19. St. Malo & The Ass

All animals are living hieroglyphs. The dashing dog, and stealthy-stepping oat, Hawk, bull, and all that breathe Mean some thing more To the true eye than their shapes show; for all Were made in love, and made to be beloved.                               --  Philip T. Bailey. St. Malo (520-621 CE) was a monk who lived in the sixth century in Brittany near the town of St. Malo. He had an ass which he loved very much. The ass was of great help to him in bringing loads of firewood from the forest.     One day some people came and told St. Malo that a wolf had killed his ass. The poor Saint felt sad when he heard of the death of his ass-friend. So  he said, 'Well, let me go to the forest and see this wolf which has killed my innocent ass.'     The Saint went to the place where his ass had been killed. There he saw the wolf which had killed the ass. The wolf appeared to be sad and repentant at having killed the ass. The wolf approached the Saint meekly. The Saint said 'Brother wolf, you have killed my helpmate, the ass. I have none to help me. Henceforth you must give me the same help as the ass gave me.'     The wolf obeyed the Saint and daily brought him firewood from the forest just as the ass had done.     In those days, some of the Saints were persecuted by their fellowmen. St. Malo was one of these. He was forced to leave his home and seek refuge in a cave. The wolf followed him and served him faithfully all his life like a watchdog.     It is also said of this Saint that he once gave shelter in his hut to a bird by hanging up his cloak and allowing the bird to build its nest in it. When the bird laid its eggs, St. Malo waited till the little ones were hatched and they were able to fly. ****  **** Additional Information of Interest Click here to find out more about St. Malo.   Click here to know more about the modern city of St. Malo.