THE STBIKE AT SHADE'S. 77 



"They are true, papa, they are true," she said. 

 "God gave us the bh'ds aud ammals, and I think 

 it is a sin for us to abuse them. He will certainly hold 

 us to account for our treatment of his creatures." Her 

 bowed head bent over his face, and a tear-drop from 

 her eye fell on his cheek. "And oh! papa, if you 

 would be loving and kind, not only to mamma and 

 Tom and me, but to all the living creatures that God has 

 given us, I would love you so much, and we would be 

 so much happier." 



"There, now, daughter, don't cry. I beheve you 

 are right about it, an' I'm goin' to change things an' 

 try a new way. It may come a little awkAvard at first, 

 but I think I can get used to it." 



"Oh! papa, I'm so glad. I'll go and tell mamma, 

 and it will help her to get well," said Edith. 



"Just send Tom in ; I want to talk to him awhile," 

 said Shane. 



Tom sauntered into his father's room wondering what 

 was up, for he had seen by Edith's face that some- 

 thing important had happened. 



"Tom," said Shane, after a pause of a few seconds, 

 "I've come to the conclusion that we haven't been 

 runnin' the farm on the right principle. I know you've 

 been follerin' in my footsteps an' doin' things as I do 

 'em, which is quite natural for a boy to do ; but I guess 

 Ave've been mistaken in a few things, an' we'll just take 

 a square turn an' make a new start in another direction. 

 There's somethin' wrong on the farm, an' if it's a judg- 

 ment sent on us for some of our shortcomings, why, 



