AGNES AND THE MOUSE.
One brilliant Christmas day, two little girls were walking towards a
neighboring village, when they observed a little creature walking
about the road. "Surely," said Mary, "it is a large mouse;" and it did
not seem to be afraid, so they thought from its tameness, it must be
hungry. "Poor little thing," said Agnes, "I wish I had something to
give you." She took a few almonds from her pocket and went gently
along towards the mouse and put it close by its side. The mouse began
to nibble, and soon finished it. Agnes then put down two or three
more, and left the mouse to eat its Christmas dinner. I think you
would have enjoyed seeing the mouse eating the almonds. I hope you
will always be kind to poor dumb animals. I have seen children who
were cruel to dumb animals. This is very wrong, and such children will
never be respected, nor can thy expect to be befriended.