Cows have as much affection for their young as have other animals, and
it is piteous to hear them mooing when deprived of their calves.
A cow had her calf taken from her, and left at Bushy Park, while she was
driven off to Smithfield to be sold. The following morning, when it was
supposed the cow was in London, she appeared at the gate of the yard in
which her calf was confined. Influenced by her love for her offspring,
she had broken out of the pen, passed through all the streets of the
suburbs without being stopped by the police, who naturally supposed,
from her quiet demeanour, that the drover must be at her heels; and once
in the country, had quickly traversed the twelve miles which took her to
her former home. It is probable that she traversed the same road to
Bushy which she had followed when being driven from that place to
Smithfield.
In Africa, the Hottentot shepherds employ a species of cow to guard
their flocks of sheep. They keep the animals together with all the
sagacity of Scotch sheep-dogs, and will attack with the utmost bravery
any enemy attempting to injure them.
What difficulties does true love overcome! If that poor dull cow could
feel such love for her offspring as to overcome the usual apathy of her
kind, what must be the feelings of a human mother towards her children!
Can you, then, ever carelessly wound yours by your misconduct?