Kindness to Animals by Carolyn Wells
The work explores the emotional lives of animals, emphasizing their sensitivity and the impact of human behavior on their well-being. Through various animal characters, it illustrates how they perceive the world and the often harsh judgments they face from humans, particularly children. The narrative highlights the Bison, who feels misunderstood and hurt by the curiosity and comments of onlookers. This creature's internal struggle reflects a broader theme of empathy and kindness towards animals, urging readers to recognize their feelings and treat them with respect. The poem serves as a reminder that animals experience pain and joy similarly to humans, advocating for compassion and understanding. The call to action encourages adults to model kindness, fostering a more humane interaction with all living beings. The work ultimately champions the idea that small gestures of affection can significantly impact the emotional health of animals, promoting a message of love and care in the relationship between humans and the animal kingdom.
By Carolyn Wells · First published 1920 · Genre: Children's Literature, Educational, Non-Fiction · 155 words
First lines
The Bison, though he seems so grim, / Is very sensitive; / And when the children stare at him, / He wants to cease to live.
He hears them wonder why he's there, / And why he can't break through; / And why he has such funny hair, / And why he doesn't moo.
At this, the suffering Buffalo / Can scarce restrain to weep; / Their caustic comments hurt him so, -- / They haunt him in his sleep.
But, Grown-Up people, let me pray / You'll not behave like this; / The Bison pet, -- and, when you may, / Give him a friendly kiss.
What this Textopian page supports
Kindness to Animals is listed on Textopian as a short story by Carolyn Wells, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Carolyn Wells
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Educational, Non-Fiction
- Length: 155 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Kindness to Animals by Carolyn Wells
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
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- The Boys And The Frogs by Esopo
- Little Deeds Of Kindness by David Cory
- Madam How And Lady Why by Charles Kingsley
- Songs From The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley
- The Friendly Frog by Charles Perrault
Genres
- Children's Literature — Based on the book title, this book is likely targeted towards children to teach them about the importance of being kind to animals.
- Educational — The title suggests that the book may have a teaching or instructional aspect about how to treat animals with kindness.
- Non-Fiction — The title suggests that this book contains factual information about animal care and kindness.
Tags
animals · kindness · compassion · animal welfare · pets · nature · empathy · care · responsibility · friendship · love · humane treatment