"This is certainly a lesson to you children," he said; "a great lesson to be kind to all God's creatures."
And then Tommy began to cry. You see, he wasn't a bad boy at heart, and Little Sir Cat's forgiveness made him feel dreadfully ashamed. I guess it did him more good than any number of whippings.
Dear children, never be unkind
To small four-footed things.
Oh, never pinch a pussy's tail
Nor pull a poor fly's wings.
And never tease your little dog,
With unkind act or word,
And never throw a cruel stone
At any little bird.
I often think when Winter comes
How cold must be the trees;
More than in the Summer Time
They need their coats of leaves.
[THE CANARY]
Canary Bird, Canary Bird,
In your golden jail,
On your trapeze balancing
With your yellow tail,
Don't you wish that you could fly
Through the window pane
To the Robin Redbreast gay
Singing in the lane?
Where the apple trees in bloom
Drop their petals white,
So you almost think it has
Snowed 'most all the night?
Would you love to see the nest
Mrs. Robin's made,
And the eggs of china blue
Which she just has laid?
Don't you want to leave your cage?
See, the door is wide
Open and the window, too—
You can fly outside.