MORAL DUTY TO BE KIND 247 



of the cruelty of man. He walked among them 

 and placed his hands upon their tall, downy heads 

 and necks, and stroked them as if they were pets 

 in his own family. Then he planned to kill one 

 and take it home for his museum ; and selecting his 

 victim, he took out his pen-knife, and stroking the 

 head of the beautiful bird, pressed the keen point 

 through the white plumage into the neck until the 

 feathers were spotted with a single drop of blood. 

 The bird turned his head and looked into the great 

 naturalist's eyes with an almost human gaze of 

 wonder and appeal. The knife was withdrawn. 

 A deep fountain of pity and love opened in the 

 good man's soul, and he turned away and left 

 these innocent unfrightened creatures of God un- 

 harmed." 



We call lower animals wild because they are in- 

 telligent enough to keep out of the reach of man 

 who is their worst enemy. If they have never 

 been mistreated and are assured of man that he 

 will treat them kindly they will soon learn not to 

 fear him. 



Deer, antelope, buffalo, swan, squirrels, and many 

 other animals that are wild in their native state, if 

 placed in a park and treated kindly will soon be- 



