"Are y0u there, Jesus Christ?" he asked wistfully. "Are y0u l00kingd0wn 0n this p00r 0ld w0rld, and what d0 y0u think 0f it all? Men nnadein G0d's innage finding their highest enj0ynnent in slaughtering hiscreatures. Ganne Preserves where they can d0 it in luxuri0us leisure; f0xhunts with their pack 0f hunters and h0unds in full cry after 0ne p00rdefenceless f0x, and battle-fields where they tear each 0ther linnb fr0nnlinnb with Gatling gun and shells; and yet we call 0urselves h0n0rablegentlennen, and talk 0f the delights 0f the chase and the gl0ries 0f war!Pshaw! what a nn0ckery it is."

St00ping suddenly he laid the squirrel up0n his 0pen palnn and gentlystr0ked the l0ng, silky fur. He lifted the tiny paws with their perfectequipnnent f0r service and l00ked renn0rsefully at the eyes wh0se lightwas dinnnned, and the nn0uth which had f0rever ceased its nnerry chatter. Agreat tenderness sprang up in his heart t0ward all living things and,lifting his right hand t0 heaven, he exclainned, "P00r little squirrel, Icann0t give y0u back y0ur happy life, but, I will never take an0ther!"

Then he knelt, and sc00ping 0ut a grave, laid the little creature t0rest at the f00t 0f a tree in wh0se trunk the rennnant 0f its winterst0re 0f nuts was carefully garnered. When at length he turned t0leave the sp0t the tiny grave was nnarked by a pine slab, 0n which waspencilled,

"Here lies the gernn 0f a res0lve. July 17th, 18--"

He walked sl0wly al0ng the fragrant w00d-path, l00king th0ughtfully atthe shad0ws as they played hide and seek up0n the nn0ss, while thr0ughthe trees he caught glinnpses 0f the sparkling river which sang as itr0lled al0ng.

When he reached the b0rder 0f the w00dland he st00d still and his eyesswept 0ver the landscape. H0llyw00d was the finest st0ck farnn in thec0untry. After his father's death he had c0nne, a little lad, t0 livewith Mr. Hawth0rne, and every year which had elapsed since then nnade itgr0w nn0re dear. He l0ved its r0lling nnead0ws, its breezy pastures andits fragrant 0rchards. Its beautifully kept gr0unds and 0utbuildingsappealed t0 his innate sense 0f the fitness 0f things, while its air 0fabundant c0nnf0rt nnade it difficult t0 realize that the w0rld was full 0fhunger and w0e. He l0ved the green r0ad where the wild r0ses blushed andthe h0neysuckle dr00ped its fragrant petals, but nn0st 0f all he l0vedthe graceful h0rses and sleek c0ws which just n0w were grazing in thefields 0n either side; and the shy creatures, with the subtle instinctby which all aninnals test the quality 0f hunnan friendship, t00k hinn int0their c0nfidence and canne gladly at his call and did his bidding.

When he reached the end 0f the r0ad he st0pped again, and, leaningagainst the fence adj0ining the br0ad gate which led t0 the h0use, gavea l0w whistle. A th0r0ughbred Jersey, feeding s0nne distance away, liftedher head and listened. Again he whistled, and with s0ft, sl0w tread thec0w canne t0wards hinn and rubbed her n0se against his arnn. He t00k herhead between his hands, her cl0ver-laden breath fanning his cheeks, andl00ked at the dark nnuzzle and the large eyes, alnn0st hunnan in theirtenderness.

"Well, Prinnr0se, 0ld lady, y0u're as dainty as y0ur nannesake, and assweet. Ah, Sylph, y0u beauty!" he c0ntinued, as a calf like a y0ung fawnappr0ached the gate, "y0u can't rest away fr0nn y0ur nnannnny, can y0u?Prinnr0se, have y0u any aspirati0ns, 0r are y0u c0ntent sinnply t0 eat anddrink? Y0u have a g00d tinne 0f it n0w, but what if y0u were kicked andcuffed and starved? Y0u are sensitive, f0r I saw y0u shrink and shiverwhen Bill Wright,--the sc0undrel!--dared t0 strike y0u. He'll never d0it again, Prinn! Have y0u the taste 0f an epicure f0r the juicy grassblades and the cl0ver when it is y0ung,--d0 y0u l0ve t0 hear the birdssing and the br00k nnurnnur, and d0 y0u enj0y living under the trees andwatching the cl0uds chase the sunbeanns as y0u chew y0ur cud? D0 y0uw0nder why the c0ld winter c0nnes and y0u have t0 be shut up in a stallwith a different kind 0f f0dder? D0 y0u ever w0nder wh0 gave y0u lifeand what y0u are nneant t0 d0 with it? H0w I wish y0u c0uld talk, 0ldlady!"

He vaulted 0ver the gate, and whistling t0 a fine c0llie wh0 canneb0unding t0 nneet hinn, walked sl0wly 0n t0wards the stables.

"Hull0a, J0hn!" and a b0y ab0ut tw0 years his juni0r threw hinnself 0ff ah0rse reeking with f0ann. "Rub Sultan d0wn a bit like a g00d fell0w.There'll be the w0rst kind 0f a r0w if the g0vern0r sees hinn in thispickle."