dark den when
the hour appointed came. All that the
most skillful, wisest could have done,
was done by herself, that in all her
previous life had had no knowledge of
this time.
Five little foxes there We're, small.
slapeless. ugly" men have said, but
to the mother fox the most wonder
fui precious things that ever were
known, and love, newborn, heartfelt.
Overlooking, and complete was there
for them. to hedge them about, to
cherish them, and wholly to change
her life.
1t was many hours before she left
them alone, and then only to seek for
herself a cooling draught at the near
by rll. Dominic was there on the
bank, watching. She laid back her
ears a little. but made no sound and
otherwise ignored him. He crouched,
with head fiat on the leaves, and she
returned to her den. That day she had
no desire to eat. Next day she was
hungry, but was little minded to hunt.
Why hunt, indeed? This very need.
this very strait, had happened to every
mother fox since ever mother foxes
were, and deep in their brain was an
instinct rooted-the habit to prepare.
For this. unwittingly perhaps. she had
laid the woodchuck by. In this she
found her food.
Two days later, when again forced
to face the food problem, she went to
the door and found not far away lit
tie pile of neW-killed mice. Maybe
they We're brought there for the young.
Who knows? Of this we are sure
that they reached and nourished the
young. though the mother it was that
devoured them. Thenceforth every
day there was food left at the door or
hidden in the grass or under the
leaves near by.
For nine days the cubs remained
blind. then their eyes opened; they
w.limpered less; the mother went
forth more confidently. Now Domino
found her less disposed to drive him
off; in a few more days he had joined
the family group.
This was the beginning of a new ex-
perence for him. He had been quite
ready to love the cubs, and coming
near them warmed his heart. There
arc all degrees of fatherly feeling in
foxes, from that of the reprobate who
forgets to that of the faithful father
who is as good as another mother. and
Domino, nober- natured than most
foxes. responded as nobly. Maybe
never before had fox cubs been so
guarded or been the objects of such
devotion as these that were born that
spring on the Shawban the offspring
of Snowyruff, the brood of the silver
foA.-Century Magazine.