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194 the opportunity of seeing such an example as this," said the hen redbreast. "You now understand what benefit it is to have a temper of resignation. More than half the evils of life, I am well convinced, arise from fretfulness and discontent; and would every one, like these partridges, try to make the best of their condition, we should seldom hear complaints, for there are much fewer real than imaginary misfortunes. But come, let us take a peep into the next pen."

They accordingly hopped to the next partition, in which were confined a pair of pencilled pheasants. Flapsy was quite delighted with the elegance of their form and the beauty of their plumage, and could have stayed the whole day looking at them; but as these birds were also tame and contented, nothing more could be learnt here than a confirmation of what the partridges had taught. Our travellers therefore proceeded still further, and found a pair of gold pheasants. Their splendid appearance struck the young redbreasts with astonishment, and raised such sentiments of respect, that they were even fearful of approaching birds which they esteemed as so much superior to themselves; but their father desiring they would never form a judgment of birds from a glittering outside,