To spoil another’s life is almost as grave an act as to take it from
him. Each one of us in a way holds the health and happiness of others in
his keeping, and by bad example, ill-treatment or injustice may make
life to some one so undesirable that death would be a pleasure. Many
children have been made nervous wrecks by the mockery and cruel tricks
of their companions, and many parents and teachers have had their health
and happiness seriously impaired by disobedience and disregard. Life is
forever imperiled by the wickedness, ignorance and thoughtlessness of
those who, in their childhood, failed to receive the instructions due
them by those who were responsible for their future being.
As a counterpart to this disposition of destruction we have in our
nature a gentle, sympathetic tendency which will respect life and
development and will guide us to its protection and care from the
dropping of the seed to the harvest. Pity must be aroused when we see
life endangered, not only at the misfortune of humanity, but even the
wounded bird or the flower crushed by the storm should bring a
responsive heart-throb.
Teach the child to straighten the broken flower and to replant and
gently press the soil around the uprooted shrub. Notice the pleasure he
will experience when the flower revives and the shrub takes root. How
much greater will be his pleasure to minister to some living thing. Help
him dress the broken wing of the bird and warm the chilled kitten; with
what eagerness he will work only that they may recover.