A year and forth to school, I often passed a cage where there was a squirrel. Behind the cage was a box just as you see it in the picture, and the squirrel could go from one to the other.
In the cage were two wheels whose rims were joined by many cross pieces. When the squirrel began to climb these cross pieces, his weight pulled them down and made the wheels turn. The faster he climbed the faster the wheels whirled round, keeping the squirrel in the same spot all the time.
Squirrels like to climb trees, and when they are caged up they like to climb these wheels which are made for them to play on. In this way they can run fast and long, just as if they were in the woods or a big field, instead of in a very small cage.
In the picture one of the boys is opening the door of the box and the squirrel is ready to spring right out, happy to get to the wheels again. The boys have kind faces and seem interested in watching its movements.
We ought always to show kindness to animals as well as to people. There is a verse which says, “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” Proverbs 11:1717The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. (Proverbs 11:17). When we show kindness and mercy it gives us a happy, peaceful feeling. But when we are cruel to anything we do ourselves harm instead of good.
When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He went about doing good, He made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk. He healed the sick and comforted the sorrowing ones by bringing their dead to life. Jesus never hurt or harmed anything. I hope all my little readers will try to be more like Him and remember His words,
ML 05/24/1903