Genre:

Short Fiction, Drollery; Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History, Animal Behaviour, Anthropomorphism, Morality

    The tale centres on Edwardstone Hall, where Mr and Mrs Carrington are hosts during the Christmas vacation to a 'large party of youthful relatives' and their eldest son, Henry, who is a minister in a nearby town. Henry reads to the party a poem entitled 'The Sagacious Party', in which he draws attention to their judgmental behaviour. (290) The poem recounts at length a conversation overheard between a horse, a dog, a sheep, a cow, a rabbit, and a goat, criticizing birds for not behaving like the animals concerned.