Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-06-21

er replied but you asked my advice
and gave it you. You know the SPUR
rel is yours now, as much as it ever car
be. 1t comes at your call always. Dc
you think 1t would come again if it knew
you were about to make prisoner of ?
" Perhaps not" l said, hesitating.
Then give Tommy his liberty.
should not like to have you break faitt
even with dumb creature
f The argument was conclusive, but ever
then | did not feel satisfied. The bitter
+ cold days of November had come. The
+ trees were bare, and looked so melancholy
that ] almost determined | would bring
Tommy Indoors 70, the Winter.
4 Suddenly, while revolving the plan il
my mind, there came upon us snow
storm. the like of which is rarely seen il
/ New England. 1t lasted for two or three
days Every road was blocked up every
wall and fence was covered My Tommy
fate was fixed for the Winter,
What gives US greater love for reading
( than feeling an interest in what we read
Every book | could lay my hands on
which treated of the Information Of ami
mails, read over and over again.
/ found, Of course, that Nature takes car,
of her own that my Tommy was living il
his bed Of dry leaves under the wall, ,
great deal more comfortable than | coul,
have made him; that he doubtless haC
food enough, and to spare, and that mos
Of the time, when not eating he was doz
ing away the hours, safe and we'll.
Spring came at last, a. it always will
/ if we wait patiently. The snow was al
gone, and the grass was sprnging up, be
fore | had a SIGHT Of Tommy. But h
came after awhile in answer to my call
Shy at tirst he was, yet few days aud
+ few handluls OF nice corn made US as gooC
\ friends as ever Yes, greater for haC
not absence ripened our friendship In
deed it had
Shall L 90 on with my story 1t hat
q sad ending but suppose you want Il
hear the whole One day in Iune-it wa
Just year since had made Tommy &c
quaintance-I missed MY littlc hackee q,
| returned from the meadow | remember
VOL how merriIy the binds had been sing
ing, especially that famous eabblcr il
black and white, which most readers know
So we'll All day long he had been hopp
inc from tree TO fence, from fence TO tn.
ground and then again 10 tree, chatterin.
all the white, Bob o-ilng come-pay-me
that-quarter-y ou-had- of-Bob Iiatchett Bot
IIatchctt-ebec-ehee 81 Happy a king,
shoulierel ray pitchiork, aud wended my
way homeward But ! missed my Tommy
l picked up a little stone. and tappec
gently On the wall as usual But no Tom
my came
Thought little Of hi absence then 4.
day after day went by, however. and still
uo signs Of my squirrel. | began to fee
nervous. 4 fortnight had passed away
when, IS was ,taudin. beside the wall
wondering what had become Of Tommy
one orthe village boys, with a gun on IN
shoulder, passed along the lane towarJ
the highway lie spoke ciyiliy to me
ald replied. casualty asking whether
he had found auy came.
Wen, no, was his answer, th,
squirrels are pretty scarce now. / wa.
up this way about fortnight ago anc
Ua.Led lot Of clippers.
I'D an instant ! suspected the fate ct my
squirrel i strange sensation came over
md. ana | actua1y had 10 lean agaius
tile wal. for support. / don't think til,
h7y ever buew how much pain he hae
caused me lie soon continued on toward
THE village y for me, | sat down upor
the GROUND and had ! good hearty cry
Gal. me silly. ebicken-he4rtei. any thin.
ycu will; il was my first real sorrow.
felt like crying. aud | couldn't help it
Mother saw that was In trouble aud hal
tbe secret oat Of me IN five minutes Sb,
tried ID comfort me. bat It the truth wa
known, thiuk she felt nearly as bad as
Iil.
believe that this adventure with
squirrel has bad an influence on my Who'll,
subsequent life. From that tire | coulc
never shoot squirrels or destroy birds
nests :. Just FIR the fun Of the thing" tn,
lasident taught me- d hope il viii teacI
you. nly dear young readers, ruE POWER
aa .INl>E--. which Is really the tali-mar
that brings even the brute creation to ON
teet, ana makes them obedient to our will
And it such is the effect Of Kindness to
ward dumb creatures, how much greater
it viii he when exercised toward intelli
gent beings knduese over beeets conf
ience and trust; these IN their turn bring
the love and esteem Of all And ii Is not
at All strange that he who can pain or Kill
any dumb creature :. for the fan of it. ,
rarely possesses the love Or respect Of hi.
companions aud associates.