The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-11-23
Pins in Pussy,s Toes.

Little Fred is now in the third summer of
his mortal life. Of course, he doesn't remem-
Der much that happened in the first or second
one, as his is a pretty short memory. So
that Fred's observations on matters and things
this summer have all the freshness of a first
experience.
This summer Fred's golden curls have been
sheared; beautiful, enhanced blossoms of in
fancy, they have fallen into box which
mamma keeps privately to remind her of her
vanishing baby. Then Fred has been moved
into the country, and his round blue eyes are
growing rounder and bigger every hour with
new and WOndrOus experiences.
Most striking among them, and most puz-
cling to Fred Is pussy. Not big cat, but a
kitty, OF those tender years corresponding to
Fred's own. What wonder she is, seen now
for the first time, serenely walking ON all
fours. A Maltese kit, of pure blood and a
glossy mouse color, with a little white breast
pin in her bosom Evidently Pussy belongs
to the White Star Line
Eagerly Fred seizes her; he hugs her very
tight, and Pussy squirms invain he examines
the wonder; he pokes his fat little fingers into
Pussy's bright eyes; he opens her mouth and
looks at her little pink tongue. He tends her
little while with her head up, and then, for
variety's sake, he tends her with her heels up
and her head hanging down. Then it occurs
to him that Pussy's tail is nice handle to car
~ her by, and he tries the experiment. At
last Pussy's patience gives out, and out from
her pretty velvet paws fly the ten little, sharp,
pearly points that have been given her for her
defence, and Fred teels a new sensation. He
throws Pussy on the floor, and runs scream
ing to mamma, 20, mamma. mamma. Pus-
sy got pins in her toes.'' 0s
Them mamma explains to Freddy why the
pins were put in Pussy's velvet toes. s.Poor,
soft, furry, helpless little Pussy what could
she do IT she had not pins in her toes? Does
Freddy like to have people poke their fingers
IN MS eyes, or open his mouth, or feel of his
tongue? No mere does Pussy. Would Freddy
like to be carried round squeezed up under
somebody's arm, with his head hanging down /?
No more does Pussy. But Pussy cannot
speak. She cannot complainant she can do
Is to use the pins in her toes
When Freddy holds Pussy right end up,
strokes her gently, and speaks lovingly to her,
the little sharp pins in her paws 20 away2
clear in, where nobody can see them, and
Pussy begins to sing a low, little purring song
to show how happy she is! So, Freddy DEAR
says mamma, there is right way and a
wrong way to handle everything. If YOU hold
Pussy gently, stroke her SOFTLY ard treat her
kindly, you never will be troubled by the ten
little pins in her ten toes, but if you trouble,
and worry, and tease Pussy, she will scratch. y
Little Fred's lesson is lesson also to us
older ones.
These helpless little dumb ones, who form
part of our family, have some rights that we
are bound to see maintained.
We have sometimes wondered to see help
less Kitten or puppy given up to be tortured
IN nursery, without even an attempt to ex-
plain to the children the pain they are inflict-
ing, and the duties they owe to the helpless.
Thus, what might form the most beautiful
trait in the childs character is changed to a
deformity. Instead of learning from the kit
ten generous consideration for weakness
and helplessness, the little one receives in the
nursery the lesson of brutal tyranny.
No parent ought to allow child the pos
session of any living creature, with whose
comfort and welfare they do not charge them
selves. Children are not naturally cruel; they
are only ignorant and inconsiderate. They
have no conception Of the pain they often in
flict, even by their loving caresses. A boy,
too, has in him a sort of wild, uncultured love
of domination and sense of power, which
are no sins, but may be made the foundations
OF great virtue, if he be early taught thai his
strength and power of control are given him
for the protection of weakness, and not for
the oppression of it. A boy can use the same
faculties in defending and helping poor ami
mails. that he can in oppressing them; and
the pets OF the nursery are valuable for teach
ing that very lesson. -
80, it is excellent 4s
To have giants strength; but tyrannous
To use it like giant"
Mrs. Ii. b. Sto,oe.