Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/196

158 The first time I saw her she lay weakly on a pile of straw, her long clumsy legs—shaped like those of a lamb—folded beneath her. They were too weak to support her little body. Her pretty hazel eyes were expressive and questioning, her long pointed ears were sharply upright, and eager to catch the sounds that were new and strange to her.

I wondered what her impressions were of our world in which she found herself, and hoped she thought us pleasant and agreeable.

On the second day, she stood on her wabbly legs and walked a few steps. She looked like a toy rather than a living, breathing little animal. Her movements were jerky and funny, but she persevered. Finally she reached her little pile of straw and sank down in a heap. She had made her first effort to accomplish something and had succeeded. No wonder she looked satisfied. Her mother showed her appreciation by gently licking her. A kiss is a noble expression of appreciation, and the animals realise it quite as much as we do.

So "Beauty's" mother praised her in her dear, dumb way, and no doubt it helped her make