Learning by Feeling

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 14, 1868

Learning by Feeling.

A little boy was one day sitting on the steps of a house. He had a broom in one hand, a large piece of bread and butter, which somebody had given him, in the other. While he was eating it and merrily humming a tune, he saw a poor little dog quietly sleeping not far from him. He called out to him, “Come here, poor fellow?” The dog, hearing himself kindly spoken to, got up, pricked up his ears, wagged his tail, and seeing the boy eating, came near him. The boy held out his piece of bread and butter; and as the dog stretched out his head to take it, the boy hastily drew back his hand, and hit him a hard rap on the nose. The poor dog ran away, yelling most dreadfully, while the cruel little boy sat laughing at the mischief he had done.

A gentleman, who was looking from a window on the other side of the street, saw what the wicked boy had done, opening the street door, he called him to cross over, at the same time showing him a dime, which he held between his finger and thumb.

“Would you like to have this?” asked the gentleman.

“Yes, if you please, sir,” said the boy, smiling, and ran over to seize the prize.

Just at the moment that he stretched out his hand he got so severe a rap on the knuckles from a cane, which the gentleman had behind him, that he screamed out like an Indian.

“What did you do that for?” said the boy, making a long face and rubbing his hand. “I didn’t hurt you, nor ask you for the piece of money.”

“What did you hurt that dog for, just now?” said the gentleman. “He didn’t hurt you, nor ask you for your bread and butter. As you served him I have served you. Now remember that dogs can feel as well as boys, and learn to behave kindly toward poor animals in future.”