THE FALCON. 137 



the course pursued by certain men in this world. For 

 how often do we see persons, who are themselves 

 lazy and worthless, living comfortably on the earnings 

 of industrious and hard working people. Perhaps 

 these persons are not guilty of robbing outright, or of 

 cheating in such a manner as to be brought before the 

 magistrate, and punished according to law. But they 

 contrive to take the advantage of the ignorant and la- 

 borious, in such a manner as to get into their own 

 hands most of their earnings, and thus to live in idle- 

 ness on the sweat of another's face. Such vile and 

 Deceitful conduct may possibly escape punishment in 

 this world ; but that God, who sees the hearts of men, 

 and knows all their secret actions, will most assuredly 

 punish such injustice at the day of final account. 



THE FALCON. 



The Falcon is another of the Rapacious tribes of 

 birds. They agree with the eagle in having their heads 

 and necks covered with feathers, and in having sharp 

 hooked bills and strong claws. They are, in general, 

 much smaller than the eagles, but like them they live 

 by catching game, which commonly consists of the 

 smaller birds of the forest. Some of them visit the 

 farm yards, and carry off the chickens, and one variety 

 lives chiefly on serpents. These birds are more com- 

 monly known under the name of Hawks. There are 

 many varieties of them, but with one or two exceptions^ 

 they agree very nearly in form and habits. 

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