LV 



How much more deeply cruelty offends when it is 

 Thoughtless enacte d in fair scenes ! So I thought to 

 Cruelty mvse lf one Sunday evening not long 

 ago, witnessing an unpleasant incident in the 

 meadows below Winchester. Troops of swifts were 

 sweeping low and fast over the Itchen ; round and 

 round they went with shrill, soft cries, rejoicing in 

 their perfect wingmanship. At a bend of the 

 stream stood a couple of fellows with long sticks, 

 hitting at the birds as they went by. Generally 

 they missed their aim, but every now and then 

 there was a shout and much unlovely laughter, as 

 one or other of them knocked one of the birds down 

 in mid flight. My first impulse was to go up and 

 tell the clowns they were a couple of cruel rascals, 

 and order them to desist. What was it restrained 

 me prudence, justice, or cowardice 1 Perhaps a 

 mixture of all three ; for here are some of my reflec- 



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