The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-07-16
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.
A DrOn Little House.

house was built in the grass by the side
o brook. 1t was put up so quietly that
nobody noticed it till it was all done, and
the family were in. 1t was droll little
house, neither white nor brown, but
beautiful green outside.
For some time every door and window
was shut, and no one could see what was
going ON inside. But at last, when every
thing was ready, and all in order, from
top to toe, the little house was suddenly
thrown open, and all the world invited to
call.
And they did call, l tell you-the whole
Butterfly family, in gorgeous dresses OF
red and gold-the plainer-dressed, but
highly respectable Bee family-and l
can't tell you how many of the modest
insects family.
The little house was well worth going
to see, too. 1t was no common building,
made of wood or brick, with plain bare
walls-by no means! Every rOom-and
there were dozens of them-was hung
with the most elegant gold colored cur,
tains. They were finer than silk, and
softer and daintier than anything you
ever saw, and all fragrant with delight.
full, fresh perfume. 1t was a home tit
for any queen, tell you.
Almost every room of this curious
house was a nursery, and in each one SAT
patient little mother. Droll little
creatures they were, dressed in pale gold
and never stirring an inch away from the
cradles of their babies with funny little
husbands besides, dressed in the same
lovely color, and wearing brown caps OF
their heads. :.
The husbands were so tall they cOulc
stretch up and look over the golden walls
into the wide world outside, and they go
uneasy aud longed to 60 out. But th'
little mothers would not 60, and they
didn't want to leave them, SO they stayet
in the nursery too.
Every night when the sun went down
the curtains were drawn close together
and the whole family went to sleep, ant
nobody could see anything but the plan
little green house. But the first rays 0
the sun opened the whole house again.
This life went on for some time, till tn
little mothers grew brown with age, tn
gorgeous curtains faded, worn out, and q
last were blown away, the tall husband
got tired of staying and went away, an.
left the little mothers alone with thei
babes. Tsx-ha .Trsex had no curtains to kee
them warm, the little house Was ope
night and day, and all the winds coul
blow right through it.
A sad change it seems to us, but littl
did the mothers care. They did not min
the cold, and they were not afraid OF tn
dark, and the babies were growing ever
day bigger, and would soon be able
care for themselves. And then til
,, little mothers would be satisfied an
f happy.
They were the most comical babies yo
r ever saw, each one cuddled up in an od
little cradle, shaped like an egg an
carved and ornamented outside. The
. never cried and if they had plenty to e'
and all the time to sleep, that was q
they wanted.
So the little mothers kept them fe
q and watched while they grew brown
q and browner till they were nearly reao
: to 90. At last, on each droll little Grad
6 came small pair of wings, white al
: fleecv, and light as air, and they stot
a out around the bare little house like
!, ball.
!: Then the little brown and withered I
d mothers knew that they had finish.
e their work, and the babies could ta
g care of themselves; so they were sat
It fed and happy, and died. And th'
e came along playful breeze, gave the
h tie house shake, and away went eve
r. baby on its wings, and left the droll lit
ia house deserted and bare.
I. And the babies-still in their cradles
{. few away off over the fields, playing wi
4, the breeze, and seeing the world, till Il, t
70 sun went down and it grew dark. In
,e each one sank to the ground and settl
A. itself, the comical cradle burst open, a!
L. each little baby came out, ready to bul
n house just like its mothers.
ct Maybe you think this is fairy stol
is but it's every word true. And the g
j. geous little house, with its patient lit
,e mothers, and dozens of babies, is after
,e nothing but a-dandelion. And if y
1t look carefully into one you'll see
Sc whole family-just as l said.-Ch'7sf'
,ir Union.