" He suggests placing little pans
of water in the orchard and vineyard.
There is another side to the same question which is worth considering.
Not only does the agriculturist know how useful birds are to us, but
every child can tell us of the pleasure they give. One does not have to
be a poet to know the beauty of the birds. What would spring be without
the bluebird, or June without the oriole? To the eye and to the ear
alike they are a joy.
From a selfish point of view, then, it is folly to let the wholesale
destruction of birds go on. We are losing more than we fully understand.
But can there be no other motive than a selfish one? Have the birds no
rights which we are bound to respect? Must their claim to life be based
on the fact that they do us good or give us pleasure? We are hopeless
tyrants if this is true. Let us not be content with the smaller
question, What can the birds do for us? but ask ourselves the larger
one, What can we do for the birds?
"THE BRAVEST ARE THE TENDEREST."
It is remarkable how many great men have been noted for their interest
in birds and beasts. We have seen how devoted Scott and Dickens were to
their pets. Daniel Webster's dying request was that his beloved cattle
might be driven by his window, so that he might see them once more.
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