79

THE CAT.

Spirit of Cruelty! first-born of Hell!
Thy pestilential breath has filled the earth
With misery, and marr'd the works of God.
For ever shall thy name detested be

By ev'ry child of Him, whose attribute
Divine is mercy.

Were it possible for minds devoted to acts of cruelty to be capable of receiving impressions of mercy, we might naturally suppose the cat, from its domesticated habits and beautiful form, would seldom, if ever, be the victim of barbarous treatment; but, alas, how often do we find the reverse to be the case! How often is this harmless and pleasing creature made the subject of the most exquisite torture? Satan is the author of cruelty, and therefore it admits of no exceptions. From the numerous acts of barbarity practised upon this creature, I have selected the following, as undoubted facts :Some years ago, Isaac Smith, jun. worked at the Soap Factory, Tipton, and instigated by the spirit of the infernal serpent, he caught a cat belonging to a person living in that neighbourhood, and having besmeared it all over with spirits of turpentine, took the animal upon a

large pool, then covered with ice, adjoining the factory, and, horrid to tell, the monster set the poor creature on fire. It was a practice with persons whom I once well knew, to tie two cats together, and hang them on what is called in poor people's houses a gale pole, which is placed at some distance above the fire; in this situation the poor miserable creatures, enveloped in smoke, and scorched with heat, afforded amusement and sport for their fiendish tormentors, by their tearing each other to pieces, and expiring in agonies too great to be described. The same persons were also addicted to the horrid practice of catching their neighbours' cats, and taking them by night some distance from their homes, to worry them to death with dogs.

"A shooting party, consisting of several of the nobility, passed a farm standing not far from Perth a few days ago; a favourite cat, belonging to a servant resident there, happening to be amusing itself at the door, one of the party, a noble lord and M.P., fired his gun at puss, at a distance of five yards, and blew the unoffending animal to atoms!"-Bell's Life, Jan. 19, 1834. It is lately become a practice to skin these animals alive, for the sake of the paltry gain obtained by the sale of their skins! But does not this latter circumstance call for some law to punish deeds so revolting to humanity, and so terrific in their effects? The following fact will speak volumes on the necessity of training the infant mind to the love and practice of mercy :-Charles Beddow, a boy upwards of seven years of age, living within one hundred yards of my school at Horseley Heath,

but who, from the poverty of his parents, was prevented from going to school even on the sabbath; on the 23rd of November, 1832, during the absence of his mother, took a beautiful cat, forced it into the oven in the grate, shut it up, and burnt the animal to death. His mother, on her return, soon discovered by the stench from the poor animal what had occurred during her absence. From facts such as these we may justly infer how deeply criminal must those parents and instructors of youth be, who neglect to instil into the youthful mind an abhorrence of cruelty.

CRUELTY TO FROGS.

Frogs" (says Dr. Goldsmith) "are considered as useful assistants in clearing our ground from vermin; they live upon insects of all kinds, but they subsist chiefly upon worms and snails, and no weather glass was ever so true as a frog in foretelling the change of weather, as they croak at the approach of wet, and are mute as a fish when it threatens a continuance of dry." The beautiful effort which these little creatures make to shield themselves from danger, and to avoid the impending blow, by covering their face with their feet, ought not to pass unnoticed; and so powerfully are they influenced by the fear of man, that at his approach they instantly dive to the bottom of the water to avoid him. That they are a perfectly harmless and defenceless race of creatures none can deny; and yet no other animals are subject to such extensive cruelty as they are during the spring season. The mangling and destruction of these creatures, and the wanton and reckless infliction of excruciating deaths, seems to be the perfection of happiness to old and young of both sexes. It

is astonishing how parents, professing godliness, can be so destitute of consideration and feeling, as to permit their children to "pelt, bruise, and slay" these harmless creatures; it is their duty to prevent them practising such cruel diversions. But, alas! children are not the only enemies these creatures have to dread, for we have to witness others, bearing only the human form, increasing the number of their tormentors: these, not having been taught in their early years, glory in the destruction of these defenceless creatures. I have seen a wretch, I will not debase the name by calling such a being

a man,

For what man knowing this,

And having human feelings, would not blush,
And hang his head, to call himself a man?

attempt to satisfy his immortal mind with this detestable practice; and yet this being had had an education sufficient to qualify him to hold an office under the Government. How then ought those persons who profess to respect the laws of humanity to "open their mouths for the dumb?" Satan is completely triumphant in the barbarous treatment of these creatures; for as man is no sufferer from them, it is evident that spirit of Satan first established and still continues the wicked custom.

A very erroneous opinion prevails respecting the poisonous qualities of the toad. Dr. Goldsmith asserts, that it is an animal "perfectly harmless, and without venom, seeking the darkest retreats; not from the malignity of its nature, but from the multitude of its enemies."