nd goodness； and Mrs。 Teachum received them with a pleasing smile。
Miss Jenny gave her governess a faithful account of all that had passed； with the agreeable entertainment they had accidentally met with； of seeing Lord X's fine house； and the great civility of Mrs。 Wilson； 'Which I hope； madam；' said Miss Jenny； 'I did not do wrong in accepting。' 'You did very properly； my dear；' said Mrs。 Teachum； 'for when any person is willing to oblige you； without any inconvenience to themselves； it is always right to accept their offer； as you thereby gratify them； by putting it in their power to give you pleasure。'
Miss Jenny then with great cheerfulness and freedom； told her governess all that had paled in conversation； both in their walk to the dairy house； and at Lord X's； what little Polly had said in the housekeeper's room； as also Mrs。 Wilson's answer； and said； by Mrs。 Wilson's downcast look； she was afraid that poor Lord X and his lady were not so happy as might be wished。 'But；' continued she； 'I did not ask Mrs。 Wilson any questions； because you have taught me； madam； carefully to avoid the least appearance of impertinent curiosity。'
'You was very right； my dear；' said Mrs。 Teachum； 'in asking no farther questions； nor would she； I dare say； as she is a prudent woman； have gratified you if you had； for though the unhappy story is too well known all over the country； yet it would have been very unbecoming in one of the family to have published it。' Mrs。 Teachum saw in her little scholars' eyes； a secret wish of knowing what this story was； and； after a short pause； she said； 'Since I find you disposed； my good girls； to make the proper use of what you hear； I will indulge your curiosity。
'Lord X and his lady have been married seven years； Lord X is the wretchedest creature breathing； because he has no children； and therefore no heir to his title and large estate。 He was naturally of a haughty impetuous temper； and impatient of any the least disappointment； and this disposition not being subdued in his youth； has led him into all sort of excesses。 His lady is not much better tempered than himself； and valuing herself highly upon her beauty； and the large fortune she brought him； greatly resents his sometimes insolent； and always neglectful usage of her。 They have hitherto lived on in the most jarring； disputing manner； and took no care to conceal their quarrels from the world； but at last they have agreed to part by consent； and the different journeys they this morning took； I suppose； was with an intent of final separation。
'That grandeur and happiness do not always go together （as Mrs。 Wilson observed to you） is seen by this story； which I was the more willing to tell you； as it was a proper introduction to a fable I have been collecting together from others； for your use。 You know that all my endeavours to make you good； are only intended to make you happy； and if you thoroughly reflect upon the truth of this maxim； which I so often endeavour to inculcate； you will doubtless reap no small advantage from it。'
Here Mrs。 Teachum ceased speaking； and； giving Miss Jenny Peace a paper； she bid her read it aloud； which she did； and it contained the following fable：
THE ASSEMBLY OF THE BIRDS。 A FABLE。
In ancient days； there was a great contention amongst the birds； which； from his own perfections； and peculiar advantages； had the strongest title to happiness； and at last they agreed to refer the decision of the debate to the eagle。
A day was appointed for their meeting； the eagle took his seat； and the birds all attended to give in their several pleas。
First spoke the parrot。 Her voice so dearly resembling human speech； and which enabled her to converse with such a superior race； she doubted not （she said） would have its just weight with the eagle； and engage him to grant a decree in her favour； and to this plea she also added； that she dwelt in a fine cage adorned with gold； and was fed every day by the hands a fair lady。
'And pray； Mrs。 Poll；' said the eagle； 'how comes it； since you fare so sumptuously； that you are so lean and meagre； and seem scarcely able to exert that voice you thus make your boast of？' 'Alas！' replied the parrot； 'poor Poll's lady has kept her bed almost this week； the servants have all forgot to feed me； and I am almost starved。' 'Pray observe；' said the eagle； 'the folly of such pride！ Had you been able to have conversed only with your own kind； you would have fared in common with them； but it is to this vaunted imitation of the human voice； that you owe your confinement； and consequently （though living in a golden cage） your dependence upon the will and memory of others； even for common necessary food。'
Thus reproved； the parrot； with shame； hastily retired from the assembly。
Next stood forth the daw； and； having tricked himself in all the gay feathers he could muster together； on the credit of these borrowed ornaments； pleaded his beauty； as a title to the preference in dispute。 Immediately the birds agreed to divest the silly counterfeit of all his borrowed plumes； and； more abashed than the parrot； he secretly slunk away。
The peacock； proud of native beauty； now flew into the midst of the assembly。 He displayed before the sun his gorgeous tail。 'Observe （said he） how the vivid blue of the sapphire glitters in my neck； and when thus I spread my tail； a gemmy brightness strikes the eye from a plumage varied with a thousand glowing colours。' At this moment； a nightingale began to chant forth his melodious lay； at which the peacock； dropping his expanded tail； cried out； 'Ah what avails my silent unmeaning beauty； when I am so far excelled in voice by such a little russet…feathered wretch as that！' And； by retiring； he gave up all claim to the contended…for preference。
The nightingale was so delighted with having got the better of the peacock； that he exerted his little voice； and was so lost in the conceit of his own melody； that he did not observe a hawk； who flew upon him； and carried him off in his claws。
The eagle then declared； 'That as the peacock's envy had taken away all his claim； so no less had the nightingale's self…conceit frustrated all his pretensions； for those who are so wrapped up in their own perfections； as to mind nothing but themselves； are forever liable to all sorts of accidents。' And； besides； it was plain； by the exultation the nightingale expressed on his imagined glory over the peacock； that he would have been equally dejected on any preference given to another。
And now the owl； with an affected gravity； and whooting voice； pleaded his well…known wisdom； and said； 'He doubted not but the preference would be granted to him without contest； by all the whole assembly for what was so likely to produce happiness as wisdom？'
The eagle declared； 'That； if his title to wisdom could be proved； the justice of his claim should be allowed； and then asked him； how he could convince them of the truth of what he had advanced？' The owl answered； 'That he would willingly appeal to the whole assembly for their decision in this point； for he was positive nobody could deny his great superiority as to wisdom。' Being separately asked； they most of them declared； that they knew no one reason； either from his words or actions； to pronounce him a wise bird； though it was true； that by an affected solemnity in his looks； and by frequent declarations of his own； that he was very wife； he had made some very silly birds give him that character； but； since they were called upon to declare their opinions； they must say； that he was ever the object of contempt to all those birds who had any title to common understanding。 The eagle then said； 'He could by no means admit a plea； which as plainly appeared to be counterfeit； as were the jay's borrowed feathers。' The owl； thus disappointed； flew away； and has ever since shunned the light of the sun； and has never appeared in the daytime； but to be scorned and wondered at。
It would he endless to repeat all the several pleas brought by the birds； each desiring to prove； that happiness ought to be his own peculiar lot。 But the eagle observing that the arguments made use of to prove their point were chiefly drawn from the disadvantages of others； rather than from any advantage of their own； told them； 'There was too much envy and malice amongst them； for him to pronounce any of them deserving or capable of being happy； but I wonder；' says he； 'why the dove alone is absent from this meeting？' 'I know of one in her nest hard by；' answered the redbreast； 'shall I go and call her？' 'No；' says the eagle； 'since she did not obey our general summons； 'tis plain she had no ambition for a public preference； but I will take two or three chosen friends； and we will go softly to her nest； and see in what manner she is employing herself； for from our own observations upon the actions of any one； we are more likely to form a judgment of them； than by any boasts they can make。'
The eagle was obeyed； and； accompanied only by the linnet； the lark； the lapwing； and the redbreast for his guide； he stole gently to the place where the dove was found hovering over her nest； waiting the return of her absent mate