Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-10-23
Pins in Pussy,s Toes.

Little Fred is now in the third sum
mer of his mortal life OF course he
doesn't remember much that hap
pened 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 heen sheared-beautiful, en-
chanted blossoms of infancy, they
have fallen into a box, which man.
ma keeps privately to remind her of
her vanishing baby. Then, Fred had
been moved into the country, and
his round, blue eyes are growing
rounder and bigger every hour, with
new and wonderful experiences.
Most strikingly among them, and
most puZzling to Fred, is Pussy.
Not q big cat, but a kitty, of those
tender years corresponding TO Fred's
own. What a wonder she is, seen
now for the first time, serenely walk
ing on all-foursI a Maltese kit, of
pure blood and glossy mouse-colOr,
with a little white breast-pin in her
bosom! Evidently Puss belongs to
the celebrated White Star Line.
Eagerly Freddy seizes her; he hugs
her very tight, and Pussy squirms in
vain; 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 a 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
a. l. J.. toll is 10
ole toscarry her by, and he tries that
experiment. Atlast Pussy's patience
gives out. and out from her prt tty vel
vet paws fly the ten little, sharp,
pearly points that have been given
h,r for her defense, and Fred
feels a new sensation. He throws
Pussy ON the floor and runs scream
ing to mamma. so, mamma, man.
ma, Pussy got pins in her toes :"
Then mamma explains to Freddy
why the pins were put in Pussy's vel
vet toes. Poor, soft, furry, helpless
little Pussy what could she do if
she had not pins in ner toes Does
Freddy like to have people poke their
fingers in his eyes, or open his mouth,
or feel of his tongue? No more does
Pussy. Would Freddy like to be car
ried round, squeezed up under some !
body's arm, with his head hanging
down? No more does pussy. But |
Pussy can not speak. She can not |
complain-all she can do is to use the |
pins in her toes.n
when Fred holds Pussy right end !
up, strokes her gently, and speaks
lovingly to her, the little sharp pins |
in her paws go away-clear in, where |
nobody can see them, and Pussy be- |
gins tossing q low, little ,purring song,
to show how happy she is ! So, Fred
dy, dear, . says mamma, there is a |
right way and wrong way to handle |
everything. If you hOld Pussy gent /
IL, stroke her softly, and 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"
Little Fred lesson is a lessen also
to us older ones.
Those helpless little dumb ones,
who form part of our family, have
some rights that we are bound to see
We have sometimes wondered to
see a little helpless kitten or puppy
given up to be tortured in a nursery,
even an attempt to explain
to the children the pain they are in
fiictins, and the duties they owe to
the helpless. Thus, what might form
the most beautiful trait in the child's
character, is changed to a deformity.
Instead of learning from the kitten
generous consideration for weakness
and helplessness, the little ones re-
ceive in the nursery the lesson of
brutal tyranny.
10 parent ought to allow a child
The possession of any living creature
with whose comfort and welfare they
10 not charge themselves. Children
ire not naturally cruel they are only
gnorant and inconsiderate. They
nave no conception of the pain they
)ften infiict, even by their loving ca
'esses. A boy, too, has in him a sort
IF wild, uncultured love of domina-
ion and sense of power, which are no
iins, but may be made the founda-
ions of great virtue, if he be early
aught that his strength and power of
control are given him for the protec-
Ion of weakness, and not for the op.
preston of it. A boy can use the same
in defending cnd helping
)oOr animals that he can in oppres-
ng them; and the pets of thu nursery
ire valuable for teaching that very les
on. +
"Ohi Il is excellent
To have a giants strength but tyrannous
To use il Ike giant"
-ALrs. II. B. StOiUe, iR C2tristidn In {
on.