Cruelty to Animals

NEW-YORK

D. APPLETON & CO. 200 BROADWAY.

It is impossible to view the cheerfulness and happiness of animals and birds without pleasure; the latter, especially, appear to enjoy themselves during the fine weather, in spring and summer, with a degree of hilarity¹ which might be almost envied. It is astonishing how much man might do to lessen² the misery³ of those creatures which are either given to him for food or use or for adding to his pleasure, if he were so disposed. Instead of which he often exercises a degree of wanton tyranny and cruelty over them, which cannot be too much deprecated, and for which no doubt he will be one day held accountable. Animals are so capable of showing gratitude⁴ and affection to those who have been kind to them, that I never see them subjected to ill-treatment without feeling the utmost abhorrence⁵ of those who are inflicting⁶ it. I know many persons who, like myself, take a pleasure in seeing all the animals about them appear happy and contented⁷.

Cows will show their pleasure at seeing those who[38] have been kind to them, by moving their ears gently, and putting out their wet noses. My old horse rests his head on the gate with great complacency when he sees me coming, expecting to receive an apple or a piece of bread: I should even be sorry to see my poultry⁸ and pigs get out of my way with any symptoms of fear.

Let us take notice of the great variety of creatures which are made for our use; some for labor⁹, some for food, some for clothing, some for pleasure. At the same time let us remember, that our right in these creatures is not absolute; we hold them from God, and he can deprive us of them whenever he sees fit, and whenever we abuse them:—and therefore the Spirit of God has given us this rule: “The merciful man is merciful to his beast.” And whoever abuses any of God’s creatures, or tortures them, or destroys such as are neither hurtful when they are alive, nor of use when they are killed, will have more to answer for than many usually think.

I hope none of you, after reading what I have written above will kill cats, or stone frogs or toads¹⁰, as many naughty boys do; or rob birds of their nests and little ones, as you see those children in the picture are doing. No matter how much you may like to have the young birds, you should not touch them. Just think[39] how your parents would feel if some giant, if there were such people, should come and carry you off and shut you up in a cage. Your parents do not love you any more than the birds do their little ones; then remember how they feel when you rob them.

1 hilarity   

n.欢乐；热闹

参考例句：

• The announcement was greeted with much hilarity and mirth.这一项宣布引起了热烈的欢呼声。
• Wine gives not light hilarity,but noisy merriment.酒不给人以轻松的欢乐，而给人以嚣嚷的狂欢。

2 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

3 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

4 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

5 abhorrence   

n.憎恶；可憎恶的事

参考例句：

• This nation has an abhorrence of terrrorism.这个民族憎恶恐怖主义。
• It is an abhorrence to his feeling.这是他深恶痛绝的事。

6 inflicting   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. 他被控蓄意严重伤害他人身体。
• It's impossible to do research without inflicting some pain on animals. 搞研究不让动物遭点罪是不可能的。

7 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

8 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?

9 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

10 toads   

n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆( toad的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All toads blink when they swallow. 所有的癞蛤蟆吞食东西时都会眨眼皮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Toads have shorter legs and are generally more clumsy than frogs. 蟾蜍比青蛙脚短，一般说来没有青蛙灵活。 来自辞典例句