Audubon, the American naturalist, whose statements we can thoroughly
trust, once possessed a fine male turkey of the wild breed common in the
Western States. He had reared the bird till it became so tame that it
would follow any one who called it. He had also a favourite spaniel,
which became thoroughly intimate with the turkey, and the two might
constantly have been seen running side by side. When the bird was about
two years old, it would fly into the forest, and occasionally remain
away for several days together.
It happened one day, after it had been absent for some time, that as
Audubon was walking through the forest at some distance from his home,
he saw a turkey get up before him, but he did not recognise it as his
own. Wishing to secure it for the table, he ordered his dog to make
chase. Off went the spaniel at full speed; but the bird, instead of
flying away, remained quietly on the ground till its pursuer came up.
The dog was then about to seize it, when Audubon saw the former suddenly
stop, and turn her head towards him. On hastening up, he discovered,
greatly to his surprise, that the turkey was his own. Recognising the
spaniel, it had not flown away from her, as it would have done from a
strange dog.
Unhappily, the turkey, again leaving home to range through the forest,
was mistaken for a wild one, and accidentally shot. Audubon recognised
it by a red ribbon being brought him which he had placed round its neck.
Do not forget old friends or former worthy companions, however humble,
but treat them with kindness and consideration.