WHAT CRUELTY TO ANIMALS LEADS TO.
"Mrs. Cray, your boy is abusing a cat, and very badly. You had better step out and see to him." A neighbor who was passing an open window where Mrs. Cray sat sewing, said this. Mrs. Cray looked up with a most unpleasant expression of face, and made no reply, until the neighbor was beyond hearing. Then she growled, rather than spoke, "I do wish people would mind their own business." As if it were not the "business," yes, and the imperative duty, of everyone, to prevent harm, and to do good whenever there is opportunity, and especially in the case of wrong to human beings, or cruelty to helpless animals. Then she rose, and, going to the back door, called sweetly to her son, "Nonie, my love, come to mother. She has got a turn-over for you. Poor dear," she said mentally, "he is so active, and has no brother to play with him." Nonie flung down the cat he had been tormenting and choking, which was now forever out of the reach of tormentors, and, leaping rudely up the back steps, bumped forcibly against his mother, shouting, "Where's yer turn-over, marm? Hurry up and give me it. An' I want two." "I have only one, dear; grandma gave it to me." "Yas, one little thing like that? I don't know which is meanest, you or granny. There!" and the boy crowded the whole turn-over, at two bites, into his wide mouth. "I'll make you some more this forenoon, sonny," said Mrs. Cray. "Well, see that you make 'em sweeter, a good deal sweeter than this one," was the young ruler's command. Then he ran out to seek for more mischief to do. That afternoon an old aunt of Mrs. Cray's came to visit her, and to spend a few days at her house. "It is a prayer-meeting night, aunt, would you like to go?" said Mrs. Cray. "I think not, niece. I seldom go out of an evening. Am too blind and tired. Susie, dear, I am come to that time of life when bed has more attraction for me when darkness falls, than any other place in this world." "Well, auntie, just as you say. I will stay home with you, if you desire it." "Oh, no, my dear, you go by all means. I will go to bed very soon after you leave. Where is Nonie? Does he go to meeting with you?" "Not often, aunt; he don't like the confinement, and I do not like to force him, lest I cause him to take a prejudice against such things." To this the old lady made no reply; but her thoughts fled backward to a time when beside her in prayer-meetings sat two bright little ones, who never took the least dislike to "such things." "That is your room, aunt; you can open the door now, and let it get well warmed. And you can undress right here by the fire. Why, Nonie, what are you doing in here?" "Nothing much," said the lad, almost upsetting his mother in the rush he made from the room, thence to the street door, and away into the night. "Well, I'm sure!" ejaculated the surprised old woman. "He is such an active boy," admiringly remarked the mother. "But do you think he is safe off so in the evening?" "Oh, yes, I guess so. He has no playmate at home, you know, so he needs some change and diversion." Auntie said nothing. "You needn't mind anything about him: I'll leave the door unlocked, and you go to bed any time you want to. I hope you will sleep well, and feel real bright in the morning." "Thank you, niece, I hope I shall." Mrs. Cray went out, and soon "auntie," after kneeling down before the fire to offer her evening prayer, prepared herself for bed, and lay down in it. But she scrambled out of bed in hurry and alarm. It was soaking wet, and cold as ice, from the foot a third of the way up. The poor old lady's feet and her night clothes were wet. She shivered. What should she do? She spread open the bed, took off her wet garments, which she hung up to dry, dressed in her day clothes, and tried to warm herself by the fire. There was a beautiful, new, soft rug on the floor. This she took up, and heated quite hot, then she lay down on the sofa, and covered herself with it, and at last she fell asleep. Thus her niece found her. Nonie was skulking about the door, waiting the return of his mother. He entered with her, loudly demanding something to eat. "Something good, I tell ye!" he amended. Auntie awoke. Her head ached and she shivered. "Nonie, did you do this?" asked Mrs. Cray when she saw the condition of the bed. "No!" roared that pet. "I say, get me something good to eat." This was done before damages were repaired. The poor old lady was put in Mrs. Cray's bed, and warm-water bottles placed about her. "John and I will take the other bed, when I have got it all dry," she said. Aunty had a narrow escape from death by the cold taken from her wetting. Mr. Cray was inclined to the opinion that Nonie should be thrashed for this performance, but his mother objected. "The Dark Ages are passed," she said; "people do not now beat their own flesh and blood. Nonie must have more to amuse him. He is smart and active, that is all." And so this ill-disposed urchin went on from bad to worse, unrestrained. And the months fled, and the years, and Nonie was a man. That is, he attained the years of manhood. His father died, he alone was left to his mother. How often it is seen on earth that the comfort and staff is taken, and the troubler left. And how sure a doom it is that if you disregard any law of the Lord, for the sake of any human idol (every person whom we please at the expense of duty to God, is an idol), that very idol will punish you. Let no one think to escape this. Let us take heed with care, that we sin not in this matter. Few sorrows are so great as that caused by the ingratitude of an idol. If you desire the love of your child, train that child to fear God and keep his commandments, and to honor and obey you. At your peril dote on any child. He will certainly despise you, though he may have a nature too gentle to do you harm. As for such natures as Nonie's, you can hardly too early apply the excellent medicine of Solomon, "Spare not the rod." Subdue him to implicit obedience before he is four years old, or probably you never can. Be as loving and indulgent as your heart desires while he is submissive; but let him know that there is no escape from punishment when he rebels. Thus will you save him and yourself from great misery, perhaps from destruction. "Spare the rod, spoil the child," is a solemn truth in such cases. There are children who need only gentle measures; but they are not very numerous. But Nonie. We will not dwell long on his history. He rewarded his mother, as was to be expected. And one day he seated himself beside her, and shot her through the head. This is a true story. Would it might prove a profitable lesson to parents who yet have time to "train up" their children in the way they should go. No improvement on the laws of God is possible.—N. Y. Evangelist.