Beautiful Joe [45]
and flung myself in my mother's arms with a burst of tears,
and asked her if nothing could be done to help the poor animals. With mistaken,
motherly kindness, she tried to put the subject out of my thoughts. I was
carefully guarded from seeing or hearing of any instances of cruelty. But the
animals went on suffering just the same, and when I became a woman, I saw my
cowardice. I agitated the matter among my friends, and told them that our whole
dumb creation was groaning together in pain, and would continue to groan, unless
merciful human beings were willing to help them. I was able to assist in the
formation of several societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and
they have done good service. Good service not only to the horses and cows, but
to the nobler animal, man. I believe that in saying to a cruel man, 'You shall
not overwork, torture, mutilate, nor kill your animal, or neglect to provide it
with proper food and shelter,' we are making him a little nearer the kingdom of
heaven than he was before. For 'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap.' If
he sows seeds of unkindness and cruelty to man and beast, no one knows what the
blackness of the harvest will be. His poor horse, quivering under a blow, is not
the worst sufferer. Oh, if people would only understand that their unkind deeds
will recoil upon their own heads with tenfold force but, my dear child, I am
fancying that I am addressing a drawing-room meeting and here we are at your
station. Good-bye; keep your happy face and gentle ways. I hope that we may meet
again some day." She pressed Miss Laura's hand, gave me a farewell pat, and the
next minute we were outside on the platform, and she was smiling through the
window at us.
CHAPTER XV OUR JOURNEY TO RIVERDALE
EVERY other summer, the Morris children were sent to some place in the country,
so that they could have a change of air, and see what country life was like. As
there were so many of them they usually went different ways.
The summer after I came to them, Jack and Carl went to an uncle in Vermont, Miss
Laura went to another in New Hampshire, and Ned and Willie went to visit a
maiden aunt who lived in the White Mountains.
Mr. and Mrs. Morris stayed at home. Fairport was a lovely place in summer, and
many people came there to visit.
The children took some of their pets with them, and the others they left at home
for their mother to take care of. She never allowed them to take a pet animal
anywhere, unless she knew it would be perfectly welcome. "Don't let your pets be
a worry to other people," she often said to them, "or they will dislike them and
you too."
Miss Laura went away earlier than the others, for she had run down through the
spring, and was pale and thin. One day, early in June, we set out. I say "we,"
for after my adventure with Jenkins, Miss Laura said that I should never be
parted from her. If any one invited her to come and see them and didn't want me,
she would stay at home.
The whole family went to the station to see us off. They put a chain on my
collar and took me to the baggage office and got two tickets for me. One was
tied to my collar and the other Miss Laura put in her purse. Then I was put in a
baggage car and chained in a corner. I heard Mr. Morris say that as we were only
going a short distance, it was not worth while to get an express ticket for me.
There was a dreadful noise and bustle at the station. Whistles were blowing and
people were rushing up and down the platform. Some men were tumbling baggage so
fast into the car where I was, that I was afraid some of it would fall on me.
For a few minutes Miss Laura stood by the door and looked in, but soon the men
had piled up so many boxes and trunks that she could not see me. Then she went
away. Mr. Morris asked one of the men to see that I did not get hurt, and I
heard some money rattle. Then he went away too.
It was the beginning of June and the weather had suddenly become very hot. We
had a
and asked her if nothing could be done to help the poor animals. With mistaken,
motherly kindness, she tried to put the subject out of my thoughts. I was
carefully guarded from seeing or hearing of any instances of cruelty. But the
animals went on suffering just the same, and when I became a woman, I saw my
cowardice. I agitated the matter among my friends, and told them that our whole
dumb creation was groaning together in pain, and would continue to groan, unless
merciful human beings were willing to help them. I was able to assist in the
formation of several societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and
they have done good service. Good service not only to the horses and cows, but
to the nobler animal, man. I believe that in saying to a cruel man, 'You shall
not overwork, torture, mutilate, nor kill your animal, or neglect to provide it
with proper food and shelter,' we are making him a little nearer the kingdom of
heaven than he was before. For 'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap.' If
he sows seeds of unkindness and cruelty to man and beast, no one knows what the
blackness of the harvest will be. His poor horse, quivering under a blow, is not
the worst sufferer. Oh, if people would only understand that their unkind deeds
will recoil upon their own heads with tenfold force but, my dear child, I am
fancying that I am addressing a drawing-room meeting and here we are at your
station. Good-bye; keep your happy face and gentle ways. I hope that we may meet
again some day." She pressed Miss Laura's hand, gave me a farewell pat, and the
next minute we were outside on the platform, and she was smiling through the
window at us.
CHAPTER XV OUR JOURNEY TO RIVERDALE
EVERY other summer, the Morris children were sent to some place in the country,
so that they could have a change of air, and see what country life was like. As
there were so many of them they usually went different ways.
The summer after I came to them, Jack and Carl went to an uncle in Vermont, Miss
Laura went to another in New Hampshire, and Ned and Willie went to visit a
maiden aunt who lived in the White Mountains.
Mr. and Mrs. Morris stayed at home. Fairport was a lovely place in summer, and
many people came there to visit.
The children took some of their pets with them, and the others they left at home
for their mother to take care of. She never allowed them to take a pet animal
anywhere, unless she knew it would be perfectly welcome. "Don't let your pets be
a worry to other people," she often said to them, "or they will dislike them and
you too."
Miss Laura went away earlier than the others, for she had run down through the
spring, and was pale and thin. One day, early in June, we set out. I say "we,"
for after my adventure with Jenkins, Miss Laura said that I should never be
parted from her. If any one invited her to come and see them and didn't want me,
she would stay at home.
The whole family went to the station to see us off. They put a chain on my
collar and took me to the baggage office and got two tickets for me. One was
tied to my collar and the other Miss Laura put in her purse. Then I was put in a
baggage car and chained in a corner. I heard Mr. Morris say that as we were only
going a short distance, it was not worth while to get an express ticket for me.
There was a dreadful noise and bustle at the station. Whistles were blowing and
people were rushing up and down the platform. Some men were tumbling baggage so
fast into the car where I was, that I was afraid some of it would fall on me.
For a few minutes Miss Laura stood by the door and looked in, but soon the men
had piled up so many boxes and trunks that she could not see me. Then she went
away. Mr. Morris asked one of the men to see that I did not get hurt, and I
heard some money rattle. Then he went away too.
It was the beginning of June and the weather had suddenly become very hot. We
had a