"Come, Albert, I'll carry you up;
you and I haven't had a game of play for a long while. How does the
ditch and hedge get on, Mr. Seagrave?"
"Pretty well, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave; "I have nearly finished two
sides. I think by the end of next week I shall have pretty well
inclosed it."
"Well, sir, you must not work too hard, there is no great hurry;
William and I can get through a great deal together."
"It is my duty to work, Ready; and I may add, it is a pleasure."
As they were at supper the conversation turned upon the cleverness
shown by the dog Remus.
Mr. Seagrave narrated many instances of the sagacity of animals, when
William asked the question of his father: "What is the difference then
between reason and instinct?"
"The difference is very great, William, as I will explain to you; but I
must first observe, that it has been the custom to say that man is
governed by reason, and animals by instinct, alone. This is an error.
Man has instinct as well as reason; and animals, although chiefly
governed by instinct, have reasoning powers."
"In what points does man show that he is led by instinct?"
"When a child is first born, William, it acts by instinct only: the
reasoning powers are not yet developed; as we grow up, our reason
becomes every day more matured, and gains the mastery over our
instinct, which decreases in proportion.
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