in rushing against them, she felt herself burned in several
parts of her body, and retired from the field of battle mewing
dreadfully and full of pain; and such was the impression which this
adventure produced, that, from this time, she was never again known to
attempt to destroy birds.

The coldness of the weather still continuing, all the wild animals began
to perceive the effects, and, compelled by hunger, approached nearer to
the habitations of man and the places they had been accustomed to
avoid. A multitude of hares--the most timorous of all animals--were
frequently seen scudding about the garden in search of the scanty
vegetables which the severity of the season had spared. In a short time
they had devoured all the green herbs which could be found, and, hunger
still oppressing them, they began to gnaw the very bark of the trees for
food. One day, as Tommy was walking in the garden, he found that even
the beloved tree which he had planted with his own hands, and from which
he had promised himself so plentiful a produce of fruit, had not escaped
the general depredation, but had been gnawed round at the root and
killed.

Tommy, who could ill brook disappointment, was so enraged to see his
labours prove abortive, that he ran with tears in his eyes to Mr Barlow,
to demand vengeance against the devouring hares. "Indeed," said Mr
Barlow, "I am sorry for what they have done, but it is now too late to
prevent it." "Yes," answered Tommy, "but you may have all those
mischievous creatures shot, that they may do no further damage." "A
little while ago," replied Mr Barlow, "you wanted to destroy the cat,
because she was cruel and preyed upon living animals, and now you would
murder all the hares, merely because they are innocent, inoffensive
animals that subsist upon vegetables." Tommy looked a little foolish,
but said, "he did not want to hurt them for living upon vegetables, but
for destroying his tree." "But," said Mr Barlow, "how can you expect the
animal to distinguish your trees from any other? You should therefore
have fenced them round in such a manner as might have prevented the
hares from reaching them; besides, in such extreme distress as animals
now suffer from the want of food, I think they may be forgiven if they
trespass a little more than usual."

Mr Barlow then took Tommy by the hand and led him into a field at some
distance, which belonged to him, and which was sown with turnips.
Scarcely had they entered