Our Belgians. 43 



glad to say, " Richard was himself again." It was a 

 narrow escape certainly, and I would advise every one 

 to be cautious in putting a bird into their hats for any 

 long distance. The practice, I know, is very common, 

 and ansAvers very well for a short journey, and where 

 there is plenty of ventilation, but it becomes dangerous 

 when either the distance is long, or the ventilation 

 stopped or imperfect. We had now, however, got our 

 heart's great desire, and the portraits we have given of 

 the birds themselves will show that their beauty is not 

 over-rated, and that we did well to encounter so long 

 and rough a journey for their acquisition. We knew 

 full well the value of opportunity, and profited by our 

 knowledge. The lesson this little incident may teach 

 we hope will not be lost upon our youthful readers, for 

 most assuredly, as Shakespeare sings — 



•' There is a tide in the affairs of men 

 Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune ; 

 Omitted, all the voyage of their life 

 Is hound in shallows and in miseries. 

 On such a full sea are we now afloat ; 

 And we must take the current when it serves, 

 Or lose our ventures." 



CHAPTER VII. 



OUR BELGIANS. 



LIVING thus secured a pair of Lizards, a pair 



^ »^ of Yorkshire spangles, and a pair of London 

 =^ fancy birds, we were no longer satisfied with 

 the little short, ill-shaped, common canary usually met 



