"
"It is not the use that is made of the sealskin that is wrong, but the
cruelty of the hunters in getting it," replied the young lady who had
first spoken. "They say when the parent seal is captured the young one
cries for it exactly as a human baby cries after its mother. It is
most pitiful to hear it wail. The branding of the poor creatures is a
most brutal thing."
"Why are they branded?" asked Kathy.
"Well, you know, for some years there has been a great strife between
the United States and Canada, principally over the seal fisheries.
Each was afraid the other would get more than its share. To put a stop
to the seals being entirely killed off, as was likely to be the case
since so many poachers were in the business, one of our government
agents suggested that the seals should be branded. They drive them
into pens and burn them with red-hot irons."
"It isn't likely that any of us will be called upon to deny ourselves
the wearing of baby lamb, as it is quite expensive, but we can condemn
it by word if not by example," observed Kathy.
The good-nights were said and the company dispersed, not so jolly and
noisy as they came, but with thoughtfulness arising from awakened
consciences. The humble lame girl had sowed the good seed.
Polly was to come back from her grandmother's the next week and, though
I looked forward with pleasure to being with her again, I felt sorry to
leave this peaceful home.
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