St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-09-25
Insect !ShretcdHess.
BY HENRY WARD BEECHER.

Last week l mentioned some instance
OF the shrewdness OF animals OF the larg
CT kind. But have noticed in the mos
in>i gnlic:nt insects a like cunning.
there l. one c.ealure that seems simple
amlrs~, thoughtlesS, ii is tiy-the com
mon house fly. That it is vexatior
and Il pest in hol days in July and Au.
gust, ali known. But It's life seems tt
consist III tasting everything within ii,
reach, III whirling about in the air in q
kind of loose dancing, and in tickling
peoples faces and hands. Bl. more al
lcnllvely watched, one will find traces o
Municipalities even in house flies.
Curiosity is Il very strong feeling with
flies. y strange person coming into the
room Is AZ once an object OF notice. II
Is probable Thar in an quarter of an hour
every fly IN the room has approached the
new conner, and crept over his clothes.
l., any new object be brought into the
room. and placed conspicuously- box,
a new dress. or any shining object, -
and in Il moment it will be found that Il
stream OF flies begins 10 set Ill toward it,
until lis novelty is worn oil.
Flies are very cunning IN eluiinL at
tempts TO drive them from the room Ii
Il door he set wide open and two per
-oE~ with towels. or newspapers, or, bet
Ter yet, large tiy-whsk$. mad4 ot ptpcr
like "a cat-linr-tailS, begin at tie back
part ot the room and driven in concert.
ia" lily can he managed ike flock Of
sheep. Oucc or twice zonc over. aud
the room VIII bc mca>urIbiv free from
their ANNOYANCE Bat some will ALWAYS
be left. \ dozen or two will duck un-
der or shoot over your whi>kS. and DEFY
your driving. | have 80 often under
taken to cl..tr a bed room. - that not Il
single fly should remain. that | have had
much observation oI Ihe snrcwdness OF
ihl> insect. Onr fly i Il, bad as a hun
drri when man wishes "A Iuiet nap aft
er dinner. II You exile ninr;v-nine. and
leave tine on iluudrrd.n. Just 80 sure a.
y1n a'c on ,he very point OF droppln.
asleep, in that most dcicclahle momcnI.
when the rap ure ut the di>emh",Ied
safe i more kncely 1eit than in any
Other state rhi- side ut actua' dying. the
very tiy that had reserved himself for
treocc..>ion. i--ue~ from behind the head
board. and aiighl>, with a cDmgraiul TO
~ hum, upon Your chcek, and turns vour
paradise INTO Il NrXatium.
How often have raised M in wrath
hanr upon ,engrancc . But. the lily has
di.,n,..r.I ,.n1.n ,aiuiy, ii,
prr,yc,lv ,ri.l. rnr,.kI., rnu he VIII r.
,pu,ar II fl, ,t.I!,,.. 10 ,>pi,re. Nnt
ne ~ wa a, | uo. ne know, ri,aI |
am walchi... Hat lcn..h tiai him
Oh the !ooA.n2 gla-s up in the v,ry coz
n,r | Il re mol >.riA, very hard with my
towel t,r lear ui hrylhi1g ti.c gta-s lie
hai calculated I.Ht. AWAY he goes, in
u r.jmcru2 whi.l, NOW hrt,-r ne. now
De !!ni, overhead. ON Ii.r floor. win
ruosgh buzzio% to furnish Il who.e band
ot HE, with music Then, suddenly.
ali l. still. lie cannot be found. look
every whcse. The room i-smalL prar-
9'cr has made me acquainted with his
hldir- places. In none Of them can hc
te ioand At length | he down. hop
M that he has dirted out through the
skis C' the niln'i~,-i am 81 #. Iy
thoughts recall the pleasant scenes OF
lie. \ soil m.>i Is r>lr@. and | seem
undUlai!n% upon us bliiows. just thea.
with Il d'.Ighi"! whacA, as OF familiar
friend long absent an! >'ile 81 ms w,i-
c'ii', comes h''rN my ny
hl- time trace han. HE clothes
press door Is agar. IL steals IN there
AID lies hl1den. on another occasion
one haS crept behind a picture frame.
AS rood luck would have 1t, spider
lad arranged a pretty Htlle surprise for
him. and lad the wicked satisfaction
.! nearing tie sinner buzz out a dying
confession ot his SINS. Nut half were