THE HAPPY FAMILY.

There are a great many novel sights in the streets of London, for the

cheap entertainment of the people. The family circle of different

animals and birds is an admirable illustration of the peace which

should pervade among families. The proprietor of this little menagerie

calls it, "The Happy Family." The house in which they are kept is a

simple constructed cage. It is a large square hen-coop, placed on a

low hand-cart which a man draws about from one street to another, and

gets a few pennys a day from those who stop to look at the domestic

happiness of his family. Perhaps the first thing you will see, is a

large cat, washing her face, with a number of large rats nestling

around her, like kittens, whilst others are climbing up her back and

playing with her whiskers. In another corner of the room a dove and a

hawk are sitting on the head of a dog which is resting across the neck

of a rabbit. The floor is covered with the oddest social circles

imaginable--weazles and Guinea pigs, and peeping chickens, are putting

their noses together, caressingly. The perches above are covered with

birds whose natural antipathies have been subdued into mutual

affection by the law of kindness. The grave owl is sitting upright,

and meditating in the sun, with a keen-sighted sparrow perched between

his ears trying to open the eyes of the sleepy owl with its sharp

bill.



Children stop to look at this scene, and Mr. Burritt thinks they may

carry away lessons which will do them good. They will think on it on

their way to school, and at home too, when any thing crosses their

will in family or on the play ground.