I have told you of a friendship formed between a tiger and a dog. I
will now narrate another tale, which speaks well for the good feeling of
both animals.
In India it is the cruel custom, when a wandering dog is found, to throw
it into a tiger's cage for the purpose of getting rid of it. It
happened that one of these pariah-dogs was thrust into the den of the
savage beast. The dog, however, instead of giving himself up for lost,
stood on the defensive in the corner of the cage, and whenever the tiger
approached, seized him by the lip or neck, making him roar piteously.
The tiger, savage for want of food, continued to renew the attack, with
the same result; till at length the larger animal began to show a
respect for the courage of the smaller one, and an understanding was
finally arrived at between them.
At last a mess of rice and milk was put into the cage of the tiger, when
he invited the dog to partake of it, and instead of treacherously
springing on him, as some human beings would have done on their foe,
allowed him to feed in quiet. From that day the animals not only became
reconciled, but a strong attachment sprang up between them. The dog
used to run in and out of the cage, looking upon it as his home; and
when the tiger died, he long evidently mourned the loss of his friend
and former antagonist.
Observe how that poor outcast dog, by his courage and perseverance,
preserved his life, and indeed gained a victory, in spite of the fierce
assaults of his savage foe. Will you act less courageously when
attacked by the ridicule, the abuse, or the persuasions of those who may
try to drag you from the path of duty?