,
telling me of kind things they do for animals.

"A Band of Mercy in a place is a splendid thing. There's the greatest
difference in Riverdale since this one was started. A few years ago,
when a man beat or raced his horse, and any one interfered, he said:
'This horse is mine; I'll do what I like with him.' Most people thought
he was right, but now they're all for the poor horse, and there isn't a
man anywhere around who would dare to abuse any animal.

"It's all the children. They're doing a grand work, and I say it's a
good thing for them. Since we've studied this subject, it's enough to
frighten one to read what is sent us about our American boys and
girls. Do you know, Laura, that with all our brag about our schools and
colleges, that really are wonderful, we're turning out more criminals
than any other civilized country in the world, except Spain and Italy?
The cause of it is said to be lack of proper training for the youth of
our land. Immigration has something to do with it, too. We're thinking
too much about educating the mind, and forgetting about the heart and
soul. So I say now, while we've got all our future population in our
schools, saints and sinners, good people and bad people, let us try to
slip in something between the geography, and history, and grammar that
will go a little deeper, and touch them so much, that when they are
grown up and go out in the world, they will carry with them lessons of
love and good-will to men.

"A little child is such a tender thing. You can bend it anyway you like.
Speaking of this heart education of children, as set over against mind
education, I see that many school-teachers say that there is nothing
better than to give them lessons on kindness to animals. Children who
are taught to love and protect dumb creature, will be kind to their
fellow-men when they grow up."

I was very much pleased with this talk between Mrs. Wood and Miss Laura,
and kept close to them so that I would not miss a word.

As we went along, houses began to appear here and there, set back from
the road among the trees. Soon they got quite close together, and I saw
some shops.

This was the village of Riverdale, and nearly all the buildings were
along this winding street. The river was away back of the village. We
had already driven there several times.

We passed the school on our way. It was a square, white building,
standing in the middle of a large yard. Boys and girls, with their arms
f