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DICK NIVEN

AND HIS HORSE

. . . . NOBBY

Lantern Slide Lecture Teaching Kindness

to Animals.

By ANNIE G. SAVIGNY.

Author of-' lAon^ ike Mastiff.'' ( From fAfe. ) A Humane Story.

Entered, accordintr to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thonnand eijjht hundred
and ninety-eii^ht, by Annus G. Saviony, at the D;;partnant of AKriculture,

LECTURE.

Slide 1. -Slkicii and 1'aiu ol^tsiue a Ciiukch in Winter.

"Oh, <iil yo l>easls and eatllo, bless yc the Lord, praise Him and magnify Him
for ever."

So had smiq the conj^rei^ation in a fashionaljle cliurch, while outside

the gat»^s iti t,\\<' wintry wind .stood several elejfant equipages, many of

them l)einn; sltjii^'hs : for a snow-storm of the day previous gave excuse for

a sleigh-drive to church. Tlie beautif il horses attached to many of the

vehicles wert' disligurcd l)y the tight check-i-ein and the tail bning docked.

One especially handsome pair attached to a sleigh, though closely clipf id

had no rug over them, and stood, as we .see them in the picture, a shivering

pair, their sides steaming, owing to the rapid rate the coachman had driven

them ; also cruellv docked anil with tlie check-rein tight to the utmost

demand of fashion.

"Spot," said one of the horses, "I'm shivering with cold, and
tortured with this aliominable bearing-n in and tight collar. Let us make
a break for tlie country, ;i,nd try to find our old home and kind master."

" Don't try it, Petrel," answered his comrade, "though I am just as
sick of this wretched harne.ss as you are, not to speak of the barefaced
theft of oiji' tails, and they saying the eighth commandment in the church.
Still, my dear comrade, T must repeat, don't try to run away ; we couldn't
run far with this sh^igii at our backs. It would end in a big smash-up
and the whip for us.''

"Oh, pshaw. Spot; you are always preaching!" exclaimed Petrel,
stamping liis foot impatiently.

"Well, yes, you are right," responded Spot, emphatically, and trying
to nod his poor tired head as we do ; but as we see, it is fastened back so
tightly he cannot say yes, with a nod, as we do. "You see. Petrel,"
continued Spot, "though we horses are very wise and know more than
most men, still T must confess to have learned soraetliing of men's ways
from the talks our friend the kind boy, Dick Niven, has witli our ignorant
hard-hearted groom, Nettle ; and if J were in the pulpit in this church
here, I would give the men a bit of a horse's mind on what I have heard
Dick Niven say about the eighth commandment and the stealing of our tails.
Goodness knows what we'll do without them in fly-time ! "

Slidk ■_'. — DocKiNCj Pkockss.

"True, true, 8pot, ' said the other hoise (juickly, ''I simply dread to
thitik of the iiorse-tly, and I am positively ati'ianied to be seen since Ive
been docked. Dick Niveii is rij^lit. Those people may well call them-
selves ' miserable sinners ' in church after their treatment of us. There
wasn't a prettier pair of horses in town, though I say it, than we were
before we were mutilated in this way. All foi fashion, too I I declare,
Spot, it makes me long to kick some one when I think of it ! "

"And no wonder, dear Pi-trel," returneil Spot, as he shivered in his
harness.

"No wonder, indeed!" echoed Petiel ; "I tell you what it is, Spot,
when I feel this dust-brush instead of my own tail at my back, I wish I
was a coal-heaver's horse, who doesn't go in for fashion, instead of a
carriage horse, whose master or groom declare.s mnut be in the J'ashion,
forsooth ! Things have come to a pretty pass when we, who came to
town high-spirited colts, look with envy upon tlie unmutilated horse of
the coal-heaver ! "

"I'm with you, Petrel," put in his comrade, hastily. "I'd a thousand
times rather be Dick Niven's horse Nobby, and be hired out for any
chance load, than belong to Mr. Highflyer with this horse-hair duster on
my back, for all the world like the feather lamp-chimney cleaner, once
the /eafJiers of a lovely hird, but now sticking upon the mistress' bonnet."

Slide 3. — Showing Lauv we.mmng Eghkt Plumk in her Bonnet.

"Dick Niven says," continued Spot, "that the beautiful egret is shot
down by the cruel hunters when she is caring for her young, just for her
tail feathers to trim up the women with I So you see. Petrel, the poor
mother-bird and her young all have to die to fix up these bonnets ! Is it
not terrible. Petrel 1 "

Slide 4. — Be.\utiful E(;ret.

"Terrible, indeed, to slaughter such a magnificent bird!" exclaimed
Petrel, staniping his feet as if to run away. " It'.s my opinion. Spot, that
you are on the wrong track, when you preach to me to bear my wrongs
patiently, lest ^ get the whip for running away from such cruel creatures
as men and women. See, good comrade, how [ have to seek to rest the
tired muscles of my neck by straining my head sideways ; and you also,
poor fellow. Ah ! good Spot, 1 see you are shedding tears over your
wrongs. But I'll not weep, I'll stand it no longer, I'll run away ! "

At this juncture two boys who had but just emerged from a small
mission church around the corner, came along, and in passing several of
the horses one of the lads had stopped to say a friendly word. This boy
was none other than the friend of animals of whom we have heard

the horsos Spol^ and Petrel talkiutj. Yea, Dick Niven it is, who, coming
up to w Ikm'i' Spot and Pt;trel stand, as we see in the picture, cills out
cijofi ily :

Slidk .■'). — Dick Nivkn.

''JIhIIo! Spot and l't;trtd ; liello! I say." On hearing tlie well-known
voice of Dick Xiven, there is a uuisical wliinny tVoin Ijoth horses.

(Operator '.vill repeat Slide 1.)

"Seel Ben," said Duk to the l)oy who was with him. "See! these
ar.i the afrandlookint; horses you've heard me tell about at the Band of
M'ircy. Aint they dandies, except for being docked and having tlieir
h'-ads jerked liack with the cheek-rein?"

"You lii't, they're tUuuIies, l)ick," replied Ben, the boot-black; "so
sleek and shiny as if a l)arrel of hair-oil had Iteen let on 'em through the
lire-ho.se," said Ben, grinning.

"It's dirty iiieau of gi'oom N(^ttle not to have thrown a blanket over
theni," said Diek Niven, stroking the neck of Petrel to keep him quiet.

" Yes, it's Ijoastly mean of him," said Ben ; " I bet he'd wrap his own
greedy self up in the fur coat of his master or his mistress 'fore he'd stand
in a wind like this — enough to blow a fellow's hair off. Where is groom
Nettle, anyhow, Dick.'"

"Oh, I guess he's kicking his lu.'els on the w.irm side of the church-
door, or playing cards in the cal>nien's siielter round the corner," replied
Dick.

" Yes, Dick, you bet your boots that's what he's at. (jlroom Nettle is
always looking out for numl)er one. Mean snide!" said lien, lilowing
on liis rather grimy fingers, being in business for himself after school-
hours as a hoot-black, and who had been pressed into the Band of Mercy
service l)y the boy, Diijk Niven.

"But, say, Dick,'" continued Ben, the lioot-black, "Say ! are you agoin'
to spend the day acryiii' over these here liorses and go without any
dinner, .save a lilowin' of yoursel' lull of wind, or are you agoin' home'!"

" Don't try to be funny, P)en, for you miss it every time," replied
Dick, patting the neck of Petrel, and speaking kindly to the restive and
tightly curbed animal, while he added, " I'm coming home, Ben, before
you could sliine a gentleman's razor-pointed toe. But first I am going to
unfasten the cruel and hideous check-rein on both these poor horses. If
I don't, Ben, this one liere is bound to run away."

"All right, Dick," said lien, grinning. " But hold up a jiffy till I
get my head under a sleigh robe. So as I won't have to swear in court I
saw you do it. Search me, I don't know, is all they'll get out of me. Go
on, give the horses a chance. I'm neur smothered under this here robe.
Fire away. Say when 1 "

"Now, T»en, all right, you may unwrap your pretty head," saiil Dick,
laughing, iis he whistled a Uand of Mercy tune. " See, l>en, how glad
they are to have tiio use of tlieir heads. Now hand over that blanket,
please — the one grooin Nettle covers Uji his precious body with, and III
throw it over the two of them; it will lie better than nothing. Our horse
Nobby has a tine blanket mother matle out of samples ot" cloth patched
together, .'viid now, IJen, for a race to the corner, then home ; but first,
J must drop my card into the sleign."

" Your carrl !" said Den, in good-humored fun. "T gurss what's on it
is, ' Dick Niven, as works at oild j()l)s arter school,' eh T'

" Yes, iJen, you've hit the IjuH's-eyi! this time. The card is about the
best job I've got — the Baiitl of Mercy job ; and my card shows the ,
check-rein on antl otl' the hor.ses. Come now, let us hustle Mother told
me to bring you home to dinner ; we have raisin |)udding to-day, so hustle
up. One, two, three and away ! "

" Y''ou bet I'll skute," said Ben, grinning. " It isn't every day [ gets
raisin pucklin". Your mother is a brick, Dick."'

" No, sheaint," said Dick, out ot breath with the run. "A lirick is too
hard for mother ; she is more like a soft pillow."

Slide 6. — Dick and LJkn.

"Hello! hello, Ben!" loudly called a Ijoy running after them, tiring
a snow-ball at Ben's back. He was a vei'v well-dressed boy, his boots and
pants bespattered with mud. " Hello, Ben. Hold u[i, l say."

Ben halted ita the run, because the three boys atteniled the same
school, but Dick did so very reluctantly, for he did not like the boy, and
did not wish to keep his mother and little sister waiting for their dinner.
He was hungry, too, for raisin pudding, so he said breathlessly:

"Don't stop, Ben. Bobbie Flint is not a good sort, and mother doesn't
wish me to chum up with him."

"Oh, pshaw, Dick; Bobbie's got lots of tin anyhow, so I'll halt," said
Ben, a little crossly, and making a step backward to meet Bobbie Flint,
who ran up out of breath. •

Slide 7. — Dicn, Ben and Bobbie.

" Well, Bobbie, what's the row 1 " shouted Ben.

"Only this, kid," replied Bobbie Flint, twirling his chewing-gum from
one cheek to another ; " I want a shine."

"You bet!" responded Ben, the boot-black, scanning him critically.
"But where under the sun did you get mud to-dayl Your church is just
round the corner from your house, and the snow hasn't melted worth a
cent about there ! "

"T know III] that, criw.y. Rut I wasn't at church. No, not much.
Dad and ina took a lai' and \v(>nt visitint;, l)ad told me to <^o to diurch,
hut I went on a jolly lark instearl, hoarded a car out to the •■astern rail
depot. Played roi)liers in the muddy yards with some other fellows. 8et
two doys on a cat. Didn't they make lier fur lly ! Vou het ! Knocked
down six sparrows wii'i tny catapult. lUit, say I T forgot that Band of
Mercy su{)e, Dick Niven, was listeninj^ I suppose he'll lie mean enouj:jh
to tell .vciip ahout my catapult. l»ut mind tliis, |)ick Niven, if you do I'll
get even. See if T don't."

"You'll hi»nd liver that mw'ileroiix caUipaJt to u)e, Hohhie Flint," said
Dick Niven, firmly, "or you'll hand it over to this policeman coming down
the street. Choose quick ! "

"Take it then, you ^Nlercy -supe," said Uobhie, sulkily; "but mind I'll
get even.''

=' All ri:;hl. Flint, I'm ready for you," said Dick; "but I do wish,
iiohhie Flint, you"d acton the square with the animals and birds."

"(jive us a rest, Niven,'' replied Bo!)l)ie, crossly. "Now, JJen, here is
your corner. I'll go I'ouiid with you and g t a shine. 1 doji't want to
show up at home wjtli all this mud on. Dad will kick up I'ougli ahout my
spoiling my new suit. Come on, Fll make it ten cents— five for the shine
and five to brush me up. Here we aiti at the corner, I'll skute round
with you,' said Bobbie Flint, sure that the oiler of ten cents would fetch
the bootblack.

" Can't be did, Bobbie," said Ben, jei'kiiig at his uncomfortable
starched Sunday collar. " C.in't be did. I aint goin' to work seven days
in the week for you nor any other man.'"

" Cood for you, lien," .said Dick; "you're right in with the fourth
commandment this time."

"Such rot!" cried out Bolibie Flint, angrily. "My dad says the
commandments were only made for them Jew fellows. There goes a car.
Those men work on Sundays, so ought you, you lazy fellow. Do you see
the cars, I tell you. They run, and you should work, too."

Slide 8, — Horseless Cars.

"Yes, I sees the cars. I know they run. I aint blind," returned
Ben. " But the slaveys as runs 'em is scared of getting the grand bounce
if they refuse to work Sundays. They aint in an independent profession
like I be. See ! " he added proudly, while tiring a snow-ball at a telephone
pole.

" All right, soapy Ben ; but I'll get even, see if I don't," shouted
Bobbie, spitefully, as he ran round a corner after throwing a snow-ball at
Dick's cap, knocking it sideways.

«' I wish Bobbie Flint would act on the square instead of trying to get
even and knocking a fellow's cap on his ear like a soldier," said Dick,
good-humored ly, while taking of!' his niits and unbuttoning'his overcoat!
for the sun had come out bright ; nd warm.

Two blocks farther on l)rough Dick and Hen to Spruce Street, which
was little better than a lane in omparison with Bower Avenue, which
was to the front of it. The home of Dick Niven was at 15 Spruce'street,
being one of a row of neat frame cottages.

The father of Dick Niven and his little sister Molly had been dead
for two years, when we first l)ecame acquainted with Dick, flis father
had been an honest, industrious pedlar of fruit, with a far-ringing voice
as he sang out, "Strawberry ripe here! Fresh Oak ville strawberry !"
Dick's father had owned his horse and cart, and had treated his co-worker,
the horse Nobby, with kindness and consideration. Dick and his good
mother had deeply grieved at the death of this honest pedlar of fruit.

Slide 9. — Nobby and his Cart.

Nobby, the horse, was now largely the bread-winner of the small
family— the widow of Niven hiring out the horse and cart to carry any
light load, or as an express waggon. The horse Nobby was well cared for
by Dick, and indeed was petted by each member of the family. He stood
in a small stable in a little back yard which Dick's little sister Molly
Grilled the garden, because in summer dandelions and sweet clover showed
their pretty heads among the green grass. The back wall of Nobby's
little stable was almost close to the grand brick stable in which were
housed the pair of long-suffering horses, Spot and Petrel, with whom we
are now all well acquainted, and whom we have seen standing shivering,
docked and wearing the cruel check-rein which their friend Dick Niven^
we must remember, had loosened while they had stood outside the church
waiting to draw their mistress home. The master of Spot and Petrel was
absent from town, but their mistre.ss, Mrs. Highflyer, and her little son
Nelson, had gone to church.

Slide 10. — Dick's Mother at Door of Cottage.

Here we see the good woman, Dick's mother, opening the door for her
dear boy; we hear the sweet voice of a little child singing the second
verse of a Band of Mercy song, to the tune of "God Save our Queen."
Let us listen, as the boys did, to little Mollv as she sinos •

Slidk 11. — Ban'p of Mkrcy Hymv.

(TvSK—lJoil Sare our Queen.)

*' Oh, luay we over find,
Sweet Joy in boing kind,

A Iwippy liand,
\V»''ll k<'«'|) our cards with care,
^^'ith Pl('iii,'(' so Itroad and fair,
And Hadn't' of Mercy wciir

Tiiroii<;hout tlie land."

"Well donn ! " shouWul Dick, chocrily, and ontt-rini; the bright living-
roOMi of the throe-roomed cottaLfo, plainly furnished indeed, hut comfort-
able and .spotlessly clean, the ni.xed smell of onion stew and raisin pudding
fillinjj pleasantly the nosti-ils of the hunj,'ry boy.«.

"W<'ll done, I say!" repeated l>ick. " lUit where are you, my five-
year-old sister ? "

*' I'se in here, Dickie, in mother's bedroom an' mine. I'ae feedin' the
sparrows on the window-.sill, with sonu' crumljs mofher f»ave me. See,
Dickie, an' Ben, too ; l»ut JJen might fiMLjhten the .sparrows, so he must
peep gently with his one eye."

"My eye!" said Ben, gri iuini,'. "I'd have you know. Sissy, that
lien, the boot-ljlack, have more than one eye. Foi- 1 seed two on 'em in
the gents' toes as I give 'em a shine. How's that for I?"

"Ail right, Benny," said little .Molly. "You may peek with your
two eyes, an' as you're so smart, you'll lie able to count all the raisins in
mother's sweet puddin', else if you oidy had one eye, you'd think you only
yot half the count of raisins mother i'i\es Dickie an' me."

"That's so," said Ben, laughing.

"See, Ben," continued little Molly. "See! don't the sparrows peck
pretty ou* of Dickie's hand?"

"You l)et they do, the hungry little beggars," said Ben ; " hut I never
saw anybody feed 'em before. They've pretty spots on 'em too, an' I guess
I'll never fire stones at 'em any more."

"Come to dinner, children ! " called the kind mother from the next
room, as she bustled about the base burner \vith oven attached, the live
coals shinin-^ brightly through the transparent mica. " And Dick, my
son, take Ben into your bedroom and both of you wash your hands ; then
please come to our nice hot dinner."

Slide 12. — Nkat Comfortable Living-room, the Mother with her
Children, Dick and Molly as well as Ben, Seated at Table.

*' Dick, my son, please say grace," reminded his mother.

" Yes, mother, but may I say one out of my own head 1 I'd rather."

"Certainly you may," replied his mother, kindly. All bowed their
heads excepting Hen, who stared wonderingly at Dick as he prayed :

"Oh, heavenly Father, grant, w. pray Thee, that this good dinner
may make us ali so strong, that w.- .shall he al.lf to protect all Thv
defenceless creatures fron) cruel treatment. Antl, dear Lord, icrant that
we may not be so horrid greedy as to eat up everything and not save a
bit of dinner for Trixy and the stray dog, or a bite of apple for Nobby,,
our good horse. Amen."

When Dick ended grace, as his mother served each one with a large
plateful of nice hot stew, Ben, though he wiped a smile off his face with
his hand, said a loud "Amen,'' resolving that shoidd Dick's mother give
him one of the shining red ajjples he .saw on a side tal)Ie, he would save
the whole core for Nobby, the horse.

The little party ate the stew with hearty relish, not a word being
spoken for several minutes. Wlien Dick and Ben were gi\en some m- re^
little Molly found voice to say :

'■Dickie, when you were to church, 1 went out to the st.-i' ^e and"
talked to Noldjy, so I did; and, Dicki.-, I waited unil I h.'ard >.^p..t and
Petrel go out of their stab' -, fetch Mrs. Higldly and Nelson hon.e fionv
church, 'cause mother told me Nobby would be more lonesome when he-
did not hear Spot and Petrel talking and stamping their feet, see !''

" Yes, Molly, I see ; and you are a good little girl for keeping NobUy
company. All animals love to be taken notice of and dislike moping by
themselves."

"Say!"' said Ben, spilling some of the stew he was carrying to his
mouth, in his astonishment. "Say, Dick, you never let this baby go to
the stable alone, the horse might kick her ! " and the boot-black drew one
of the child's long fair curls through his fingers, meaning to be kind.

" I'se not a baby ! " cried Molly, red with anger. " T'se a quarter
past tive, an' I can feed our cat, an' the sparrows, an' sweep the floor, an'
sew patches, an' go to church, so I can. An' our Nobby wouldn't kick
me any more than mother would, nor Dickie, nor — nor than— than Queen
Bitoria ! So there ! "

This hasty little speech of Molly caused them all to laugh merrily,
and Molly liking the sound smiled through the tears that had brimmed
her blue eyes on Ben alluding to her as a baby,

"There is no fear of our good horse Nobby hurting my little girl,"
said her mother; "he's as gentle as a lamb to her, dear oM fellow. Did
you go into Nobby's stall, my dear 1 "

"Oh, yes, mother, an' I plaited his long tail, an' he letted me, an' he
peeked round at me, an' he smiled at me with his long nose, so he did,"
said the little girl, gleefully.

" T guess noor Spot and Petrel would like to have borrowed our horse's
lotig tail juoie times than he could spare it," said Dick, his eyes on his
good mother, as she served the sweet raisin pudding.

" It's dirty mean to dock a hor3e," said Ben, his face beaming with
smiles on Mrs. Niven giving him a generous supply of the pudding. "I
lieard a policeman tell a gent, whose shoes 1 was a-shinin', that he had
seen a horse docked the other day, and the poor animal suffered so much
from being seared with a red-hot iron, as well as the docking, that he
gave such a big sal) as turned the cob sick for two days." Here the boot-
blcV k cried out " Oh ! " and fell to rubbing his knee, on Trixy, the cat,
creeping softly to liis side and sticking a pair of sharp claws into his
knee in begging for a bit.

Little .Molly laughed merrily, and getting off" her chair, carried the
cat back again to her patch-work bed by the stove.

"Our puss went to you because she thought you were anodder boy,"
said Molly, "and our puss thought you would give her a bit, 'cause you
wouldn't know we di)n't feed her at table. Isn't she a cunnin' puss?"

"You just bet she is." said Dick, as he and Molly helped their mother
to wash the dishes, fold the cloth and gather up the crumbs," ->

" Here, Trixy I ' called out Mrs. Niven. " Here are the scraps for
you. Come, puss, to your oilcloth in the corner. You see, Ben, I can
easily wash the bit of oilcloth, and so, our pretty rag-carpet is neither
greased nor stained."

"You thinks of everything, ma'am," said Ben, sorrowfully. "Now,

lay step-mother

Slide 13.— Ben's Step-moth kr.

just says cats is dirty beasts, an' she up with the broom or rake an' drives
'era out when I brings 'em in out of the cold since I joined the Band of
Mercy."

"You have a nasty step-mother an' I hate her! " cried Molly, with a
stamp of her tiny foot, "but 1 just love cats, they are so soft an' buzz so
pretty. Do you know, Ben, what I'se goin' to do when our Trixy dies?
Guess."

"Bury her," replied Ben, promptly.

" No ! no ! " cried Molly, clapping her chubby hands. " I knowed
you couldn't guess. I'se going to have a muff" made out of her fur coat
for mother. See 1 " .

Slide H. — SiiowiNf} Molly as she talks— the Cat beside her.

"Yes, I see that will be a dandy rauft*,'' said Ben, stroking the cat,
who had jumped to his knee.

"'Now, my dear children, and you also Ben, come and sit around the
stove," said Mrs. Niven, affectionately, "and we shall eat an apple and

have a quiet talk, until it is time for us to shut up house and go to
Sunday School. Tell me, Dick, whit the text was this morning 1"

" That s too easy, mother; give m? a harder question — and you will say
so when I tell you that it is the text on the wall in my 1 droom, ' Blessed
are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.' Mr. Young was the
preacher, and he explained the text very well ; but I wished he had said
something more than he did about showing mercy to the poor defenceless
animals; but, never mind, next Sunday Mr, Young preaches altogether
on kindness to animals. Anyhow, T practised what our good Mr. Young
preached, by unfastening the cruel check-rein on those long-sufFering
horses, Spot and Petrel, so I did."

^ " Oh, Dick ! " cried his mother, " I know it was a merciful act to ease
the poor horses ; but I hope groom Nettle did not see you do it — he lias a
nasty temper, you know, dear."

*' Yes, mother, I know he has, but I'm not a coward, so I left my
card about the check-rein in the sleigh, so he won't blame any other
fellow, for grooiu Nettle knows my card all right. But, oh ! mother dear,
what noise is that 1 T think it is that poor stray dog whining outside. I'll
run out and let him into the stable with Nobby. Come, Ben."
On the return of the two boys, little Molly said :

Slide 15. — The Oat Tuixv.

" Now, listen, Ben, with your two ears, I'se going to tell a cat story>
the way the children do at Dick's Band of Mercy. Once upon a time — •
I mean nu'lder day — Nobby's visitor, the stray dog, creeped in under the
fence and corned into our yard, liut, Dickie, what is the stray dog'a
name, I want to say it?" asked .Molly in the middle of her story.

" Call him Stray," answered Dick, promptly.

" Very well, Dickie, 1 will. Well, Ben, Nobby's friend Stray was
cold and wet 'cause it was raining, and, 1 spec', hungry, too. It wns the
nudder day when Dickie had saved a crust of his bread and put it on the
fence for the sparrows 'fore he went to school. Well, Benny, the spar-
rows were so scared when Stray crept under the fence, that they let the
crust fall down, an' it dropped right into Stray's big mouth. Wasn't that
too funny for anything, Ben 1 Eh "

"The fun was all on the dog's side," answered Ben, grinning. " But

say. Sissy, what about the cat? You said you was goin' to tell a cat

story."

Repeat Slide 14. — Molly.

" So I is, Ben, goin' to tell a cat story right now in a minute. It was
on the day that mother was out next door a-dessin' an' a-washin' Mrs.
Timms' new doll-baby, an' so I put my rubber shoes on — the beauties

■^mr^-imiirtpr^

\' It,..

Dickie gave me that he made out of newspapers ; but they aint the s une
color as newspapers. Anyway I put the shinin' rubbers on, an' I went
out into the garden, an' held dear dad's umberel — the one Dickie told me
dad used 'tote he went up in heaven. Well, Ben,' continued little
Molly, as we see her talking in the picture — "well, Ben, T holded dad's
uniberel over Stray for fear he'd take a cold in his liead, an' I wipi^d a
drop on his nose with my hancherif, so I did. Tlien our cat Tri.xy
creeped out of her out-door house — a l)ox with a bit of carpet ai;' straw in
it — ^an' say, Ben, what do you think our big cat Tiixy did ? Guess?"

"That's an ea.sy one, Si.ssy," said Hen. " I guess your cat th'w at the
stray dog an' blinded his eye."

"She never ! " exclaimed Molly, angrily. "An' you shan't stroke our
nice, good puss any more, so you shan't, you nasty horrid boy."

" Molly ! Molly ! " said her mother, reprovingly, " tell Ben what a good
Band of Mercy cat our Trixy is."

" Very well, mother, so T shall. Well, Ben, our good puss saw I was
g'^ting wet, so she crept out of her out-door house an' went down the
garden in the rain, an' she stood up on her dandy-long-legs, an' lifted the • ^
latch of Nobby's stable door so that Stray could go m, an' he did go
Wasn't that sweet of our puss, Ben?"

"Yes, you but it was. We'll make h«r a member of our Band of
Mercy. Eh, Dick 1 "

" AW right, Ben. I'll call on you to nominate the new member. I
wish some of the little kids in our Band had as line a set of furs as she
has."

"This here new coat of mine is as warm as any cat's fur," said Ben,
smoothing the sleeve of lbs coarse cloth coat with pride.

"Ben, my boy," said Dick's mother, " it's none of myl.usin'ss, I know,
and I hope you won't mind my remarking on it, as your mother and I
were old friends, but I must say since you've joined the anti-tobacco and
chewing-gum league, you look quite like a gentleman."

"Oh, say!" said Molly, laughing, "see our Trixy a-lookin' at herself
in Ben's shinin' boot. Isn't she cunnin'."

Slide 16. — The Cat Lookixc; at ukr Rkflection in Bkn's Boot.

" Cats make very pretty pictures," said Dick, sitting down on the
floor be.side the stove and stroking the cat. " They are very useful, too,
in scaring away rats and mice ; indeed, in cold storage vaults and gran-
aries they are of great service. I wish we could have a cat tax, which
would make them be better cared for Cats are very fond of those who
are kind to tliem. Listen, wee Molly, to my cat story. Once upon a
time a lady took sick. Slie had a cat of which she was very fond. Well,

this cat moped and pined while her good friend was i»l She must \iave
thought the family was starving the lady, for every day she brought*' the
choicest bits of her own dinner to th( bedside of her friend, and one day,
as a great treat, she carried a mouse she had killed and two fat cock-
roaches, and laid them beside her face on the pillow."

" Ugh ! how very, very nasty of that cat," said little Molly, making a
grimace.

"Children," said Mrs. Niven, "it is nearly time we were all startint^
for Sunday School. I shall go first and put on my bonnet and coat ; and,
Molly, dear, you must now say to Ben what you promised me you would
about using the word ' hate.' "

" Very well, mother, but I doesn't want to," said the little girl, droop-
ing her head ; " but I spose I must, Ben, 'cause I promised mother I
would when you and Dickie were out in the stable. But 1 doesn't want
to say it, so I'll whisper it, Ben, over in this corner by mother's sewing

Slide 17. — Molly WinsPERiso to Bkn.

machine. I'll whisper, Ben, so as only you and God can hear."
" All right. Sissy, here I am."

" Well, Ben, can you hear me whisper r'
"Yeh^ Sis."

" Weli, Ben, I promised mother to say to you that I was sorry I said
I hated your stepmother, 'cause she chases cats out with a broom or a
rake. An' now, lieu, I've said what mother told me to say, but I'se
afraid, Ben, I hate her all the sanie, so I does. But, Benny, ['ve said what
mother bid me, haven't I, Benny 1"

"Yes, you have, Sis.sy," whispered Ben, "an' i hate her, too, 'cause she
licks me for nothiii', an' she dashes scalding water on dogs as I bring in
to get warm ; so, Sissy, I'm goia' to run away from her soon, an' I'm goin'
to live in the working boys' home, so I am, sure pop ! "

" Molly ! Molly ! " called her mother, " come now, dear, and get your
coat and hood on."

"Yes, mother, I'se comin'. Now, please listen while the boys are out
sayin' good-bye to Nobby, an' givin' water to the stray dog. Listen,
mother, if I know my verse. Are you listening, mother?" asked the
little girl, as her mother buttoned on her warm coat.

" Yes, dear, I am listening. Goon; say your verse."

"Very well, listen close, mother:

"'Little hands and dimpled fingers
Are not made to pinch and tear ;
But to move 'i deeds of kindness,
And to fold in thoughts of prayer.'

" Do I say it all rifjht, mother ? "

"Yes, little daughter, you do say it all right, but I want you to
reiueiiiber to practise what you preach, as our Dick^;Ays. Kow, cuiiie,
boys, it is t iiiu! we were starting for Sunday School," said the good woman.

"Motii' V ! " whispered Dick, as they went their way to Sunday School.
"Mother, may I ask Ben to^come back to sup^jf-r with usi His houu- is
so noisy on Sunday. They play cards for money; and poor Ben is really
trying to be a good boy. His step-mother is not a good woman. May 1
ask him, mother? "

" Yes, Dick, you may. T must speak to Mr. Y''oung about him. I
should like him to learn a trade. Yes, ask him to come and spend every
Sunday with us, where he can eat his dinner in peace and quietness."

"Thank you, mother; you never forget to practise the 'golden rule.'"

"I am afraid I do sometime.s, u)y son. Molly, child, give mother your
hand going up the steps, they are a little slippery. Now, try to be a good
girl in church, my dear."

Slide 18.— Dick Delivkring the " Daily Poster."

Monday morning came, and Dick and his mother were up and dressed
by six o'clock. The stove was raked out, new coal poured in, and the
ashes removed by J)ick, who then hurried away to the office of the Daily
I'ustpv. O'l procuring his parcel for delivery, he rushed through many
streets, dropping the newspapers into the letter-boxes of the many
subscribers of the Daily Poster. After doing his work cheerfully
and promptly, Dick ran through tiie dusk of early morning to his home,
whistling merrily and catching the December snow-flakes in the palms of
his hands as he ran. The city clocks were ringing, striking and chiming
in a musical tangle the hour of eight o'clock as Dick reached the corner
of Spruce Street, ran along to No. 15, and entered the door of his cottage
home.

" Well, mother dear, here I am. Are an^- of the clothes ready for me
to hang out on tlie line before we sit down to our breakfast?''

"Indeed, no, Dick," replied his mother, bustling about, "my hands
can't fly at the wash-tub, as your feet do in running around delivering the
Daily Poster. But breakfast is ready; so come, my son, before the
porridge gets cold ; you'll be hungry, as usual, after your run ; there is
no tonic like honest toil in the frosty air."

"That's so, mother," said the boy, "and our tonic is no patent njediciiie
swallowed down in pill form, eh, mother?"

When breakfast was over Dick went out to the stable to feed and
water Nobby, pet and talk to him, make his stable clean and tidy, sre
that the window-hole at the floor was open to let in the fresh air, and the

11^ . .

one at the roof open to drive the foul air out above; and also to remove
the used litter, so that the ston.'d f .od would taste sweet when all impure
odour was removed. This Dick d d every day, never forgetting to rub
his good horse down and clean his feet out every night, lest he might
have picked up a stone in his shoe during liis day's work ; for Nobby
being well cared for and a good hors^ to go, was hired out almost every
day, thus being in a great measure bread-winner for the widow and her
children.

While Dick was working in the stable, he sang with cheery earnestness
to the tune of " Hold the Fort," as we see the words on the canvas :

Slidk 11). — Band OF Mkhcy Song.

(Tu>iK—'' Hold (he Fort.")

" Hearts of love with hands of mercy

Hear our joyful song ;
Highest hill and lowest valley
I toll the words along.

CuoRUS. — Join our Bands, the word is spoken,
'Mercy ' is our cry ;
We will plead for voiceless creatures,
Victory is nigh."

Slidk 20. — Policeman.

As Dick sang he heard a loud ring at the front door of the cottage.
In a minute or two his mother had come to the back door, and in a voice
unlike her own, a voice with fear in it, called out shrillv :

" Dick ! Dickie, my son, come ! come quickly ! "

"Poor, dear mother, perhaps she has scalded herself," thought Dick,
running in.

vSlidk 21.— Dick NivEN.

" Yes, mother," said Dick, as he stood as we see him, having closed
the door and standing cap in his hand.

"Speak low, Dick," whispered his mother, with a white face and
trembling voice, "I don't want to awake Molly, the child would not
understand. I have bad news, Dick. A policeman brought this dreadful
summons Cor you to appear in court this morning. Thank God, my poor,
dear boy, that we have a children's court."

" But, mother dear, what is the charge against me 1 What do they
say I have done? It is all a mistake. Cheer up, mother."

" No, Dick, my son, it is no mistake. The charge is that you inter-
fered with private property yesterday, in unhooking the check-rein on

Mr. Highflyer's horses, and in meddling with his sleigh rol.es. Oh, Dick f
I feared groom Xettle would do you harm. Oh. my po(jr, dear, fatherless
boy, my boy I " cried his mother, soljbiiig.

" Don't cry, mother," said Dick, putting his anus al>out her, '• and
don't fear. You remeniber Job said, 'That which [ most feared has
come upon me;' now, mother, I do not fear whit groom Nettle, or any
other man, can do unto me, for 'the Lord is on my side,' and I may say
on the side of poor 8pot and Petrel, ''oo."

As the brave boy talked his mother dried her tears and became calm.
There were a few minutes of silent thought, when Mrs. Niven said ;

"I'll tell you what we'll do, Dick. Nohby is not iiired out until this
afternoon. I'll wake ^Nlolly, bath and dress her, give her some hot
porridge, and then tirive her over to her uncle's for th(^ day. Afterwards,
we shall engage Mr. Finder to defend you. We have 8310.00 saved, and
I dare say Mr. Pinder will not charge us over the $10.00.

" He won't charge us anything, mother, because we won't retain him.
A lawyer could only tell the truth, which he would first have to learn
from me; then why not save the money and speak for myself 1 Ves, I'll
be my own lawyer. And, mother, I'd rather uncle didn't know anything
of this, until it's all over; it would only fidget and worry him, and I can
plead my cause, ihe cause of the animals, better, if uncle isn't in court.
And we are bound to win," adde i Dick, trying to clieer his mother. " I
am sorry to be obliged to miss school this morning, but f must try and
make it uii. Now, mother, I'll go and hang out the clothes that M.re in
the basket all ready for me, while ynu dress your.self and ]\Iolly. Then
I'll hitch up Nobby and drive Molly over to uncle's, and afterwards come
for you, mother, and we'll drive to court in state."

Smde 22. — Spot and Pktrel with Tni:iH Cauriagk kacinu Nobby in
Ills Caht outsidk the Coi;rt-iioi;8E.

An hour and a quarter later in the morning, Spot and Petrel having
drawn groom Nettle, as the accuser of the boy, Dick Niven, to the court-
house, stood facing Nobby, as he patiently waited in his easy-fitting
harness, for Dick and his mother, who were for the first time in their pure
and upright lives within the walls of a court-room.

" I am ashamed to look you in the face, Nobby," said Petrel, frothing
at the mouth from the lightly drawn bit. "^es, Nobby, I am actually
ashamed to look you in the face after the way in which our cruel groom
has acted to your kind young master, Dick Niven."

"And well you may be ashamed. Petrel," said Nobby. "It's a
monstrous piece of injustice to bring my dear master into court, just for

giving you the use of your own head. And you tell me if Dick hadn't
eased you, diat you were on the j) )int of running away I "

"That T was, indeed," repliod Petrel. "Your nmster, Diolc Niven,
has told our stupid groom over and over again, that the bearing-rein
lessms the horse's strength, and forces him to work with cmmped muscles
instead of by his own weight -does not prevent the horsp from falling, as
ignorant people say; but actually n^ak^s us fall jnuch more badly when
we do trip on those wretclied icy or muddy asphalt pavements. If men
knew as much as Dick Niven, T tell you what it is, Spot, we would have
paper shoes, after the new German patent. Dick Niveu says we horses
would never slip if we wore paper shoes. Yes, Xobl)y, your' kind young
master often tells our groom all this, but he pretends he is deaf, or else
abuses the bov."

"Yes, indeed, I often hear him through the stable wall," said Nobby,
" and I often wonder you don't kick hhn. Why, don't you 1"

"Well, it's just this way, Nol)by," answered Petrel, angrily, "I don't
kick him because my comrade, Spot, is always and eternally preaching
patience I "

"Well, Spot:" said Nobby, wondei-ingly. "That's a queer text for
a horse to preach on. Why, even men, wlio know so little about horses,
confess that we are the most patient of animals ! "

"Y^es, Nobby," returned Spot, "I know they do, and knowing how
patient we are, is the very reason they take a mean advantage of us. All
the same, dear Nobby, 1 must preacli patience to my comrade, Petrel ;
because if we horses cease to set men a good example, I don't know how
it will all . lid."

" Well, yes, goo 1 Spot, perhaps you are in the right," remarked Nobby,
thoughtfully ; " but all tiie same, it was a gross piece of impertinence on
the }.art of your cruel groom to summon my dear young master to court.
Poor boy, without a father, too.'

"Yes, indeed, it is an abominable shame!" cried Spot and Petrel in-
dignantly, as they stamped tlieir feet in anger.

In the court-room, cleared of all loafers, Dick Niven had been accused
by groom Nettie of interfering with his horses.

"The beasts is owned by Mr. Highflyer," said the groom; "but they
are more like my own beast^ as I have the care of them, an' as I likes to
see 'em hold their heads up -the lazy brutes. I told the master an' the
missus as they must »ear the tight check; an' here conies this saucy
young rascal, with his confounded Band of Mercy nonsense, an' unfastens
the check, an' drags about the sleigh robes to dress the horses up, as if
they was human beings. But I have no fear, your Worship, but that you
will severely punish this errant beggar, as interferes with the property of

a rich gentleman like Mr. Highflyer, not to speak of uif, his groom, your
Honor. VVhy, your Worship, this hoy, Dick Niven, has tiie check to
lecture me, ns was with horses 'fore he was born, on using the whip. Why,
sir, what were whips made for, but to use. But this young stupid tells
me the n\ hip makes them strain theirselves, ass that he is. Then he
lectures me on what he calls the cruelty of docking.

" Now, your Honor being a gentleman knows that fashion is everything
— everything, sir, with carriage horses. Why, even the ladies likes to
see 'em lookin' so smart-like as when docked. If my horses don't stand
still, even in fly-time, I gives 'em the whip, 'cause I knows my business,,
sir, and I won't stand bein' lectured to by this here kid. Horses, is only
horses, and can be bought so cheap, your Honor, that the fact is it doesn't
pay to be a pampering of them, especially when a man owns them, body
and hones." And the gi'ooni, red with rage, took his seat.

Slide 23. — Dick Nivkn Pleading iii8 Case in Court.

" Dick Niven ! " said the Court, " what have you to say to the charges^
against you ? Have you no lawyer to defend you, n)y boy ?"

"No, your Honor," replied Dick, modestly and respectfully; "though,
we are not beggars, as groom Nettle has called us, still, sir, since father
died mother and T try to save — yes, and do save — a few dollars every month
— but I beg pardon for taking up the time of the court. But T would not
agree to mother spending money on a lawyer, your Honor, who could only
tell the truth, which he would lirst have to learn from me. So I am here,
sir, to answer to the charges against me. 1 am here to plead for the
poor horses, sir, and for myself," added Dick, gaining courage on seeing
the magiidate look kindly at him. "There ai*e just two items in groom
Nettle's charges against me, which I shall notice, your Honor. First,.
he speaks as if he owned the horses, V)ody and bones, as he has
stated. Well, your Honor, T claim that Mr. Highflyer, by purchase,
owns them ; and I don't think grooiu Nettle had any riglit to summon
me to court in the absence of his master— who has always treated
me with kindness — and who really, by purchase, as has been said,
owns the poor horses in question, sir. But, your Honor, I claim
that there is One who has a higher claim to the horses than even Mr.
Highflyer — One who has said, 'AH the beasts of the forest are mine, and
so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.' Secondly, I maintain, sir, that
groom Nettle, in persuading his master to agree to the cruel, the hideous
process of docking the l.orses, has broken the eighth commandment — has,
in seeking to revise the work of the Creator, committed a theft of the
horses' own tails. Therefore, your Honor, it has been clearly proven that

f^rooni Nettle, not being well up in his duty to horsen, it i8 my duty as a
Band of Mercy lioy, to endeavor, i ,s my pledge tells nie : ' To try to be kind
to all harmless living creatures, a. id try to protect them from cruel usage.'
This is all T have to say to gr(>oni Nettle's charge, sir. This is my
defence, your Honor, that in giving Spot and Petrel the tfMuporary use of
their own necks, I was merely carrying out my Band of Mercy Pledge.
Further, sir, I Hrmly believe that had I not given this temporary relief to
those dark bay beauties, they would have made a dash for freedom ; and
perhaps, quite unintentionally, sir, ran over the little children who were
coming from the mission church near by. This, your Honor, closes
my defence, excepting that, in reply to groom Nettle's complaint in that
I had meddled with his sleigh robes, I would say, sir, that here, too, I
merely carried out my Band of Mercy Pledge in throwing a rug over the
poor, closely clipped horses. Ah, your Honor, the shatne of it, that a
coachman will wrap himself in furs to the eyas, and leave his nobln friend
and co-worker clipped and shivering in his harness. Ah, sir, my heart
aches for the poor animals, horses, and dogs alike, sir. And now, your
Honor, this closes my defence." - , ,

That Dick's Itoyish manner and words, given with so much earnest-
ness, had made a good impression his mother noted with thankfulness,
and groom Nettle, starting to his feet with ill-concealed rage, said
excitedly :

" Your Honor, may T have the last word ? "

" Well, no," replied the magistrate, coldly. " The last word is for the
Court. But" you may speak if you will be brief." .

'• I will, your Honor," quickly responded Nettle in cringing tones.
" Your Honor is too great and wise not to see that this meddling boy is a
little oti" on the subject of animals. Wliy, sir, only think, this crazy
Band of Mercy boy, actually has the impudence to tell me, as has been
about horses all my life, an' he with only a poor worn-out nag, as is only
tit for the bone-yard — this impudent feller, I say, has the cheek to come to
my stable an' tell me as I had oughter to clean out the feet of my horses
every night ! Just think of it, your Honor, clean 'em out every night !
Sure your Hojior knows, being a gentleman, as it would make them as
tender as a chicken, so it would, not to speak of the waste of time of it.
Me as doesn't waste time a-washin' my own feet but once in six months!"

At this un.solicited confession on the part of groom Nettle, a roar of
laughter tilled the court-room, in which Dick and his mother with relieved
feelings took part.

The verdict was given in Dick's favor, with the advice to ring up the
Society for P'-evention of Cruelty to Animals, or call a policeman. The
costs of the Court were to be paid by groom Nettle, which were to be

handed over to Dick, to repay liiin for tlie loss of a lialf day at aclinol,
the magistrate adding laughingly, "That the money would help to feed
the poor worn-out nag. Nobby,' adding further, that "he hoped soon to
see a law passed making docking, over-head check, and too niucli, or inleed
any, use of the whip a criminal offence."

As Dick ind his mother prepared to leave the court-room, the magis-
trate called out :

" Dick Niven ! Dick Niven 1 take your good mother home. And see
here, you premature pleader at-the-bar. [ am going home by Bower
Avenue, and shall drive round to 15 .Spruce Street, and shall go in and
have a talk with you and your mother, as well as have a look at that
worn-out nag Nobby, whom Nettle says is only fit for the bone-yard."

"All right, sir, mother and 1 will be right down glad to see you, sir,"
replied Dick, joyfully, as he prepared to follow his mother out of the court-
room, but lingering a minute to add :

" Nobby will be delighted to see your Honor, and will be a living wit-
ness not only on my side, but on the side of Band of Mercy treatment of
the poor animals, sir. Good-bye, your Honor.

*' Good-bye, until this afternoon, my boy."

Slide 24. — Band of Mercy Song to tune of "God Save our

Queen." .

" God help our loving Band," etc.

ay at school,

lielp to feed

oped soon to

cli, or in lend

'■f

n, the magls-

le. And see
16 by Bower
iill go in and

look at that
ne-yaid."
see you, sir,"

of the court-

a living wit-
treatment of

SAVE OUR