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I was good yesterday. My brother was naughty on Sunday-He did cry.—I did not cry yesterday. -Yesterday was not Sunday.-Yesterday was Friday.-To-day is Saturday.-To-morrow will be Sunday. My brother will go to church.—I hope I shall go to church with him.-The sun does not shine to-day. The clouds are covering the sun today. The rain did fall on the ground yesterday.The wind did blow yesterday.-I think the sun will shine to-morrow.-I did drink milk for breakfast.—I shall have tea for supper, and bread and butter.

In this way write down little sentences about all he did the day before and all he expects to do the next day, and when you use the words did, was, were, throw your hand back for the sign of the past time. When you use the words shall or will, point your finger in a straight line before you. In my next letter I will try if I can make this matter a little more clear. Remember to go on counting.

I hope you try to teach your child to write a very fair good hand, but do not press him or scold him about his writing or counting: make it all as easy and pleasant as you can, he will go on well if you can invite and win him to learn, but if you drive him to it, he will stand still.

I am your friend,

D. D.

LION FIGHT.

THIS most savage affair took place at Warwick, one day in the month of July. A man named Wombwell, a keeper of wild beasts, had a noble lion, which, from the number of persons who came to see it, helped to contribute to the man's support. And yet this man, for the sake of gaining money, actually allowed this noble animal

to be torn and wounded by a number of savage dogs. He was to be attacked by six dogs, three at a time. This noble creature with all his natural strength and courage about him, would have demolished all the dogs; but, being tamed and having his natural fierceness subdued, he made no attack upon the dogs, but allowed them to tear his mouth and his lips, in a fierce and furious manner, whilst he never attempted to bite them, but merely tried to defend himself and to put them away with his paws. The dogs had been trained to fierceness, and been encouraged in that savageness of disposition so necessary for such a conflict. We shall not attempt to say more of the particulars of this fight, but we never can help feeling ashamed that any creatures in the shape of men should be found to encourage such brutality ;that the noble character of an Englishman should be so degraded and disgraced. One step of cruelty and ferocity leads on to another; it is nothing more than the continuation of the prize fights, and other such disgraceful scenes. The heart becomes hardened, and all Christian feeling, and all gentle feeling, is at an end.

The following letter from a Quaker to Mr. Wombwell does honour to the writer.

"I have heard, with a great degree of horror, of an intended fight between a lion (that has long been exhibited by thee, consequently, has been long under thy protection,) and six bull dogs. I seem impelled to write to thee on the subject, and to entreat thee, I believe in Christian love, that whatever may be thy hope of gain by this very cruel, and very disgraceful exhibition, thou wilt not proceed. Recollect that they are God's creatures, and we are informed, in the Holy Scriptures, that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without his

gratify a spirit of cruelty, as well as a spirit of gambling, (for it is reported that large sums of money are wagered on the event of the contest,) it must be marked with Divine displeasure. Depend on it that the Almighty will avenge the sufferings of his tormented creatures on their tormentors— for, although he is a God of love, he is also a God of justice, and I believe that no deed of cruelty has ever passed unpunished. Allow me to ask thee, how thou wilt endure to see the noble animal thou hast so long protected, and which has been in part the means of supplying thee with the means of life, mangled and bleeding before thee. It is unmanly -it is mean and cowardly to torment any thing that cannot defend itself that cannot speak to tell its pains and sufferings that cannot ask for mercy. Oh! spare thy poor lion the pangs of such a death as may, perhaps, be his. Save him from being torn to pieces-have pity on the dogs that may as likely be torn by him. Spare the horrid spectacle -spare thyself the suffering that I fear will reach thee, if thou persist. Shew a noble example of humanity. Whoever has persuaded thee to expose thy lion to the chance of being torn to pieces, or of tearing other animals, are far beneath the brutes they torment-are unworthy the name of men, unworthy of being ranked among rational creatures. Suffer thyself to be entreated for thy own sake. Whatever thou mayest gain by this disgraceful exhibition, will, I fear, prove like a canker-worm among the rest of thy substance. The writer of this most earnestly entreats thee to refrain from the intended evil, and to protect the animals in thy possession from all unnecessary suf fering. The practice of benevolence will afford thee more true comfort than the possession of thousands. Recommend the practice of benevolence to others, and always remember that He who gave life, did not give it to be 'the sport of cruel

On Cruelty to Animals.

403

man,' and that he will assuredly call man to account for his conduct towards his dumb creatures. Remember also that

'Cowards are cruel, but the brave

Love mercy and delight to save.'

With sincere desire for the preservation of thy honour as a man of humanity, and for thy happiness and welfare every way, I remain thy friend. "S. HOARE."

This as we know produced no effect.

ANOTHER LION FIGHT.

V.

We wrote the above on seeing the accounts of the barbarous fight in the newspapers.

A few days after this, there was another fight; the second lion was fiercer than the first, and he soon mastered the dogs, taking them up in his mouth and walking round the ring with one of them, as a cat would with a mouse. Whichever side conquers, the amusement is equally savage and brutal. It is only surprising that any human beings can find pleasure in such sights. A man is in a wretched state of mind, when he can find pleasure in that which gives pain to any other

creature.

V.

EXTRACTS FROM A SERMON ON CRUELTY TO

ANIMALS.

MAN derives, from his Creator, power over the inferior animals; but man is accountable to his Creator for the lawful use or abuse of this power. It is well if he imitate his gracious superior, and be merciful to those under his dominion; but if he act the part of a tyrant over these creatures, if he per

preserving, and torment instead of cherishing, how shall he escape suitable punishment on the day of judgement from the common Father of all ?

Cruelty to animals tends to render those who practise it, cruel towards their own species. Every single act of cruelty helps to produce in the mind a habit of cruelty-a cruel disposition; and when this habit or disposition is once produced, it will not confine itself to one particular object: it will exert its cruel power upon whatever happens to come in its way, not much regarding whether it be man or beast. I believe that many of those who have been brought to the scaffold for murder might trace their progress in wickedness, and their consequent dreadful fate, from acts of barbarity to animals in their childhood or youth.

Animals are capable of feeling pleasure and pain, and as the great Creator of the world has furnished the earth with abundant provision for their gratification, we must be sure then that the Creator wills the happiness of these his creatures. Humanity to them then must be agreeable to him, and cruelty must be the contrary.

God hath moreover given many directions in Scripture, which shew that he requires us to be merciful to the inferior animals. ، On the seventh day thou shalt rest, that thine ox and thine ass may rest." Ex. xxii. 12.

"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast." Prov. xii. 10.

"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." Deut. xx. 4.

These passages shew a tender regard even for the comforts of the animals which belong to us. A great many more passages of Scripture to the same purpose might be produced.

Mark also the ingratitude which the unmerciful treatment of animals, shews towards the poor .animals themselves. We have their services ; they