78 THE STRIKE AT SHANE'S, 



let's try an' git iu the right path agiu. We'll try kind- 

 ness toward our dumb animals, an' the birds, an' each 

 other, an' see if that ain't a better rule to live by.** 



"I'm agreed to that," said Tom, much to his father's 

 surprise, "for I've been thinking some that way my- 

 self, since Mike has been takin' care of the horses an' 

 applyin' the 'golden rule' to 'em, as he says. It has 

 helped 'em more than all of Hodge's doctorin'." 



"Well, we'll try the rule of kindness from now on," 

 said Shane, and so the matter was settled. 



Towser, who had been lying under the window, got 

 up and capered about the yard for pure joy, and the 

 next morning, before daybreak, he was out in the 

 barnyard and had related the whole story of Shane's 

 new resolutions, which created quite a sensation among 

 the animals. 



"I think we have reason to believe that it is all true, 

 for we have had much better treatment in the past 

 week than ever before in our li\i>s," said Dobbin. 



"I feel quite well this morning, and if 1 had a good 

 feed I think I could pull a plow," said the sorrel. 



"Under the circumstances I'm ready to go to work 

 again," said the gray mare. 



"I wish I could lay two eggs to-day," cackled the 

 hen, and as an evidence of her good intentions she 

 made a new nest on the barn floor, where Edith could 

 not help but find it. 



Dobbin called another convention of all the birds 

 and animals for the purpose of declaring the strike 

 ended, and Towser volunteered to carry the news all 



