The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-08-12


nephew, who sat opposite in his little arm
chair. With one hand firmly grasped in the
aaher, a. was surveying The outraged animal
from head TO tnot, and hurting back her in
dignant glances with looks Of defiance and
triumph.
ltwas some seconds before Aunt Mary
quite comprehended the relations Of the par
ties; but as tie affair began to clear itself TO
her mind, she wisely judged thatan indignant
attack upon the little victor would not be the
! course most likely to assuage his wrath, or
soften bis heart So she addressed him in
her usual kind words and tones:
What's the matter with you and Chub.'
Johnnie 7"
Johnnie did not say. as perhaps some little
folks would have done, Nothing;" for John.
ME had been carefully taught TO speak the
truth, but he did not answer in such way
as not to show how completely passion filled
his heart.
"she's a good for.nothing cat, and ought
to be killed.
"Why, that's rather hard upon our little
pet. What did she do to your"
"Why, had her in my lap. playing with
her, tickling her, you know, when all at once
she began to bite and scratch so hard that I
boxed her ears. But she wouldn't stop then,
so pulled her tail. But she wouldnt let 90
Of my hand, SO twitched it away, and Just
pounded her with my fist. and she flew across
the room like mad creature. And Just see
what she did to me-" So saying. he came up
to his aunt. and held up the torn hand, which
showed marks Of teeth and claws, one long
scratch besides, reaching from the forefnger
to the wrist, whose edges were sorely bleed>
ing.
"0h, that is cruel scratch. Did you tickle
Club pretty hard 7"
didn't at first but then ] thought |
would see how hard could tickle her. and
she clawed me like that"
do you think if you had tickled pussy
gently all the time, that she would have
scratched you at all"
81 don't know, perhaps she wouldn't"
DO you really think that the FIRST fault
was yours or pussy'sF" Johnnie did not
answer.
don't you Think" said his aunt again,
g that pussy treated you pretty much as she
found you treated herl" Johnnie nodded.
Many years ago, Johnnie, there lived a
famous people called the Greeks. They had
among them some very wise men, who gave
laws TO the nation, and rules by which they
should govern their daily conduct. The
highest. bestrule they could give was. Do
unto others as they do unto you Don't you
think, Chub has followed that rule pretty
iaithfullys'
" Yes ma'am."
"By-and bye, there came wiser man 10
the earth. and he gave another rule. What
was il !" Johnnie shook his head.
"As you would that men should do unto
you. do ye also to them likewise"
"Oh, that was Jesus Christ"
Yes, he gave the Golden Rule. Do you
think you kept itjust now 7"
"Why, bui--but it's for men, not for cats,
and dogs, and such things"
i "Then. suppose it Is perfectly right TO
let your heart be filled with angry passions
towards dumb animals, and to fret and tease
, them until they get angry too, and then when
they try 10 defend themselves, turn upon
. them and beat them until they flee from you
in pain and hatred !"
mo. auntie, don't thina that is right. |
think il would be very cruel said Johnnie,
whose feeling was beginning TO right ITSELF
" Then YOU think we had better give up
the old Greek rule, and follow Jesus's rule Of
, kindness and love towards brutes as well as
mani"
Yes, maam. But, aunlie. sometimes
| they are so cross and ugly, that We have to
strike them, you know, Or they would hurt
u.s.
"And sometimes men, and even children,
, behave so that they have to be punished. or
shut up, TO keep them from injuring others.
And this, too, when they have reason, a soul,
: which tile pour brute has not. But to punish
! or correct an animal for being ugly. is one
/ thing, aud 10 whip It because they have put
J II into passion, or TO abuse 1t because il
don't understand you, IS quite another. The
first i just and necessary, aud the second is
as cruel and wicked as can be. And, my
little Johnnie, the creature knows il too,-
not the san, but the injustice. God gives it
] an instinct, as be has given you reason; and
!. whenever you iIl.treat il, YOU wound. you
!, outrage. that sense, and 50 do violence to the
t work u God.
!" A great amountof what you call ugliness
!. III ANIMALS. has been caused by tie ill.treat.
Iaent they receive from men. They sre very
InuCh what men make them. II 4 man ID
] kind to his horse, his horse will be kind and
. rbedent to him. Ia little boy IS kind TO his
Dig aud cat, they will be pleasant eompaaioas
: 10 hnn."
!. but Il will Be very easy 10 make them cross
I aud snappish, Il he sets them different ex.
smpr I; lur, as tiIry cannot learn the Golden
Rule, they will iUllON the Greek Rule.
! have .amr .iuries viii tell you about this.
! but there . 40 time this morning. Another
,lat you shaiI hear ihem, you had better 20
huW aud make up with pUur hub, Tor she
IS lU,k.ng qaite dIseonsolate,"
Johnnie sat down " hgr. aud gently siruk.
ed her tack. She opened and shat her eyes
as Il ii grateful acknowledgement then lad
back hef ears. aud lifted her nuse towards
him, ani finally putting first one paw on his
knee, aud then another, crept carefully into