You would not think _Ralph_ the Raven half so wise and so good as he
is, though you see him here reading his book. Yet when the Prophet
_Elijah_, was obliged to fly from _Ahab_ King of _Israel_, and hide
himself in a Cave, the Ravens, at the Command of God Almighty, fed him
every Day, and preserved his Life.

_And the Word of the Lord came unto _Elijah_, saying, Hide
thyself by the Brook _Cherith_, that is before _Jordan_, and
I have commanded the Ravens to feed thee there. And the Ravens brought
him Bread and Flesh in the Morning, and Bread and Flesh in the
Evening, and he drank of the Brook,_ Kings, B.I.C. 17.

And the pretty Pidgeon when the World was drowned, and he was confined
with _Noah_ in the Ark, was sent forth by him to see whether the
Waters were abated, _And he sent forth a Dove from him, to see if
the Waters were abated from off the Face of the Ground. And the Dove
came in to him in the Evening, and lo, in her Mouth was an Olive Leaf
plucked off: So_ Noah _knew that the Waters were abated from off
the Earth._ Gen. viii. 8. 11.

As these, and other Animals, are so sensible and kind to us, we ought
to be tender and good to them, and not beat them about, and kill them,
and take away their young ones, as many wicked Boys do. Does not the
Horse and the Ass carry you and your burthens; don't the Ox plough
your Ground, the Cow give you Milk, the Sheep cloath your Back, the
Dog watch your House, the Goose find you in Quills to write with, the
Hen bring Eggs for your Custards and Puddings, and the Cock call you
up in the Morning, when you are lazy, and like to hurt yourselves by
laying too long in Bed? If so, how can you be so cruel to them, and