For right is right, since God is God; To falter would be sin! FABER. ANIMATED NATURE. Nature inanimate employs sweet sounds, But animated nature sweeter still To soothe and satisfy the human ear. Ten thousand warblers cheer the day, and one But coying rooks, and kites that swim sublime COWPER. ANIMAL HAPPINESS. The heart is hard in nature, and unfit Of sympathy, and therefore dead alike To love and friendship both, that is not pleased Nor feels their happiness augment his own. The bounding fawn that darts along the glade When none pursues, through mere delight of heart, And spirits buoyant with excess of glee; The horse as wanton, and almost as fleet, That skips the spacious meadow at full speed, Then stops, and snorts, and throwing high his heels, Starts to the voluntary race again ; The very kine that gambol at high noon, The total herd receiving first from one With which kind Nature graces every scene, COWPER. NO GRAIN OF SAND. The very meanest things are made supreme And touched mine ear with power. Thus, far or nigh, LAMAN BLANCHARD. HUMANITY, MERCY, AND BENEVOLENCE. When that great and far-reaching softener of hearts, the sense of our failures and offences, is vividly present, the position we hold to creatures who have never done wrong is always found inexpressibly touching. To be kind to them, and rejoice in their happiness, seems just one of the few ways in which we can act a godlike part in our little sphere, and display the mercy for which we hope in turn. The only befitting feeling for human beings to entertain toward brutes is as the very word suggests — the feeling of Humanity; or, as we may interpret it, the sentiment of sympathy, as far as we can cultivate fellow feeling; of Pity so far so we know them to suffer; of Mercy so far as we can spare their sufferings; of Kindness and Benevolence, so far as it is in our power to make them happy. MISS F. P. COBBE. LIVING CREATURES. What call'st thou solitude? Is mother earth With various living creatures, and the air To come and play before thee? Their language and their ways? Know'st thou not They also know, And reason not contemptibly; with these Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large. Paradise Lost, bk. 8. NOTHING ALONE. One all-extending, all-preserving Soul Connects each being, greatest with the least; Made beast in aid of man, and man of beast; All served, all serving: nothing stands alone: The chain holds on, and where it ends, unknown. POPE. MAN'S RULE. Thou gavest me wide nature for my kingdom, Blackie's Translation of Goethe's Faust. DUMB SOULS. Even the she-wolf with young, on rapine bent, More glad discerned their common home with man. The pastoral life, and, sire of joys to be, Spread the sweet ties that bind the family O'er dear dumb souls that thrilled at man's caress, And shared his pain with patient helpfulness. GEORGE ELIOT: Legend of Jubal. Nor must we childishly feel contempt for the study of the lower animals, since in all nature's work there is something wonderful. And if any one thinks the study of other animals despicable, he must despise the study of his own nature. ARISTOTLE. VIRTUE. Thus born alike, from virtue first began The diff'rence that distinguished man from man: DRYDEN. LITTLE BY LITTLE. Little by little the time goes by Short if you sing through it, long if you sigh. Gone with the years that have vanished away; Little by little the race is run, Trouble and waiting and toil are done! Little by little the skies grow clear; Little by little the sun comes near; Little by little the days smile out Little by little the world grows strong, |