I have no webs in mine, for I took care, when I first came to live in it, to crush the nests; and the old ones, when they found their young ones were not safe here, went off from the house; and I think the same care as to fleas and such things would act in the same way."

"Yes," said Mrs. Ben-son, "and I think, too, that it would be well, before one kills a thing, to think, were we in its place, how should we feel if we were bees or ants or birds, would we wish some one to kill us?"

"It would, I think," said Mrs. Wil-son; I have more than once had a wish that poor dumb things had a friend to speak for them; a great deal of life would then be safe, which is now lost for no end."

Well," said Har-ri-et, "I am sure I shall not kill a thing, but first make it great in my

mind, and think what it would say if it could speak."

66

Then, my dear, I am sure you

will put

put but

few to death," said her Ma; "but that you may have a right view of their form, you must read of the way they live and act; from this you will learn how strange they are, and with what care they get food for their young; how far they are from hate to man, and how well they are made by the great God for joy, which we have no right to take from them. And then it is mean to kill a thing just for that it is small, and it is not wise a child should do so; for by the same rule, they must hope to be used ill, though none that live want men to be kind to them for years from the time of their birth; and then men might be put an end to by the strength of God, if this was the rule in all things.

"Nor do I know how we can well call a thing great or small, since it is but when we place

them side by side that we can judge.

An

ant or a fly may seem to one of its own kind, whose eyes can see those see those parts which we could not see but with a glass, as large as men do each to each; and to flies of the size of a mite, one of the size of an ant would, I am sure, look great and tall. So I think it is but just to view these small things with minds that think of them as large, ere we do what might give them pain or hurt their works, where there is no need to do so."

While they spoke thus, Fred ran round and made choice of plants, from which Miss Wil-son should take the buds and group them with taste for his Ma, Har-ri-et and him.

CHAP-TER XX.

THE next place Mrs. Wil-son took her guests to was the yard of the barn, in which was a large pond. There her young friends saw some geese and ducks; some swim in the stream, some dive, some root in the mud to see what fish or worms they can find.

"It seems strange to me," said Har-ri-et, "that geese and ducks can have joy in such

dirt."

"And yet," said Mrs. Ben-son, "how we do see a child at times do just the same, who has no cause to do it. The ducks and geese grub so in search of what they need for their life, but I have seen boys do it in mere

play, and at times with the risk of their lives."

"Have you some fish here?" said Fred.

"Not much, sir; the ducks and geese would take care that none should grow to a great size; but there are some in a pond which you will see in the next field: and I hope

I

may see you, at our meal, eat some of the perch which were caught there. We at times catch fine carp and tench, but with nets, for my good man and I could not bear to have them caught with the rod and fly or worm. Nor do we let our young folk fish thus, lest it may make their hearts hard."

"Pray tell me, Ma, is it wrong to kill frogs and toads?"

"Ask Mrs. Wil-son, my dear; she has more to do with such things than I have," said she.