Are you ready for some fun reading after this week's dismal news from various fronts like the Palestinians using human shields to protect terrorists, or rabid Darwinists' diatribes laid out in the New York Times?

The story, written by zoologist E. Norbert Smith, is about a pet octopus. It reminds me of James Herriot's books which I read as a teenager. I have to admit, I still love Herriot and sometimes for a laugh, I'll pick one up again to read. Herriot used a children's hymn refrain for his titles (see below). For those uninitiated to Herriot's world, he was a veterinarian and wrote stories about animals and people from his practice.

The hymn's words were written in 1848 by Cecil F. Alexander.

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

Refrain

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
He made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.

Refrain

The purple headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.

Refrain

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

Refrain

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
To gather every day.

Refrain

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

Refrain