The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-06-15

IItIt cray tuHIt+ <AlN MIKE.
Tom laughed. As he talked he had
been on the side away from Mike teas
ing with sharp-pointed switch the
COW he was milking.
Look out .hinl Aisy, Brindlew
cried Mikc, as Tom gave a harder
poke.
But Brindle had quickly raised her
hind foot. and as the words left Mikes
mouth his well-filled milk pail went
over.
With an angry howl Mike sprang up,
rushed towards Tom and seized him by
the collar.
"Will ye be lettin' the craythers
alone, We limb Of evil? Coon this way
wild ye: No, It's niver gettin' away
you'll ber
mike, you let go mel" roared Tom,
striving with all his might to free him
self from the angry grasp.
But Mike, strong with long-pent-up
indignation. only frightened his hold
on Toms arm. and, with more rapid
movements than had ever before been
seen in the hired man, dragged him
from the stable yard, through the
kitchen garden and over grassy plat
to the side porch on which GRANDPA
Their Camp was enjoying the morning
sunshine
AN Is IL yerself, sur, III be keepin'
this bit OF tormcnt--this coward--out
o. the shtable yard"
You'd better call me coward!" ex-
claimed Tom. doubling up his fists as
Mike at length let go his hold of him.
"It's coward We are" went on Mike,
In great excitement. "Its every dumb
beast about the farrum, sur, that he's
wearyin' the heart out OF wild his par
secutin'. A-h-h-h--" shaking his fist
ut Tom--"did ye think it's mesilf
wasn't seein' ye--from the barn win
ldow--tormentin' the horse an shootin'
the poor hin? They all know the
weight of his ugly hand, sur. It's q
coward tin times he is.
Grandfather" said Tom, shaking
with rage, "will you make that
Paddy-beg my pardon, and turn him
away? How dare he call me names?'
WELL" said grandfather, quietly,
''if by coward Mike means a person
guilty of cruelty to things smaller and
weaker than himself, or in any way in
his power. am afraid he has chosen
the right name for YOU"
| There was a grave, even rather Sc
we're. look on his face. Tom quoted
down and began to feel a little ashamed
of himself.
There's no use making fuss about
q little fun"
III am sorry. my boy, that you can
find fun in tho suffering of dumb
creatures"
"Suffcrin gr' said Tom, impatiently.
"Yes, suffering. Fright and annoy
ance and pain are suffering. don't
think you will do for farmer, Tom.
Farmers are constantly in contact with
the creatures the Lord has made. He
made them for our use and our pleas
ure. The most of them are gentle and
submissive TO us. They love us, and
are glad of the sound n ar voice and
the touch of our hand"
There isn't crayther on the place
that won't shy or rim at the sight of
him. put in Mike, who, very fond him
self of the creatures under his care.
was greatly enjoying the rebuke q
Tom.
"You may go and finish YOU
milking, Mike" said grandfather
'You see. Tom." he continued, ''ift
were not a question OF Christlike kinl-
ness TO the helpless, it becomes onebf
fair dealing, we being in everything
SO dependent upon them"
"I'm not dependent upon animas,"
said Tom, shortly, having been af.i;;
angered by Mikes remark. AT hast
won't be. / needn't be II / don't
want to-
You think SOP" said GRANDPA her,
with a smile.
"Yes, sir, do. l know there'slots
of things we get from animals, but
there's lots OF things we don't. I'm
willing to stick to the things weaon't
just for the sake of argumentp' This
Tom thought sounded finely. ~ try
for day, anyway.
II see. SIR" he went on, milling
back at his grandfather, "you'rsthink-
ing I'd better be taking of these
clothes, seeing that it was a shep that
gave them to me. can. lisa warm
day. 1 was just going TO pu' on my
duck suit"
Accordingly. ten minutes liter, the
small boy who was going To send the
day without animal help apparel be-
fore his grandfather In hi cotton
clothing.
"Shoes?" asked grandfather
"oh, sure enough Leatltr's made
of skins. learned that bng ago,
though / never could imgine how
they did IT, Well. can 20 barefoot.
Any boy can. It's fun--hre IN the
country"
Tom wandered about, keeping him
self clear of the animals for which
they surely had reason TO congratulate
themselves. Tom was noh bad boy
not even cruel one. rs bys go He
was simply rather selfish thoughtless
and fun-loving, aud nd not been
taught TO consider wheher his fun
was a source Of pain TO cher things or
persons