Boy on dogTHE HEDGE-HOG.
Boy on dog
Master William Gentle was riding on the back of his dog Cæsar, when hisgrandfather called to him and invited him to take a walk. They went out together, and as they were walking, they met some boys who had a hedge-hog, which they were going to hunt.—Mr.Gentleordered them to release it.—The boys pleaded that the hedge-hog would injure the farmers by sucking their cows, and that it therefore ought to be killed.
Mr. Gentle.If it were proper to deprive the animal of life, it would be a duty to do it in as expeditious a manner as possible, and very wicked to torment the poor creature; but the accusation is false, and you are unjust as well as cruel.—Release it this instant!
William.Will the hedge-hog be glad when he gets loose?
Grandfather.Very glad.
William.Then I shall be glad too.
Grandfather.I hope that you will always delight in making other creatures happy: and then you will be happy yourself.
William.I love to see the dog happy, and the cat happy.
Grandfather.Yes, surely; and you love to make them happy.
William.How can I make them happy?
Grandfather.By giving them what they want, and by taking kind notice of them, and when you get on Cæsar’s back again, as he lets you ride, do not strike him, but coax him gently.
William.Can I make my brothers and sisters happy?
Grandfather.You can each of you make yourself and all the rest of the children happy, by being kind and good-humored to each other; willing to oblige, and glad to see the others pleased.
William.How, pray?
Grandfather.If you were playing with a toy, andBartlewished to haveit, perhaps you would part from it to please him; if you did, you would oblige him.
William.Should not I want it myself?
Grandfather.You would be pleased to see him delighted with it, and he would love you the better, and whenGeorgegoes out, and you stay at home, if you love him as well as you do yourself, you will be happy to see his joy.
William.I shall be happy to see his joy.
Grandfather.Your parents are always watching over you all, for yourgood; in order to correct what is amiss in your tempers, and teach you how you ought to behave; they will rejoice to see you fond of each other, and will love you all the better.
William.Grandpa, I remember that my brother wrote a piece lastChristmas, which you called Brotherly Love.—I wish I could remember it.
Grandfather.I recollect it;—you shall learn to repeat it.
William.I shall like that; pray let me hear it now, sir.
Grandfather.You shall.
“The children of our family shouldbe like the fingers on a hand; each help the other, and each in his separate station promote the good of the whole. The joy of one should be the joy of the whole. Children in a house should agree together like the birds in a nest, and love each other.”
William.I thank you grandpa: I rememberWatts’hymn:
“Birds in their little nests agree,“And ’tis a shameful sight,“When children of one family,“Fall out and chide and fight.”
“Birds in their little nests agree,“And ’tis a shameful sight,“When children of one family,“Fall out and chide and fight.”
“Birds in their little nests agree,“And ’tis a shameful sight,“When children of one family,“Fall out and chide and fight.”
“Birds in their little nests agree,
“And ’tis a shameful sight,
“When children of one family,
“Fall out and chide and fight.”
The masterRebelsoften fight; many say that it is jealousy that makes them do so.—Pray, grandpa, what is jealousy?
Grandfather.A passion which I hope will never enter your breast. Your excellent parents love you all equally, and take care to make it appear that they do so. A good parent looks around with equal love on each child, if all be equally good, and each be kind to the rest. When a family is affectionate, how happy is every member of it! each rejoiceth at the happiness of the rest, and so multiplies his own satisfactions. Is any one distressed? the tender and compassionate assistance of the rest mitigates where it cannot wholly relieve his pain!
“Our joys when thus shared are always increas’d,“And griefs when divided are hushed into peace.”
“Our joys when thus shared are always increas’d,“And griefs when divided are hushed into peace.”
“Our joys when thus shared are always increas’d,“And griefs when divided are hushed into peace.”
“Our joys when thus shared are always increas’d,
“And griefs when divided are hushed into peace.”