Year: 1871

For the Herald and Tribune.


However ugly and disgusting the toad
may appear to the sight, it is nevertheless,
very useful animal.


1t is also an indefatigable worker and
in providing for the indulgence of its APP
petite, it also labors for our benefit by ie-
stroyiDg countless thousands ofth insects
which prey upon the tender garden vege-
tables and plants. and devouring myriads
of the onniverous omnipresent house flies
which at this season of the year are swarm
ing into, onto, over. and through every
thing. We once had tame toad who
would hop into the house and quietly
squat herself upon the dining room floor,
while the unsuspicious flies would gather
around, and even upon the apparently in
sensate mass, needless and thoughtless of
danger; when all at once out would dart
the long, 1.-THE, slender tongue of the ugly
Batracian, and then, good by to Mr. Fly !
More fatal than any snare ever woven by
spider-enmlty is the quick, sure and sud-
den seizure by this nimble little member
of dull, sluggish, sleepy-looking toady.-
Until you have watched toad eat you
have no idea how many flies one will de-
your. So boys don't kill them, but
make pctof one and ipd amusement III
watching its curious ways and in learning
facts in natural history from it. Let them
eat up the flies and bugs for you. Take a
bit of paper, spread molasses or honey
upon it and lap it near your pet toad, and
as the flies begin to gather upon it, watch
how he will enjoy the fun of eating them,
sec his little red line of tongue how it
darts out with lightning-hko rapidity !
You see a flash, you miss fly, and it is
all over, while you will hardly be able to
realize that the dull, innocent, looking
harmless little IN: nster has really dcvour-
ed it.


There are thousands, aye millions of
people in Asia, in what are called Heath
Ell lands, who are Brahmins in religion,
and who believe that after death their
souls enter into the body of some animal,
and for 4 thousand years thus tenant
some of the lower forms of animal life,
suffering all the pairs, dangers and casa-
alities of the new form thus taken and
upon each recurrence of death in the form
thus inhabited, it is forced to enter an
other and yet another, till the long, long
period APPRECIATION is thus passed. Now
this belief, false though it be, has yet this
IN uch of good in it, that it is ever con-
slant and potent pleader against all cruel
ty to animals. Think you boys that you
would hurt u toad, if you thought it pro-
bable, or even possible, that the soul of
the little baby sister whom you so loved.
and who died leaving such an acg void
in your heart, was enshrined within the
ugly skin of some one Of these disgusting
warty little auimals? Or that pcrchance
its squat, dnmpy, little form might be the
home of the spirit of your dear dead
saiptcd mother. OF of your brave noble
father who died to save his country and
left you asoldier's orphan?


''From dewey morn till twilight eve


Perchance some being thou has loved,


As bird or household animal


\ vacant place to fill"


But setting aside all other arguments
this one above should suffice.


1T seems a cruel thing to me


To strike with unrelcnting hand


What never injured thee"


-.t E. D. L.


EACTopyvIIJF Tune 1871