212 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

He had them then intc another room, where were a hen and chickens, and bid them
observe a while. So one of the chickens went to the trough to drink; and every time
she drank, she lifted up her head and her eyes toward heaven. “See,” said he, “what
this little chick doth; and learn of her to acknowledge whence your mercies come, by
receiving them with looking up. “ Yet again,” said he, “observe and look.”

So they gave heed, and perceived that the hen did walk in a fourfold method
towards her chickens. First, she had a common call, and that she hath all day long.
Secondly, she had a special call, and that she had but sometimes. Thirdly, she had
a brooding note.” And, fourthly, she had an outcry.

Inter. “ Now,” said he, “compare this hen to your King, and these chickens to
His obedient ones: for, answerable to her, He Himself hath His methods which He
walketh in toward His people. By His common call, He gives nothing; by His
special call, He always has something to give; He also has a brooding voice for them
that are under His wing; and He hath an outcry, to give the alarm when He seeth
the enemy come. I chose, my darlings, to lead you into the room where such things
are, because you are women, and they are easy for you.”

Cur. “And, sir,” said Christiana, “ pray let us see some more.”

So he had them into the slaughter-house, where the butcher was killing a sheep;
and, behold, the sheep was quiet, and took her death patiently. Then said the Inter-
preter, “ You must learn of this sheep to suffer, and to put up with wrongs without .
murmurings and complaints. Behold how quietly she takes her death; and, without
objecting, she suffereth her skin to be pulled over her ears. Your King doth call you
His sheep.”

After this, he led them into his garden, where was great variety of flowers; and he
said, “Do you see all these?” So Christiana said, “Yes.” Then said he again,
“ Behold, the flowers are diverse in stature, in quality, and color, and smell, and virtue,
and some are better than some; also, where the gardener has set them, there they
stand, and quarrel not one with another.”

Again, he had them into his field, which he had sowed with wheat and corn; but
when they beheld, the tops of all were cut off, and only the straw remained. He said
again, “This ground was dunged, and ploughed, and sowed; but what shall we do
with the crop?” Then said Christiana, “Burn some, and make muck of the rest.”
Then said the Interpreter again, “ Fruit, you see, is that thing you look for; and, for
want of that, you condemn it to the fire, and to be trodden under foot of men. Beware
that in this you condemn not yourselves.”

Then, as they were coming in from abroad, they espied a little robin with a great