Both these descriptions of people become ridiculous whenever they venture among those of sense but, as want of understanding was the cause of their first error, the same misfortune leads them into more. It is long before the conceited perceive that they are disapproved ; and if, at last, they discover this, they never impute the fault to themselves. They conceive a hatred toward that society which, alone, could improve their taste; and delight in none but those who, by applauding, confirm their dulness. These These are evils which young people should be particularlycautious to avoid. Nothing is more dangerous than to chuse your principal companions among those whose fortunes or understandings are considerably beneath your own; and yet there are so many temptations to do so, that it is necessary to be much upon your guard. It is seducingly pleasant to find a friend who applauds all you say, listens to you with eagerness, enters into all your humours-will move when you are idle is for play when you would play, and ready to sit down when you are tired. 84 THE CANARY-BIRD. It is pleasant, but it is dangerous It so weakens you, that you cannot, afterward, bear the fatigue of arriving at excellence; you never know what excellence is; you never attempt, therefore, to reach it; you are impatient of contradiction; you cannot give way to the humours of others: you are unfit for the company of your equals: you shrink away, and are condemned to nothingness for life. CHAP. X. It wins my admiration To view the structure of that little work, No glue to join: his little beak was all, And yet how neatly finished! What nice hand, PROFESSOR HURDIS-IN THE VILLAGE CURATE. LEAVING the garden, and joining various other birds, our Canary fell into a twittering conversation with a chaffinch. This rosy-breasted bird was in quest of food to carry home to the nest. He would have staid longer, but that he was impatient to carry the young their breakfast; and their mother was waiting with them for his return. The Canary-Bird was much charmed with the expressions of tenderness which he used upon this occasion. A bird's-nest in a hedge was a perfect novelty to the Canary. The chaffinch invited him to visit his dwelling. Here he found four young ones, who, with open mouths, expressed their joy at the arrival of their parent. The chaffinch spread before them the provision that he had found; and |