Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-11-04
WHAT THE ROSE TOLD THE BUT
TERFLY.

TIRED Of roaming about from flower to
flower, and, strange as it may appear, a
little sick of honey, the beautiful butterfly,
with the rainboW-tinte Wings stopped, at
the end of a long summer afternoon, to
take few moments rest on the branch of
a fragrant rOse-tree.
AS he did so he spied just above him a
big brown caterpillar, slowly eating its
way through one of the largest of the
green leaves.
" Well" said the young butterfly, open
ing wide his wings, so that all the roses
and buds might see their brilliant colors,
I" that is queer-looking thing. 1t don't
appear to have any legs and it's very ugly.
I've halt mind to speak to it,
Then he had whole mind, and spoke
"Halloo! my friend" (his friend, indeedD-
"you with fur coat on-in such warm
weather, too. How very odd, when one
feels like wearing no coat at all. What
are you?"
What you were once YOURSELF" an
swered the caterpillar, gruffly, raising its
head for an instant and then quietly going
on with its meal
" ~ said the butterfly, standing on the
tip of his toes in his great establishment.
" Well, that is a good joke. l ever any
thing like you! The idea is absurd,
ridiculous! fly; you crawl. I feed on
honey; you on green leaves. l, to speak
plainly, am beautiful; and you, to speak
still more plainly, extremely not beautiful.
Oh, no! my funny fellow. You've made
great mistake, or else told a great"
Stop, stop!" said sweet voice, and
lovely crimson rose leaned toward the
indignant speaker. 1.-THE caterpillar has
spoken the truth"
"Why, how do you know, pretty one? 2"
asked the butterfly.
"The grapevine told me all about it."
replied the rose.
"And [ should feel obliged if you
would tell me all about it," said the but
terfy.
"With pleasure" said the rose, and
began: When I was a bud I used to
peep through my green lattice-work at
tiny cradle or hammock or something of
that sort that hung from a branch of the
blackberry bush just opposite and wonder
what was in it. 1t never stirred only
when the breeze came along and stopped
to rock it for few moments; when one
day, as | was watching and wondering, it
burst asunder and you, most beautiful of
butterflies, came out"
Yes, yes, [ remember that" interrupt
ed the butterfly, forgetting his politeness
in his Impotence. 'EBut what has that
to do with my ever being like caterpil-
lar?"
Like caterpillar" muttered the fur
coated one, with his mouth full ooh,
yes, indeed! very liken'
Have patience" said the rose, " and
you shall hear. At the moment YOU first
unfolded your wings the grapevine behind
me flung out pretty tendril and caught
me around the stem"
"'Ah, ha! I have you now, Queen of
the Rosebuds, said he (he's amerry fellow,
always full Of fun; and | shall hold you
until you tell me what you were thinking
about
''' don't mind telling you at ALL said
L. | was wondering what that was that
just opened and let out lovely butterfly
That, said the grapevine (who is ever
so old, years old, and knows everything
that is to be known about garden)-' that, |
sweetest of sweet wee blossoms, was a !
caterpillar's coffin
GA caterpillar's coff1n?' repeated I, in
great surprise.
"' Yes When a caterpillar gets tired
Of being caterpillar it makes for itself a
coffin; and into that coffin it goes cater !,
pillar, and out of it it comes butterfly. |
Don't ask me to explain, pinkest of pink !
buds. capt, though I've seen it done !
over and over again
"'How funny!' said I, and slipped