50 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



climate and in every thing ; though she laughed 

 a little at my repeating to you all that you see 

 continually ; but you know, Mamma, you desired 

 me to write all I thought, and you may well 

 suppose how constantly my thoughts turn towards 

 the country in which you live. 



Mary said she should have been surprised if I 

 had not felt the change. "But indeed, Bertha," 

 said she, tc you must not forget how well balanced 

 are our blessings. If Brazil has a climate, and 

 various beautiful productions which England does 

 not possess, England, on the other hand, has far 

 more substantial comforts ; and, by her com- 

 merce, she has the means of enjoying those of 

 all other countries. We have not your brilliant 

 flowers and birds, but you will find that we have 

 many which are more useful, and which will interest 

 you, who love natural history. Our birds have 

 no pendent nests, because they are in no danger 

 from such depredators as your monkeys and 

 snakes, and therefore their instinct does not lead 

 them to contrive such means of defence ; but 

 you will see, amongst both our birds and insects, 

 many whose habits are equally curious." 



I said that I believed, as you, Mamma, have 

 often told me, that there is no country which 

 does not possess much to attach its inhabitants 

 to it, and to interest an observant mind. 



(t And it is in the mind," she replied, " that 

 our real happiness will always be found. It 



