A SPORTSMAN who had wounded a Squirrel, which was making desperate
efforts to drag itself away, ran after it with a stick, exclaiming:
"Poor thing! I will put it out of its misery1."
At that moment the Squirrels stopped from exhaustion2, and looking
up at its enemy, said:
"I don't venture to doubt the sincerity3 of your compassion4, though
it comes rather late, but you seem to lack the faculty5 of
observation. Do you not perceive by my actions that the dearest
wish of my heart is to continue in my misery?"
At this exposure of his hypocrisy6, the Sportsman was so overcome
with shame and remorse7 that he would not strike the Squirrel, but
pointing it out to his dog, walked thoughtfully away.
