The boys, ashamed, slunk
away, and little Belle held the poor, cold, shivering little creature,
considering what to do for it. It was half dead already, and she knew
that at home there was no room for another pet, for both cat and kitten
never were wanting in their family. "Poor kitty!" she said, "you must
die, but I will see that you are not tormented;" and she knelt bravely
down and held the little thing under water, with the tears running down
her own cheeks, till all its earthly sorrows were over, and the little
cat was beyond the reach of dog or boy.
This was real, brave humanity. Many people call themselves tender-
hearted, because they are unwilling to have a litter of kittens killed,
and so they go and throw them over fences, and comfort themselves with
the reflection that they will do well enough. What becomes of the poor
little defenseless things? In nine cases out of ten they live a hunted,
miserable life, crying from hunger, shivering with cold, harassed by
cruel dogs, and tortured to make sport for brutal boys. How much kinder
and more really humane to take upon ourselves the momentary suffering of
causing the death of an animal than to turn our backs and leave it to
drag out a life of torture and misery!
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
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