The Story of the Robins/Chapter 14
CHAPTER XIV.
FREDERICK VIEWING THE DUCKS AND GEESE.
The next place Mrs. Wilson took her guests to was a barnyard, in which was a large horse-pond. Here her young visitors were delighted with the appearance of a number of geese and ducks; some were swimming in the water, some diving, others routing in the mud to see what fish or worms they could find.
"It appears very strange to me," said Harriet, "that any creatures can take delight in making themselves so dirty." "And yet," replied Mrs. Benson, "how many children do the same, without having any excuse for it! The ducks and geese grub about so in search of the necessaries of life; but I have seen boys do it merely for diversion, and sometimes at the hazard of their lives."
"Have you any fish here?" said Frederick. "I believe none of any consequence," replied Mrs. Wilson; "the ducks and the geese would take care that none should grow to any considerable size. But there are plenty in a pond which you will see in the next field, and I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you, at dinner, eat of some perch which were caught there. Sometimes we catch fine carp and tench, but only with nets; for neither my good man nor I can bear the cruel diversion of angling, nor do we allow our children to follow it, from a notion that it hardens the heart and leads to idleness.
"Pray, mamma," said Harriet, "is it right to catch fish? I should think, as they live in water, and we upon land, we have no business with them." "You would wish every one, then, my dear, to keep to their own element? Your sentiment is a good one in many respects, but it must not be extended so far as to forbid the catching of fish. Man has dominion over the fish, as well as over beasts and fowls, and many of them are proper food for mankind, and the astonishing increase of them shows that they are designed to be so; for were all that are spawned to grow to full size, there would soon be more than our ponds, or even than the sea itself, could hold, and they would be starved: therefore there are the same reasons for our feeding upon them as upon poultry, but we should be very careful to despatch them as quickly as possible.
"Some people are cruel enough to roast lobsters alive, the cries of which, I have been told, are dreadful to hear; and others will flay eels alive, then put them without their skins into a pail of cold water, and afterwards cut them in pieces, and throw them into a frying-pan of boiling fat, where sometimes every separate piece will writhe about in agony: thus each poor fish suffers as many deaths as it is divided into pieces. Now this, Harriet, cannot be right, however authorized by custom; therefore I hope you will never suffer such things to be done in your kitchen when you keep house, but always give orders that your lobsters be put into boiling water, which kills them soon, and that your eels be killed before they are skinned, which may soon be done by laying hold of their heads and tails and giving them a sudden pull, which separates the vertebræ of the back. This is dreadful enough, though little in comparison of what they suffer by the other methods of killing them."
"Oh, mamma!" said Harriet, "you make me even shudder! I do not believe I shall ever desire to eat eels; I shall be ready to make speeches for every piece as it lies in a dish before me. But pray tell me, is it cruel to kill frogs and toads?" "Ask Mrs. Wilson, my dear; she has more to do with such reptiles than I have," said Mrs. Benson. "Well," replied Mrs. Wilson, "I am very singular in regard to such kind of creatures, and though I by no means like to have them in my house, I do not make an outcry, and condemn every one to a violent death which is accidentally found in my cellars or other places: on the contrary, I generally see them thrown into a ditch at some distance, to take their chance. There are many birds and water-fowl that feed on young frogs and toads, which will in general keep them from multiplying so as to be nuisances to us, and it is time enough for us to take arms against them if there happen to be a very extraordinary increase of them. My good man is as particular in respect to moles: if he finds them in his garden, or any other part of his grounds where they can do mischief, he has them killed, but never suffers them to be molested when they are harmless. Neither does he hunt after snakes, or permit any one belonging to him to do so; for he says that if they are not disturbed they will not come from their haunts to annoy us; and to kill for the sake of killing is cruel." "Pray, Mrs. Wilson," said Frederick, "do your sons ever go bird's-nesting?" "No," said she; "I hope I have not a child amongst my family capable of such barbarity. In the course of the summer they generally have young birds to nurse, which fall out of their nests or lose their parents, but are seldom lucky enough to raise them, and we have only one in a cage which they reared last summer. Yet we have plenty of singing, for the sweet creatures, finding they may enjoy themselves unmolested in the trees, treat us with their harmony from morning to night, of which you had a specimen in the garden. Sparrows, indeed, my husband is under the necessity of destroying, for they are such devourers, they would leave him but little corn to carry to market if he did not shoot them: but he never kills the crows, because they are very serviceable in picking up grubs and other things injurious to farmers. We only set a little boy to watch our new-sown grain, and he keeps making a noise, which effectually frightens them."
"Oh," said Frederick, "I nurse young birds too. I have got a linnet and a robin redbreast, and I feed a hundred beside." Mrs. Wilson smiled, and addressing herself to Mrs. Benson, said, "Now, madam, we will, if you please, return to the house, for I fancy by this time dinner is nearly ready, and my husband and sons are about coming home."
Mrs. Benson was a little tired with her ramble, and was really impatient to see Farmer Wilson and the rest of his amiable family. When she drew near the house, she was met by the worthy man, who gave her a most cordial welcome, and said he was proud to see so much good company. Nancy, the eldest daughter, to whom the mother had entrusted the care of inspecting the additional cookery which she had ordered, and who, for that reason, was not to be seen in the morning, now made her appearance, dressed with the most perfect neatness; health bloomed in her cheeks, and cheerfulness and good humour sparkled in her eyes. With this engaging countenance she easily prevailed on Frederick to let her place him by her at the table, round which the two other visitors, the master and mistress of the house, and the rest of their offspring, consisting of Thomas, a fine youth of eighteen, four young boys, and little Betsy, were soon seated.
The table was covered with plain food, but, by the good management of Nancy, who had made an excellent pudding, an apple pie, and some delicious custards, it made a very good figure; and Mrs. Benson afterwards declared that she had never enjoyed an entertainment so much: and the pleasure was considerably brightened by the happy countenances of the whole family.
The farmer, who was a jocose man, said a number of droll things, which diverted his little visitors very much; and soon after dinner he begged leave to depart, as he was sheep-shearing, but said he thought the young gentlefolks might be diverted with the sight, so invited them to pay a visit in the field, and left Joe and Neddy to conduct Frederick to it. The young farmers were rather shy at first, being afraid that their guests would laugh at their country talk; but when they observed how politely they behaved to their sisters, they entered into conversation, and told Frederick a hundred particulars about animals, with which he was before unacquainted; and he in return related all he knew about his redbreasts and other pensioners. They then showed him a pretty cat with kittens, and also their favourite, Daphne, with two young puppies: the latter were kept in a kennel, and the cat in a stable, where they were well supplied with food.
As Frederick knew that his sister was remarkably fond of cats, he stepped back to call her to look at them, which, with her mamma's permission, she was greatly pleased to do, and longed to have the kittens to nurse. When she returned, she inquired whether the dogs and cats were ever permitted to come into the house.
"Not whilst they have young ones," said Mrs. Wilson, "for they make a great deal of dirt, and are very troublesome at that time. But when Puss has brought up her family, which is designed for the stable, she shall be admitted amongst us again, for she is a very useful creature, and deserves to be well treated. But I do not suffer my children to handle her; I think it looks very ugly for any one to be all over scratches. Daphne is admitted to a greater share of familiarity; she is very faithful and extremely good-natured; but we never feed her in the house, for there is no doing so without greasing the floors."
"I am opinion," said Mrs. Benson, "that a difference should be made between our treatment of cats and of dogs. There is something very savage in the nature of the former; and though they certainly are deserving of our kindness on account of their usefulness, yet they cannot make themselves so agreeable as dogs; and there is really something very formidable in their talons and teeth, and when enraged a cat is no better than a little tigress. Besides, were there not danger to one's self in nursing cats, there is no doing it without injury to one's linen, for when Puss is best pleased she generally tramples with her talons unsheathed, by which practice many a dress has been torn. And even the cleanliness of cats is injurious, for they usually have recourse to the corners of chairs in order to rub the dirt from their talons. Many people have a great dread of this animal, and on that account it should not be used to come into rooms in which a variety of company is received. As for dogs, they are in general so very social, grateful, and pleasing, that they seem formed to be the humble companions of mankind, and if kept in proper order, they may be familiarized with safety; but then they should be taught to know their distance. And as there are different species of dogs, we should make a prudent selection, and not introduce into the house great mastiffs or tall greyhounds; neither must we indulge those we domesticate to too great a degree, for in that case they will become as troublesome as cats."
Mrs. Benson now expressed her desire to see the sheep-shearing, on which Mrs. Wilson and her daughter conducted her and Harriet to the field, where they arrived at the conclusion of the operation. And a very pleasing sight it was to behold the happy creatures, who lately waddled under a heavy, heating load, relieved from their burden, leaping and frisking with delight, whilst the accumulated wool seemed, as it lay, to promise comfortable clothing for many a naked person among the human species, who, destitute of such a supply, would be in danger of perishing in the ensuing winter.
Harriet observed the innocent countenances of the sheep and lambs, and said she thought it was a thousand pities to kill them. "It is so, my dear," said her mamma; but we must not indulge our feelings too far in respect to animals which are given us for food; all we have to do is to avoid barbarity. It is happy for them that, having no apprehension of being killed, they enjoy life in peace and security to the very last, and even when the knife is lifted to their throats, they are ignorant of its destination, and a few struggles put an end to their pain for ever. But come, Mrs. Wilson, will you favour us with a sight of your cows?" "With pleasure, madam," said she; "they are by this time driven up to be milked."
Mrs. Wilson then conducted her visitors towards the farmyard. "Perhaps, madam," said she, as they walked along, "the young lady and gentleman may be afraid of horned cattle?" "I believe," replied Mrs. Benson, "I may venture to say that Harriet has no unreasonable fears of any living creature; it has been my endeavour to guard the minds of my children against so distressing a weakness: but whether Frederick's heart has acquired fortitude enough to enable him to venture near so many cows I cannot tell. "Oh yes, mamma," cried Frederick.
"I would sooner get up and ride into the yard on the horns of one of them than run away." "Well, we shall soon put your courage to the proof," said Mrs. Benson; "so come along, sir."
"As for my children," said Mrs. Wilson, "they are remarkably courageous in respect to animals. All the creatures belonging to us are very harmless and gentle, which is the natural consequence of kind treatment, and no person need be afraid of walking in any part of our grounds; but it is difficult to persuade some people that there is no danger, for they are apt to imagine that every loose horse they see will gallop over them, and that every creature with horns will gore and toss them."
"Very true," replied Mrs. Benson; "and I have known many as much afraid of a toad, a frog, or a spider, as if certain death would be the consequence of meeting them; when, if these persons would but make use of their reason, they would soon be convinced that such fears are ill-grounded. Frogs and toads are very harmless creatures, and so far from offering an injury to any human being they may chance to meet, they hop away with all possible expedition, from a dread of being themselves destroyed; and spiders drop suddenly down with a view to their own preservation only; and therefore it is highly ridiculous to be afraid of them.
"Horses and oxen are much more formidable creatures; they certainly could do us a great deal of mischief if they were conscious of their superior strength; but God has wisely ordained that they should not be so, and having given mankind dominion over them, He has implanted in their nature an awe and dread of the human species, which occasion them to yield subjection to the lords of the creation, when they exert their authority in a proper manner. It is really a very wonderful thing, Mrs. Wilson, to see a fine lively horse submitting to the bit and harness, or a drove of oxen quietly marching under the direction of one man. But it is observable that those creatures which are the most useful to us are the easiest tamed, and yield, not only singly, but in flocks, to mankind—nay, even to boys. This shows at once the goodness and power of the Creator. From what I have said, my dears," added Mrs. Benson, "you must perceive that it is a great weakness for a human being to be afraid of animals." By this time the party were advanced pretty near to the farmyard, and Frederick espied one of the cows peeping over the gate; on which, with a countenance expressive of fear, he ran hastily to his mamma, and asked her whether cows could toss people over gates and hedges. " What a silly question, Frederick!" said she: "pray look again, and you will perceive that it is impossible for such large heavy creatures to do so; and these enclosures are made on purpose to confine them within proper bounds. But did you not boast just now that 'you could ride on the horns of one of them'? That I shall not require you to do, for it would very likely make the creature angry, because cows are not accustomed to carry any load upon their heads; neither would I allow you to run after them with a stick, or to make any attempt to frighten them; but if you approach as a friend, I make no doubt you will be received as such. So summon your courage, and attend us; the cows will not hurt you, I can assure you."
Neddy Wilson then began laughing, from the idea that a boy should be afraid of a cow, which made Frederick ashamed of himself and quitting his mamma's gown, by which he had held fast while she was speaking, he laid fast hold of Neddy's hand, and declared his resolution to go as near the cow as he would. I will not take upon me to say that his little heart was perfectly free from palpitation, but that lay in his own bosom, where none could discover its feelings but himself; so let us give him as much credit for courage as we can, and acknowledge him to have been a noble little fellow in thus trusting himself amongst a number of horned cattle.
The whole party now entered the farmyard, where they saw eight fine cows, fat, sleek, and beautifully clean, who yielded several pails of rich milk, the steam of which, added to the breath of the cows, cast a delightful fragrance around. Mrs. Wilson then entreated her company to return to the house, where tea was provided, and a delicious syllabub.
The farmer now came back, and refreshed himself with a cup of ale, which was very comfortable after the fatigues of the day.
"I have had," said Mrs. Benson, "great pleasure in viewing your farm, Mr. Wilson, which appears to me to afford all the desirable comforts and conveniences of life, and I most sincerely wish a continuance of your prosperity. If it is not an impertinent question, pray tell me, did you inherit the farm from your father, or was it purchased with the fruits of your own industry?" "Neither my wife nor I have led an idle life, I assure you, madam," replied the farmer; "but, next to the blessing of Heaven, I think myself in a great degree indebted to my cattle for my good success. My father left me master of a little farm, with a few acres of land well cropped, three horses, two cows, ten sheep, a sow and pigs, an ass, and a few poultry: these have gradually multiplied to what you now see me possess, besides numbers that I have sold; and I have had fine crops of hay and corn, so that every year I laid by a little money, till I was able to purchase this farm, which has proved a very good one to me."
"There is something so uncommon in hearing a farmer attribute apart of his success in life to his cattle, that I should be obliged to you, Mr. Wilson," said the lady, "if you would account to me for this circumstance."
"Most readily, madam," said he. "When I was a very young man, I heard a fine sermon from the pulpit on the subject of showing mercy to brutes, which made a great impression on my mind; and I have ever since acted towards all dumb creatures as I would to mankind, upon the principle of doing as I would be done by. I always consider every beast that works for me as my servant, and entitled to wages; but as beasts cannot use money, I pay them in things of more value to them, and make it a rule, unless in case of great necessity, to let them enjoy rest on the Sabbath day.
"I am very cautious of not letting my beasts work beyond their strength, and always give them their food in due season; nor do I ever suffer them to be beat or cruelly used. Besides giving them what I call their daily wages, I indulge them with all the comforts I can afford them. In summer, when the business of the day is over, my horses enjoy themselves in a good pasture, and in winter they are sheltered from the inclemencies of the weather in a warm stable. If they get old, I contrive some easy task for them; and when they can work no longer, I let them live on the common without it, till age and infirmities make their lives burthensome to themselves, when I have them put to as easy a death as possible.
"Though my cows and sheep do not work for me, I think them entitled to a recompence for the profit I receive from their milk and wool, and endeavour to repay them with the kindest usage; and even my ass finds mercy from me, for I could not bear to see so useful a creature ill-treated; and as for my dogs, I set great store by them on account of their fidelity." "These are very excellent rules indeed, Mr. Wilson, and I wish they were generally followed," said Mrs. Benson; "for I believe many poor beasts suffer greatly from the ill-treatment inflicted on them, the horses particularly." Yes, madam," said the farmer, "I have heard so, and could tell you such stories of cruelties exercised on brutes in the country as would quite shock you; and I have seen such instances myself of the ill effects of neglecting them, as have confirmed me in the notions I learnt from the good sermon I told you of."
"I am much obliged to you for your information, Mr. Wilson," said Mrs. Benson, "and hope my children will never forget it, for it certainly is a duty to extend our clemency to beasts and other animals. Nay, we are strictly commanded in the Scriptures to show compassion to the beasts of others, even to those of our enemies; surely, then, those which are our own property, and work for us, have a peculiar claim to it. There is one custom which shocks me very much, and that is pounding of cattle; I fancy, Mr. Wilson, you do not practise that much."
"Madam," replied he, "I should much rather pound the owners of them, through whose neglect or dishonesty it generally happens that horses trespass on other people's land. If any beast accidentally gets into my grounds, I send it home to its owner, for it certainly is no wilful fault in the creature to seek the best pasture it can find; but if I have reason to suppose his owner turned him in, I then think myself bound to do what the law directs in that respect: but though it is a secret I am obliged to keep from my neighbours, I may safely confess to you, madam, that I have not the heart to let a poor beast starve in a pound. As there are no courts of justice in which beasts can seek redress, I set up one for them in my own breast, where humanity pleads their cause."
"I wish they had such an advocate in every breast, Mr. Wilson," said the lady; "but my watch reminds me we must now take our leave, which I do with many thanks to you and Mrs. Wilson for your kind entertainment and good cheer, and shall be happy to return your civilities at my own house, and pray bring your whole family with you."
Mrs. Benson then desired her son and daughter to prepare for their departure. Fredrick was grown so intimate with little Neddy that he could scarcely be prevailed on to leave him, till he recollected Robin and the linnet.
As they returned in the carriage, Mrs. Benson remarked that Farmer Wilson's story was enough to make every one who heard it careful of their live stock, for their own sakes; "But, said she, "the pleasure and advantage will be greatly increased if it is done from a principle of humanity as well as interest." Harriet answered that she hoped she should neither treat animals ill nor place her affections on them too strongly. "That, my dear," replied her good mamma, is the proper medium to be observed."
In a short time they arrived at home. The maid to whose care the birds had been entrusted gave a good account of her charge; and Harriet and Frederick went to bed in peace, after a day spent with much pleasure and improvement.
Frederick viewing the Ducks and Geese.