The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1876-01-26
HE WOULDN'T THINK
Kindness and Neglect.

Cruelty very often springs from
want of thought Many little child
na are cruel, and give much needless
pain, because they DO not think; and
pain thus given is but too surely fol-
lowed by useless sorrow and unavailing
aeatatioA
will tell story Of two lads a true
story, my dear children to show you
tie fruits Of neglect, and how one with
many good qualities may from want of
thought become very, very cruel.
These two lads were not brothers,
but very great friends; and living with
ID few hundred yards of eack other,
we're almost always together. Their
names we're Charlie Mason and Harry
Thorn.
One day when Charlie was playing
With bis friend in the garden, Mr.
Thorn came to them with box under
his arm. Mr.. Thorn was very fond Of
both these little boys, and he always
treated Charlie as il he were his son
and Harry's brother.
Sitting down upon one Of the gar
aen seats, Mr. Thorn placed the box
upon his knees and bid the boys come
to him. They came and sat down
upon the grass BY his feet, with their
eyes fixed upon the box, and wondering
very much what was in it, you may
besIre.
Now my dear boys said Mr..
Thorn, / see by your faces that You
ARE longing to know what is IN this box;
aud | viii not keep you in suspense
you may peep in"
He raised the lid little, and they
looked in and saw two little rabbits
nestling In some straw? Such q pretty
sight il was, those two little things,
with their delicate fluffy coats and
pretty heads with long ears and bright
eyes. The boys were charmed, and
they cried out with delight.
What dear little things, papi" ex-
claimed Harry; / never saw anything
50 nice.
2 hope they are for Harry, sir,
ai5 Charlie aI should be ID pleased
ID help him feed and keep them clean,
an6l to see them playing about tic hutch
goasthef.
One ID for Harry. replied Mr.
Ihafn and tie other fol you;
Aus before I give them TO y6u have 4
fe# words ts soy"
g lte opened the box, took oas the
TIVE rabbits By the ears, and placing
them gently on bis knees, llela tliem
WItb firm but kind and tender haad
81 dear children, he began, /
want 70 impress upon you the fact that
these two little creatures resting upon
my knee are Gods own haRdiwork, as
much rs you and Z I wish to impress
upon you the necessity of kindness,
attention to their wants. give them
plenty Of room and food, and keep
their hutches clean / have ordered
two Of Smith, the carpenter; one will
Be left at your house, Charlie, and
that for you, Harry, will Be brought
heFen
And, indeed, while Mr.. Thorn was vet
speaking the carpenter came through
the garden-gats With the hutch for
HaIy upon his shoulder. x have
aade il very strong and good, sir he
ssia Is he put it down lsran the grass;
and there Is room Fe il Master
hsrry should wish to seen them.a
Thank you, Smith said Mr..
Thorn; aitiga very rlic butch indeed. y
and the carpenter went his way.
I | hare few more instructions to
give, continued ME Thorn, and then,
ml dear children. the abhits are yours.
Keep them clean; do not disturb them
loo often. Do not give them too much
green food little dandcli0n ard milk
hlstie, with q fair supply Of bran
gFe i IN small quantities twice or
shrlce day; and above oil, do not
lofget that kindness il a duty. I DO
hope and trust that it viii noEonly be
2 duty but pleasure to YOU to treat
taese little creatures with the careful
lendeTness they deserve as living
THINGS given into your charge BIZ their
Sreator The one with the black ears
yours, Charlie; the other belongs 10
Harry, Treat them well.
Tke bows promised to be very careful
e their pets, and Charlie was very
laad in bis declarations. he said no
would never be otherwise than kind
Hett we shall zee how lie kept Bis
word
haay was busy AL day finding d
4see place for the hutch. end fixing il.
Y placed It close 10 tie WIN, out of
y Of The north and east wind.
aad covered The top with 4 piece Of
eaane 0ielosh. Of farpaulin, to keep
sae laia out. Then liz collected for II
hHle green food, aud pun some bran
II saacer and placed straw IA the
s9Raer and left itfor tie night, looking
e9s sliag and happy.
sAals se carried home his little treas
fe gla there found his hutch waiting
ann III faxed Il as Harrv had
aoa hnt not with The same care he
e iil the first place handy. and never
! moment thoughtof tile Niiid. east,
ngEh, o. south. Nor aid he
q slie fain, but left the hutch
g s bare wood exposed To ALI
s
s8f POINT out to you, nay dear
bow wrong this Was here
a beginning of th0uehtless