FIFTEEN] HAPPY ANIMALS 
One of the poets tells us our reign should be 
extended not only over the earth, but over the skies: 
“‘ Not even the birds should forgotten be, 
At Christmas time”’—litile Love says he— 
“So I will deck them a Christmas tree.” 
And the birds came flocking around to see. 
Over the slippery, upstanding rock, 
And the frozen snow in cold, icy blocks — 
On each berryless bough that sadly mocks 
Their hungry souls, birds appeared in flocks. 
Love stood on the tips of his small, bare toes, 
Hanging strings of red hips and haws in rows — 
For the little birds love such gijts he knows. 
And over the white, surrounding snows, 
Are prints of tiny, eager feet — 
Of the birds who all come, in hopes to eat. 
With bursts of song, litile Love they greet. 
Says he, “Merry Christmas”’; they say, “Sweet.” 
Making animals thoroughly happy not only de- 
velops a sort of affection for ourselves, but a marked 
courtesy for each other. Our Dumb Animals tells 
a story of what it calls “A Gentlemanly Dog.” 
While on a stage trip through Kentucky, the writer 
of the story saw a small kitten just ahead in the 
roadway. It was too young to know its danger, 
when suddenly a large dog, which was with a gang 
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