This boy is trying to get that poor dog into the water.[1] He seems
to delight in tormenting the poor creature.
Now, this is a bad sign. It is a bad sign for a boy to be seen
throwing stones at every dog, or pig, or bird he sees in the street.
It shows that such a boy has an unfeeling heart. He does not care how
much suffering he may cause a poor, innocent bird, or animal. What if
he breaks a wing or a leg—he only laughs at the agony which he has
caused.
Boys, never cultivate such a cruel disposition. Never cause any
thing, that has feelings, pain, if you can possibly help it. I am
afraid if you begin with tormenting the poor, innocent brutes, you
can, after a while, injure your playmates and associates. Some have
already been seen to throw stones at poor boys just for the fun of
it, or rather, to gratify the evil disposition of their hearts. Ah!
many men have been hung for murder, or sent to the state’s prison,
just because they cultivated such bad dispositions when they were
boys like you. They commenced becoming cruel to animals first, and
then to other boys, and so, little by little, their hearts became
hardened, till they could even kill a man. Think of this the next
time you are tempted to pick up a stone to throw at any innocent
thing that has life and feeling.
[Illustration: Dog crouched.]