The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-07-06
O SPARE THOSE LITrLE RTRnSI

When lad a small and light gun was Civ.
en- me. For several days | gloated over il
with delight. One evening went alone with
it into the fields; a very small and pretty bird,
blue-cap, was hopping and twittering on \
bush IN all the innocence and sportveness of
paradisiacal life. | drew near believe with
in five or six feet, admiring the beauty of its
form and dress, its sprightliness, and the APP
parent confidence with which it turned its
little eyes upon me. Iwas conscious it would
be wrong wantonly, or for the purpose of
testing my skill, to Stay it; yet fired. Pick
ing up the lacerated aud expiring victim, felt
very much like "A murderer. | had taken
away life without murderer's motive. Its
bleeding image haunted me for several days,
and also that of its mate, which flew, alarm
ed, from ah adjoining bramble.
Simply as piece of mechanism, of which
the combined efforts Of the most ingenious Of
men through all time can never produce the
like-so wonderful in contrivance, cOnstruc-
tion and movements-thus, ruthlessly and
without cause, to destroy it was an offence
against heaven, an insult to the Divine Artiti-
Ger. But as an organism sensible to pleasure
and pain, possessing affections, and moreover
not only harmless, but belonging to tribes
whose habits aud instincts lead them to pro.
tie t the crops of husbandmen from the rava-
ges of insects-an active benefactor TO our
species, and one of the most charming orna-
ments OF our plane,-to draw near. assassin
like, and barbarously terminate its useful la
bors and its happiness, was purely wicked
What good did its death bring met It's
distiguered body was of no USE and would
soon become putrd and lOathsome. While
delighting itself us in the effulgence of Eden
had done what it is doubtful any demon
would deliberately do-destroyed it by
blast Of what has been likened to 1.-THE fire of
hell" never shot another bird.
/ wish those lads who are daily rowing
through fields and highways bringing down
every thing their guns can reach would pause
and reflect and cease to kill little birds for
the mere pleasure Ofklliug them, often throw
ing them away as soon rs shot, and sometimes
not even picking them up. Let young sports
men learn to subdue their animal by their ra-
tional instincts and no! commit, from impulse
or for fugitive qualification, acts which can
not be dwelt on III after life with satisfaction,
if without pain.
| would respectfully suggest to ministers of
our churches an occasional Sabbath or week
day lecture on our relationship to the lower
tribes. They who loye God love his works.
Many wise and good men have taught that
animals will live again and be rewarded for
their suiferings here. Whether this be so or
not, there is no doubt that we shall have to
account for our ill-treatment of them. Would
that we had IAN appeal in behalf of little
birds" in dozen tracts by as many reverend
authorsl A more appropriate and sweetly
influential subject could no: well be taken
up. The pretty visitors would return to our
yards and gardens and clear buds and bios
SONS Of weevis-NationatI nteliigeacer.
According to the New York Herald, the