body upon his tail.

Softdown, who till the thread was tied had patiently continued
perfectly quiet, could no longer support the pain without dismal
cries and anguish: he squeaked as loud as his little throat would
let him, exerting at the same time the utmost of his strength to
disengage himself. But in such a position, with his head
downward, in vain were all his efforts to procure relief; and the
barbarous monster who held him discovered not the smallest
emotions of pity for his sufferings. Oh! how at that moment did I
abhor my own existence, and wish that I could be endowed with size
and strength sufficient, at once both to rescue him, and severely
punish his tormentors. But my wish was ineffectual, and I had the
inexpressible affliction of seeing the inhuman wretch hold him
down upon the hearth, whilst, without remorse, he crushed him
beneath his foot, and then carelessly kicked him into the ashes,
saying, 'There! The cat will smell it out when she comes up.' My
very blood runs cold within me at the recollection of seeing
Softdown's as it spurted from beneath the monster's foot; whilst
the crunch of his bones almost petrified me with horror. At
length, however, recollecting the impossibility of restoring my
beloved brother to life, and the danger of my own situation, I,
with trembling feet and palpitating heart, crept softly back to my
remaining two brothers, who were impatiently expecting me behind
the closet. There I related to them the horrid scene which had
passed before my eyes, whilst the anguish it caused in their
gentle bosoms far exceeds my power to describe.

After having mingled our lamentations for some time, I thus
addressed them: 'We have this night, my brothers, tasted the