_Tommy._--Oh sir! nothing can be too bad for that cruel animal. I would have her killed as she killed the poor bird. _Mr Barlow._--But do you imagine that she did it out of any particular malice to your bird, or merely because she was hungry, and accustomed to catch her prey in that manner? Tommy considered some time, but at last he owned that he did not suspect the cat of having any particular spite against his bird, and therefore he supposed she had been impelled by hunger. _Mr Barlow._--Have you never observed that it was the property of that species to prey upon mice and other little animals? _Tommy._--Yes, sir, very often. _Mr Barlow._--And have you ever corrected her for so doing, or attempted to teach her other habits? _Tommy._--I cannot say I have. Indeed I have seen little Harry, when she had caught a mouse and was tormenting it, take it from her and give it liberty; but I have never meddled with her myself. _Mr Barlow._--Are you not then more to be blamed than the cat herself? You have observed that it was common to the whole species to destroy mice and little birds, whenever they could surprise them; yet you have taken no pains to secure your favourite from the danger; on the contrary, by rendering him tame, and accustoming him to be fed, you have exposed him to a violent death, which he would probably have avoided had he remained wild. Would it not then be just, and more reasonable, to endeavour to teach the cat that she must no longer prey upon little birds, than to put her to death for what you have never taught her was an offence? _Tommy._--But is that possible? _Mr Barlow._--Very possible, I should imagine; but we may at least try the experiment. _Tommy._--But why should such a mischievous creature live at all? _Mr Barlow._--Because, if you destroy every creature that preys upon others, you would perhaps leave few alive. _Tommy._--Surely, sir, the poor bird which that naughty cat has killed, was never guilty of such a cruelty. _Mr Barlow._--I will not answer for that. Let us observe what they live upon in the fields; we shall then be able to give a better account. Mr Barlow then went to the window and desired Tommy to come to him, and observe a robin which was then hopping upon the grass with something in its mouth, and asked him what he thought it was. _Tommy._--I protest, sir, it is a large worm. And now he has swallowed it! I should never have thought that such a pretty bird could have been so cruel. _Mr Barlow._--Do you imagine that the bird is conscious of all that is suffered by the insect? _Tommy._--No, sir. _Mr Barlow._--In him, then, it is not the same cruelty which it would be in you, who are endowed with reason and reflection. Nature has given him a propensity for animal food, which he obeys in the same manner as the sheep and ox when they feed upon grass, or as the ass when he browses upon the furze or thistles.