PITY. Who has taught us the lesson of pity? There can be no question that the sense of pity for human sufferings, of sympathy for human wrongs, of solidarity with all who are in pain or sorrow, has been developed in this age to an extent not known at any previous period of the world's history. It is an historic fact that this age is preeminently a merciful age. An age which feels a sense of horror for all needless anguish, a sense of indignation against all who inflict it, or who have no compassion for those on whom it falls. We could not tolerate for a moment the infliction of the tortures which were daily inflicted in past centuries, which are still daily inflicted in barbarous and heathen lands. The foul dungeons and awful implements of the dark ages, dungeons which were then habitually filled with prisoners, implements with which the human body was then constantly wrenched and torn - make our blood freeze with horror. Were it known in these days that even the most atrocious malefactor had been stretched on the rack or broken on the wheel, the prison in which such a deed was done would be stormed and burnt to ashes to-morrow by the honest fury of the multitude. We have abolished not only the rack and the pillory, but even the treadmill and the stocks. Public opinion can now but barely tolerate that punishment of the lash, even for the most atrocious outrages, which in the days of our fathers was an every day incident of naval and military life, and was then the Whence have we penalty of the most venial offences. learned this sense of pity? Is it a shame to us or an honor? And does it show growth or degeneracy in the knowledge of God's will to man? CANON FARRAR. BENEVOLENCE. I can conceive of no being who can have any claim to affection but what rests on character, meaning by this the spirit and principles which constitute his mind, and from which he acts; nor do I know but one character which entitles a being to our hearts, and it is that which the Scriptures express by the word of Righteousness; which in man is often called virtue in God, Holiness; which consists essentially in supreme reverence for and adoption of what is right: and of which benevolence or universal charity is the brightest manifestation. W. E. CHANNING. INJURIES TO MEN AND ANIMALS. Can it ever be the part of a just man to injure any one? Polemarchus promptly meets the question with his former assertion, that enemies and all bad men ought to be injured. But what effect is produced upon any animal by being injured? If Is it not the loss or diminution of his best characteristics those essential to him as an animal? And so with man. you injure a man, you destroy or impair the best characteristics essential to him as a human being, highest amongst which is justice. Now how can it be possible that a just man should be guilty of such an act as this? As impossible as that heat should gen erate cold, or moisture dryness, so far is it from the nature of things that the just man should do a harm to any fellow-being. PLATO. DUTY TO ANIMALS. It is not, however, to be reckoned as surprising, that our forefathers did not dream of such a thing as duty to animals. They learned very slowly that they owed duties to men of other races than their own. Only in the generation which recognized thoroughly for the first time that the negro was a man and a brother did it dawn that beyond the negro there were other still humbler claimants for benevolence and justice. Within a few years, passed both the emancipation of the West Indian slaves and the first act for prevention of cruelty to animals, of which Lord Erskine so truly prophesied that it would prove not only an honor to the Parliament of England, but an era in the civilization of the world. Miss F. P. COBBE. NEVER CONSENT. We should never in any way consent to the ill-treatment of animals, because the fear of ridicule, or some other fear, prevents our interfering. As to there being anything really trifling in any act of humanity, however slight, it is moral blindness to suppose so. The few moments in the course of each day in which a man absorbed in some worldly pursuit may carelessly expend in kind words or trifling charities to those around him and kindness to an animal is one of these -are, per haps, in the sight of heaven, the only time that he has lived to any purpose worthy of recording. SIR ARTHUR HELPS. THE CLOTHING OF THE CREATURES. How all the fishes are dressed out, those glittering in plate armor, these only arrayed in their varicolored jerkins, such as no Moorish artist could paint. How well clad are the insects; with what suits of mail are the beetle and bee and ant furnished. The coat of the buffalo never pinches under the arm, never puckers at the shoulder; it is always the same, yet never oldfashioned, nor out of date. The shoes of the reindeer and the ox inherit the mythical Hebrew blessing pronounced on those of the Israelites: they wax not old upon their feet. The pigeon and humming-bird wear their court dress every day, and yet it never looks rusty nor threadbare. In this grand clothiery of the world everything is clad in more beauty than many-colored Joseph or imperial Solomon ever put on, yet nobody ever sees the wheel, the loom, or the sewing-machine of this great Dorcas Institution, which carpets the earth and upholsters the heavens, and clothes the creatures of the world with more imperial glory than the Queen of Sheba ever fancied in her dreams of dress and love. T. PARKER. THE CRICKET. Little inmate, full of mirth, Pay me for thy warm retreat With a song more soft and sweet; In return thou shalt receive Such a strain as I can give. Thus thy praise shall be expressed, And the mouse with curious snout, Though in voice and shape they be 1749-1806. CHARLOTTE TURNER SMITH. GRASSHOPPER AND CRICKET. The poetry of earth is never dead! When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, |