XXIX. KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.
68. Lulu and the Sparrow.
As Lulu came home from school one afternoon, she noticed three or four boys throwing stones at something—I hardly like to tell you what. It was a poor little brown sparrow that had somehow hurt its leg, and could not fly. However, this happened a great many years ago, and perhaps boys are less cruel now.
Lulu could not bear to see the poor bird treated so badly, and she asked the boys to give it to her. At first they laughed, and went on throwing the stones; but she continued to beg for it so earnestly, that at last one of the boys said, "Let her have it". And Lulu was only too glad to pick up the wounded bird and carry it home. She nursed and fed it carefully, and put it in a warm place by the fire; but, in spite of all her care, the sparrow died in a few hours.
Sometimes pain is necessary, as in [Story Lesson 29]; we should never think of saying the dentist was cruel; rather we should say he was kind, because he saved the monkey from further pain. But when we cause pain that is needless, as these boys did, it is cruel. They were cowardly also. If the bird had been an eagle, with strong claws that could have hurt them in return, would they have stoned it? No; they chose a poor little sparrow that could not defend itself, and this was cowardly.
Then it was unfair. You do not like to be punished or found fault with if you have done nothing wrong; you feel it is not fair; neither is it fair to hurt a dumb animal that has done nothing wrong.
69. Why we should be Kind to Animals.
Just think how many things animals do for us. Where did the wool come from that makes your nice, warm clothes? (Let children answer.) How do we get the coals to our houses—the coals that make the bright, hot fires? (Ans.) What could we do without the brave, strong horses? I heard the other day of a man who did not give his horse enough to eat. What kind of man was he? (Ans.) I would rather be like the Arab, who loves his horse so much that he brings it into his tent, and shares his food and bed with it. Where do we get our milk, butter and cheese? (Ans.) Then think of all the stories of animals in this book, who have done kind, clever things (and all these stories are true). If boys and girls would think, I am quite sure they would never be unkind to animals.
70. The Butterfly.
One day a boy was chasing a butterfly, cap in hand, and just as he had caught it, a bee stung him. He was so angry that he threw the butterfly down and trampled on it. Was not that cruel? The butterfly had done him no harm, and the greatest skill in the world could not paint anything so delicate and beautiful as a butterfly's wing; and yet he destroyed that beauty. Sometimes children will hunt spiders out of the crevices in the wall and torture them, and others will torment the little fly, or steal the bird's pretty eggs that the mother sits on with such care. All this is cruel and unkind. Remember it is not noble to hurt. The truest gentleman is he who is full of kindness and gentleness and will not hurt anything.
71. The Kind-hearted Dog.
Have you ever seen children riding donkeys at the seaside? and have you noticed how the boys beat the poor things sometimes to make them go faster? I do not think a kind boy or girl would like to have a donkey beaten. I hope you would not.
There was once a little dog who could not bear to see any creature beaten. If any one were ill-treating a dog he would rush up and bark quite angrily, and when he was driving in the dog-cart with his master, he always used to hold the sleeve of his master's coat every time he touched the horse with the whip, as if he would have said, "Do not beat him, please". Now, if a dog knows that it is not kind to hurt dumb creatures, we are sure boys and girls know.
(Blackboard.)
To Hurt Animals is Cruel, for the pain is needless.
It is Unfair, for they do not deserve it.
It is Cowardly, for often they cannot hurt you in return.