THE GREYHOUND AND SPANIEL.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 34, 11 April 1850, Page 3

THE GREYHOUND AND SPANIEL.

There are in Europe (and you who have visited the settlements of the white people have no doubt seen) many varieties of dogs, which are used for different purposes. Amongst ••thrrs you may hive noticed u dog with a long snout, long legs and a slight liody ; this 'log is called u Greyhound j he is very swift, hut has not u strong power of Hiutlliug, he is therefore principally employed in hunting came which is in view in nn opi n country, where his swiftness is of utility. There is nnolhcr kind of dog called a Spiniel ; lie is small, with short legs, mid iiHho<igh very slow, hns a strong power nl smelling; he is therefore sent into the coverts where trom the dimiilivcuess of his size he can get easily ihroui:h the most tainted woods. Hiving a ■_:<><■< l nose he scents the game at a distance and by his harking draws it into the open country, when- it is met by the gun of the ■*p<>rlsin<iu. Now, von see, here mu two dog* which have two distinct occupations, I will tell joii a story about two such. A few years ago, at the house of the "liter of this, there live I ii greyhound and a .spaniel which had a great friendship for each other : they often used to he seen going out together and having often been missed for more thon n day at a tinii-, they were closely watched, when it was di.scovi r.'d that they hunted in combination,— Mint is the spaniel would go into the wood nd drive the gaini: out, where it was met by the greyhound who pursued it till ha caught it, when it was fairly divided between the two friends. You will see that each was i|imlilied by his nature to follow but one occupation well ; the greyhound could eaich the guile but Cull Id no', find it, the spaniel could find it but could not ciuh it Had either goiK> out singly his chance of supper would h.ive been doubtful ; —acting in concert it was reduced to a certainty. Now le.un a lesson Irom these two dogs, wlin did from instinct what man does from the exercise of his power of thinking and rea soiling, and this gift is so much better than that ol'iiiftiuct thai no limit can be put to the knowledge or wisdom to which man may not attain by the prop.-r u=e of it. By proper, I nit in that as ..II men have different qualities both of mind and body, no one should waste his power hy doing that lor which he is not qualified, but should endeavour to find out "hat occupation he has most talent or inclination for -. lor instance, some men are strong I and hardy and most lilted fur tilling the j ground or other labour which requires strong limbs and sinews ; i.thers may be weaker and I less capable of riu'ent tXe;tion who yet might be most useliilly employed in making .shoes, clothes, or soma of ihe many things that do not require great strength; others again might teach in schools or write such things as would conduce to the inloi inrtion or amusement of their lellow citaturcs ; then could you either sell for money or exihango amongst each other the products of your labour, and thus would you increase both in riches and power, for when a man undertakes but one occupation, say carpentering for instance, and he devotes his whole time and energy to it alone, he is more likely to understand his business and do it quickly and well than if he were constantly obliged to leave it in order to till his laud, plant his potatoes, make his clothes, cook bis dinner, teach his children &c. ; it is true one man may do all this himself, but then he cannot excel in any one thing. Hut in order to ho a great and clever people, each individual should devote himself to some paiticular trade or calling for which from physical or mental qualities he may be most litted, for this reason men have diversities of gifts that by dividing our employments the labour of each single pert on might be greater in quantity, better in quality, less

ol lime nii'l more conducive to tin: ml prosperity of the wlmlo cuimiiiiJJlly. home of you may lie Inn old now lo bcyiii to learn .separate employments, l-ut. sit> Jj .-is mo !">itlicr» mid mothers .ilmuhl notice the iliffVicut dispositions and inclinations of tlicir iliililren to educate or cause tin m lo lie educated nciordinply. Wiiilst tliry are young lliev c/isilv ri-eiivc impassions either for pood or bad, therefore do not for»«*t in teach tin-in that idleness mii't In; conquered, or tliev c.-innot prosper in iinytl ing they undertake. J' is like n b.id feed which pels inlo ihe ground end brings forlli no fruit; bill industrious penpic euiround themselves and their fiiini'-L-s wi:h coir.foils, si'l n fowl example to tlii'ir neighbours, iinil enjoy an inwurd satisfaction which they shew by their chccii'ul cniinteuanei's and which can never lc fell orkuonn by idle persons. Also, nnoihcr ureal good arising from iiulustry is that, when p.-nplu have plenty of eni| loyment they hive no time for finding fault with or prying i ii» their neighbours niliiirs. tliry don i t ilk *» much fiossip or scandal. They thereby pi.v nt many {Hiiinela which often mise from I'oolriii and "idle talk :—therefoie I sny again we may Itarn a lesson from the two dogs.