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 novel 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 setting 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.