Page:Story of the robins.djvu/221

Rh venomous, and capable of injuring the health, or even of destroying the lives of men and other creatures of a higher rank than themselves; these, if they leave the secret abodes which are allotted them, and become offensive, certainly may with justice be killed.

"In a word, my dear, we should endeavour to regulate our regards according to the utility and necessities of every living creature with which we are anyways connected, and consequently should prefer the happiness of mankind to that of any animal whatever. Next to these (who, being partakers of the same nature with ourselves, are more properly our fellow-creatures) we should consider our cattle and domestic animals, and take care to supply every creature that is dependent on us with proper food, and keep it in its proper place; after their wants are supplied, we should extend our benevolence and compassion as far as possible to the inferior ranks of beings, and if nothing further is in our power, we should at least refrain from exercising cruelties on them. For my own part, I never willingly put to death, or cause to be put to death, any creature, but when there is a real necessity for it, and have my food dressed in a plain manner, that no more lives may be sacrificed for me than nature requires for my