never heard a word of kindness applied to themselves. Prisons, 

 reformatories, and houses of correction arc full of them. Their 

 thefts arc generally for food or clothing, and their sentences 

 for sliort periods ; but when they leave the prison they have 

 no option but to steal again. Mr. Sturge has founded a 

 reformatory for such boys. During some years progress was 

 very slow, scarcely perceptible. Tiie inmates apjircciated 

 warm clothing, and good regidar food ; but except to fear, 

 they cared not for their master or licncfactor. They did not 

 believe in love or kindness. They had become animals, and 

 remained so till it struck the good pliilantbropist one day he 

 would try a new plan : he would find out whether there was 

 not a latent spark of better feeling in them. A few animals 

 were placed in the grounds, a few binls on the water. The 

 boys soon noticed them, then gave them part of tlieir meals, 

 and tlien grew fond of ihem. They were then allowed to 

 have pete oi' their own, and improvement began directly. 

 As soon as they had something to look to them for food and 

 jirotcction, and something to love, they could understand 

 their own position; their regeneration began, and many 

 useful members of society may date their reform from the 

 day that made them possessors of a lamb, rabbit, guinea pig, 

 or dog. As soon as a living thing looked to them for food 

 and protection, and loved them, a new feeling was evoked, 

 and they could then feel drawn to tlieir fellow-creatures. 

 Their proteges supplied at once a bribe and a threat ; by 

 their means they could be encouraged or punished. 



It is almost impossible to assign limits to this love of 

 animated nature. Lately, when some of the most desperate 

 and reckless of French galley-slaves were being removed in 

 order to be transported to Cayenne, the most hardened of 

 the- chain, a triple murderer, walked with a rat upon his 

 shoulder, caressing it so far as a m.an could who was chained. 

 The ea])tain of the vessel objected to receive the rat, but the 

 guard who had charge, said it was impossible to govern that 

 man if it was taken fi'om him. He was the terror of the 

 ])lacc till he had tamed it. As the rat tamed, he softened, 

 and the threat of taking away his rat, would govern him at 

 any time. He had had but one outbreak, and that was «licn 

 u fcUow-prisoncr threw a stone at his rat. He fell on him, 

 and but for being prevented, he would have committed a 

 fourth murder. 



This love of animals appears to be common to .all. Every 

 one in London is familiar with the four-wheeled van, that 

 is seen loaded with shabby, such shabby-looking fiu'uiture 

 the d.ay before quarter-day. On the tail-board, there sits a 

 woman, holding a Dutch clock and a baby in her lap. Three 

 or four other children sit beside her : one holds a basket. 



from which proceeds sounds that proclaim the inmate to be a 

 cat ; another holds a dog, and a third a canary. Look at 

 the plagues of screanung, biting parrots ; those teiTible toy- 

 dogs, that are better fed and tended than many children. 

 Sometimes, however, the love is reciprocal. AVc know the 

 beautiful traits of fidelity of dogs. Even cats h.ave shown 

 love for home. They have been known to travel mtiny miles 

 to get there ; indeed, we believe their attachment is more to 

 place than to person. 



We were, a time since, talking to a sailor about the ten'ible 

 wreck when so many coolies were lately lost near Calcutta. 



•' I know the spot," said he. " I have been wrecked there. 

 The alligators chase you ashore, and the tigers wait for you 

 on the beach." 



Nevertheless, he assured us that no one is allowed to kill 

 these latter without permission, which is not always easily 

 granted. When a tiger has once tasted human flesh, it is 

 said to prefer it to any other food, and seek it constantly. 

 Such an one is called a man-eater. The same sailor we have 

 quoted above, told us a tiile of one of these. He said : 



" There was a frigate lying off the coast of Asia. Among 

 the crew was one man, so evidently cast down, that orders 

 were given to his shipmates to watch him. He one day 

 asked for the loan of a cutlass and brace of jiistols, and for 

 permission to go ashore. All shook their heads, till he came 

 to the commander, who told him he was the last man in the 

 ship to whom he would grant such permission, as he should 

 never expect to see him return. He then told him he had 

 had him watched for weeks. 



" ' Your honour,' said the sailor, ' there is no occasion for 

 that. I am no coward to put an end to my life — not that it's 

 much pleasure. I have been in debt for years, everything is 

 fore-stalled, and work as I will, I can't get on. It makes a 

 fellow dull when he can't do as his shipmates do. _ There 

 is a man-eater on shore, and heaps of money jiromised to 

 whoever can kill him. I wan't to try, and if I do, you will 

 see there is no necessity to watch me.' 



"All he asked was granted. He walked for sometime 

 liefore he met any one willing to show him the w.ay to the 

 jungle where the dreaded tiger lay. At last he met one. 



" ' What do you want to know for ?' asked the native. 



" ' I want to kill him.' 



"'So have many more, but he killed them.' 



"They were getting near the jungle, when the black 

 climbed a long straight tree, and pointing to a thick patch, 

 said, ' He is there.' 



" The sailor stripped to his shirt, looked at his pistols, and 

 loosened his cutlass. He then entered the thicket, throwing 



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