San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-28

|
ing with a sharp-pointed switch the
cow he was milking.
Look out thinl Aisy, Brindle!"
cried Mike, as Tom gave 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 We 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 it yerself, sur, II be keepin'
this bit of a torment-this coward-out
o. the shtable yard"
YOU'D better call me a 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. ats 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
at Tom-'did ye think it's mesil
wasn't SEEM ye-from the barn win
dow-tormentin the horse an shootin'
the poor hin? They all know the
weight of his ugly hand, sur. It's a
coward tin times he is"
Grandfather" said Tom, shaking
with rage, twill 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 person
guilty of cruelty to things smaller and
weaker than himself, or m any way in
his power, l 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 little ashamed
| of himself.
There's no use making fuss about
little fun"
81 am sorry, my boy, that you can
find fun in the suffering of dumb
creatures"
'Sufferin g!'' 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 of our voice and
the touch of our hand"
There isn't a 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 to
Tom.
you may go and finish your
milking, Mike" said grandfather.
You see, Tom" he continued, IF it
were not a question of Christlike kind
ness to the helpless it becomes one of
fair dealing, we being in everything
SO dependent upon them"
Pm not dependent upon animals"
said Tom, shortly, having been again
angered by Mikes remark. cat least
won't be. / needn't be If 1 don't
want to-"
"You think SOP" said grandfath her,
with smile.
Eyes, sir, do. know there's lots
of things we get from animals, but
there's lots of things we don't. I'm
willing to stick to the things we don't
just for the sake of argument" This
Tom thought sounded finely. 'Ill try
for day, anyway.
II see, sir" he went on, smiling
back at his grandfather, you're think
ing I'd better be taking off these
clothes, seeing that it was a sheep that
gave them to me. l can. It's a warm
day. l was just going to put on my
duck suit"
Accordingly, ten minutes later, the
small boy who was going to spend the
day without animal help appeared be-
fore his grandfather in his cotton
clothing.
"Shoes?" asked grandfather.
: ''Oh, sure enough! Leather's made
of skins. l learned that long ago,
though 1 never could imagine how
} they did it. Well, / can go barefoot.
: Any boy can. It's fun-here In the
country"
Tom wandered about, keeping him
self clear of the animals, for which
they surely had reason to congratulate
themselves. Tom was not bad boy
not even cruel one, as boys 60 He
was simply rather selfish, thoughtless
and fun-loving, and had not been
taught to consider whether his fun