The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-11-01
Thr Californian.
FOR THE BOYS iNI) Girl =.


From lie Exeter News Letter
Fear Children We saw two cruel bovs.
10 whom God gave reason AMI conscience. The
other day. torturiny in the most sirkening
manner. poor noiI.n>ive caterpiIler, who
was quietly and meeSly going about bis own
bu,ines.-and asking ONLY of man that leave
TO be, which was as mnch his bir,hright As IS
to him that Of the proutlest lord Of creation
We entreatcd the ignorant urchns TO desi>t.
and help preserve that life which seemed to
them 50 worthless, that they might learn
what beauty Of color and form an Almighty
hand could elaborate from what they called
only a slmv crawlin. worm, made for their
amusement. If amusement they chose 10 find
in putting it to unnecessary torture. We
took up the de'pised creature, placed him
under microscope. and when they saw how
tearfully and wonderfully he was made, and
how goreeou.Iy he was sttirel in bright
green vestment, Jared and shaded with vel
vety black rings, beautifully spotted with red ;
when they saw. that instead of depending
like them.elve. for locomotion upon only two
legs. this humble creature had sixteen, ard
that. we're he obliged to wear spectacIcs in
stead Of two lenses, ne would require twelve,
~ he has twelve eyes, they begged US to tell
them more Of an insect they had only before
looked upon with contempt or disgust. We
advised them, then. as we advise YOU, when
you find one Of these same beautiful creatures,
to take him carefully home-place lin in a
box. which will admit ingress to the air, and
still keep him in close confnement-which
be will not mind at all, if you give him for
bis table plenty of leaves and such food as
caterpilars love, and then watch patiently
for the transformations which h. will not fail
to show YOU lie will quietly feed upon the
leaves you give him, until the time comes for
the first change which il to work out its des-
tiny-that Of making butterfly -for the
caterpillar is locomotive egg, containing.
within the outer covering YOU see. the beau
tiful form of butterfly In his caterpillar
state. he is like a great many men and women.
nearly all stomach which is to be changed
according to the necessities of his more e.
thereal ami perfect condition. After casting
off several times the skin in which Won first
see him. that he may have room to grow, he
will AT last throw it aside altogether, and will
lie weeks. or perhaps months apparently
deal-without taking food or notice of anv-
thing about him. But he is not dead
sleeping. When the fall Development of
the brilliant creature has been elaborated
in what is called this pupu state. thu ccrrments
will slowly open, and ont of the case will is
sue butterfly. Gorgeous and rich, and beau
tful and Happy as The happirs' Of Gods
creatures "an be. Instead Of crawling. ser
Eent-like. upon The cronnl 'hr new creation
will float on wings. far higher than many
men ever get from earth. and instead of
twelve lenses, when he puts on srectac!e<.
b. would require twenty thousanl-morr
than any opticians establishment in Boston
could probably furnish him with at a cali, hi,
twelve eyes having most unaccountablv mnI
tiplied to twenty thousand, each supposed to
be distinct and effective Other changes e.
qnally great will have taken place in his
whole system the mysteries of which are all
unfoldcd i'll the caterpillar yon have perhaps
thought it merit 10 tread upon If the his
tory Of this hnmblest, apparently. Of Gn!'s
creatures is So wonderful, can YOU feel, chill
dten, that you have a right to destroy anv of
themexrept in selEdrfense? Will Won not
rather feel that all lie is precious and given
for wise purpose. and will YOU not to your
other stables add the observation and study
Of the wonderful creatures with which God
has peoplrd his great universe, and be aSham-
ed Of an ignorance which will suffer YOU to
'iespise for moment one of the smallest of
His creatures?