32 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 



then, under careful treatment, and even come out 

 first where they went in last. 



Every farmer finds, sooner or later, that it pays 

 to care kindly for his live stock. He realizes that 

 there is less waste of fodder when it is intelligent- 

 ly adapted to the animal's wants, and less required 

 to supply them when comfort is consulted. He 

 has not to keep piling up fodder to enable his 

 horse and cow to thaw the cold out, for he had 

 early taken the precaution to let as little of it in 

 as possible. 



A merciful man, however, is not invariably mer- 

 ciful to his beast. But the exceptions result more 

 from thoughtlessness than deliberate intention. 

 You may find a good, clever fellow, who would no 

 more think of violating the statute against cruelty 

 to animals, than that against housebreaking. He 

 Avould no more be seen knocking down his horse 

 than his neighbor, and yet, were his dumb beast 

 gifted like a certain one we read of, he might as 

 plainly rebuke his master. The man perhaps has 

 been in the habit of thinking ,from his childhood 

 up, that domestic animals, like wild ones, can 

 shift for themselves — or he may imagine that some, 

 besides chameleons, can live on air — or that oth- 

 ers, besides those starved army hordes which i-e- 

 cently are said to have devoured a thousand dol- 

 lars worth or so of lumber, can subsist on "post- 

 fodder." 



Then, again, no doubt, there are some naturally 

 kind persons who live under the delusion that 

 kindness to brutes of any sort is like pearls cast 

 before swine; they won't appreciate it. But 

 the same rule applies to their own species. They 

 will find certain of their own fellow-mortals, who 

 are no more susceptible, apparently, to the 'law of 

 kindness than so many brutes. But the trouble 

 is, such have been so neglected or maltreated, at 

 one time and another, that they have come 

 to understand only the language of hard knocks 

 and frowns ; and it is somewhat thus with their 

 fellow-unfortunates a little lower in the scale of 

 creation. Cannot both, however, be won over by 

 patient, kindly painstaking ? 



The skinflint, who grudges himself and family 

 the food and raiment they need, will of course be- 

 grudge his other live stock their necessaries of 

 life and health, but, as has been before intimated, 

 he stands in his own light, for kindness, as well as 

 honesty, is the best policy all round. And what 

 shall be said of the absent-minded man, whose 

 thoughts and wits are anywhere and everywhere, 

 but about their owner ? He bowls ahead like Je- 

 hu through thick and thin, holding the reins, and 

 laying on the lash mechanically, until some sudden 

 splash or jolt rouses him to consciousness of his 

 whereabouts, and he makes what amends he can. 

 When he gets home, he unharnesses the reeking, 

 jaded nag, and if he don't forget to feed and wa- 

 ter him, it is very apt to be because the hungry, 

 neglected brute makes his wants known so loud 

 and strong, that the absent one is recalled to his 

 sense of duty in spite of himself. Then it is real- 

 ly comical how repentant and apologetic he is 

 sometimes to the offended beast, and promises 

 never to be so overtaken again — only he can't stick 

 to the pledge. 



It is a significant fact, that two most popular 

 foreign authors of the day are specially noticeable 

 for their fondness of animals. And another equal- 

 ly eminent, though perhaps less popularly known, 



has gone so far as to discover in every animal's 

 eye some intimation of humanity. Beecher, also, 

 said in a recent sermon, that "beasts are much 

 more moral than men generally are ;" and, indeed, 

 there seems to be a growing disposition to accredit 

 animals with something higher than mere instinct. 

 Is not this, after all, the surest and strongest 

 claim they have to our kindness ? Whatever be 

 our speculations, like brutes they will ever live 

 and die, but their conditions of life and death will 

 be much relieved in proportion as they are appre- 

 ciated. 



It is also an encouraging circumstance that pub- 

 lic sentiment bears down with almost the force of 

 law upon the cruel master, whether of man-servant 

 or brute. The wilful transgressor in this respect 

 will surely have the finger of scorn pointed at him, 

 if not a sharp stick thrust nearer. And the un- 

 conscious, careless off'ender will be pitied almost 

 like the man who needs a guardian. 



The cosset lamb may be a plaything for the 

 child, and the sucking calf or pig its natural pet, 

 but no man need be ashamed to own his pets of 

 the farm, nor think it but boy's play to encourage 

 their caresses. And in studying their comfort and 

 enjoyment, he is but obeying the will of Him who 

 causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and feed- 

 eth tlte young ravens when they cry. \v. E. B. 



Longmeadow, Nov., 1862. 



A WORD ON THE TOAD. 



The beautiful eye of the toad is proverbial, re- 

 deeming the ungainliness of its general aspect, 

 and having in all probability given rise to the fa- 

 bled jewel within the head. Bright and richly 

 colored as is the eye, with its round, bold, fiery, 

 chestnut hue, it is without the least vestige of ex- 

 pression, and retains its full brilliancy long after 

 the animal is dead. As to venemous powers of 

 the toad, they are not to be found in his mouth, 

 as is popularly imagined, but in two rather large 

 glands on the sides of the head, which project 

 boldly, and are plainly visible. If one of these 

 protuberances be squeezed between the fingers, a 

 whitish creamy-looking liquid will be ejected, and 

 perhaps to some little distance. While perform- 

 ing this operation it will be well enough to hold 

 the toad in such a manner that the secretion may 

 not be shot into the eyes, as in that case it would 

 cause severe pain, and might probably produce 

 violent inflammation. Still, it will not be ejected 

 without the employment of considerable force, 

 and is never injurious to human beings. Briefly 

 to sum up the character of the toad — it is not 

 pretty, is entirely harmless, extremely useful, 

 easily tamed, and worthy of being cherished by 

 those who pi'efer deeds to outward seeming ; it is 

 a creature of curious and interesting habits, and 

 affords a rich field to any one with time and op- 

 portunity, for clearing up several imjjortant but 

 disputed points in physiology. — Once a Week. 



Solvent for Old Putty and Paint. — Soft 

 soap mixed with solution of potash or caustic 

 soda ; or pearl ash and slaked lime mixed with 

 sufficient water to form a paste. Either of these 

 laid on with an old brush or rag, and left for some 

 hours, will render it easily removable. 



