The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-03-29
The Belated butterfly.


The Belated butterfly.
(MoRNING.)
Am [ awake ? Am L alive? Then it
was true, after all. Aunt Caterpillar
told me that if would cover myself over
and lie stock still and go to sleep should
wake up beauty. She said [ should
no longer creep, but should fly like the
birds, and L do. She said [ would never
need to chew leaves any more, but might
feed upon sugar of roses and sip honey
from all the flowers. She said I should
have beautiful wings of purple and gold.
And it is every word true.
Now am flying. o, glorious This
floating in the air, o what a Joy it is
Goodby, you little worms. Here L go
up, up, up-a trihe dizzy, that is to be
expected at first-higher, higher. Good
morning, Mr. 8luebird we have wings,
haven't we? Down-no. / will not
touch the earth; will rock in this lily,
brush the dew from the mignonette,
breathe the perfume of the heliotrope,
and rest in the heart of this daInask rose.
What sweet rest How soft these rose
leaves are! Let me nestle close; but I
grow faint with the perfume and must
be off. Off to the hills where sweetbrier
and wild roses grow. Cousin Moth says
she goes there every day. On, the joy
of flying Up, down, up, down, up,
down, now rest, now float, now sip, now
rock, now away, away
Here are the tall, blue meadow flowers.
I'll stop awhile with them. How long
it did use to take me, with my eighteen
legs to creep thus far Whom have we
here? What mean, dull fly is this, and
why should he have wings? What
Keep company with me? You? I'm
possible Have you noticed who ]
am, pray, or are you asleep? Look al
mig brilliant wings / am a butterfly
born in the purple OF some use :? Dea1
me, of what use could such as you be tc
such as :? Upon my word I pity you
but all can't be butterflies, or go in com
pany with butterflies Please don't fol
low. I should feel so mortified Good
by. Now for long, long flight over the
meadowsl
The hills, at last, the breezy hills
All, good bees, have you come, too? Ant
you, poor little grasshoppers? Deal
humming- bird, isn't it jolly? Why dom
you sing? Don't know howl What {
PITY But you can hum Oh, thi.
charming sweetbrierl And here arr
wild roses now we'll have merry time
among the wild roses, and play in the
fragrant sweet fern.
EVENING"
Lost, lost. lost I wandered too fan
among the hills. Who will show me the
way home? My home is in the flower
garden Will no one show me the way :
Oh, this frightful darknessl Where is
the beautiful daylight gone? The even.
ing dews are cold and damp. My wings
droop from WEAKNESS. The night winds
chill me through Ugly creatures are
abroad, and strange sounds fill the air. !
sec no flowers, hear no singing of birds,
no chirping of insects, no humming OF
bees. Where are you, little bees2
Q, this dreary, dreary night Shiv-
ering with cold, I fly hither and thither,
but never find my home. am poor,
lost butterfly Who will pity a poor,
lost butterfly?
What dreadful sounds "Juggulp p
'Juggulp :" "Juggulpr' Away! Quick
"Juggulp!' "Juggulp - o dear ! G
dear! Now something just hit me
Again Some horned monstera bat,
perhaps. Cousin Moth said, "Beware
of bats, for they will eat you up" ]
shall die with fright, I know, [ know I
shall die with fright. My wings can
scarcely move. My fine purple wings
VIII the dear, warm sun never shine
again? Cousin Moth told me of sc
many dangers, and never even men
toned getting lost. Alas Must I die
here all alone? Breathe my last breath
in this terrible place. o that some boz
had caught me in his hat That I had
been choked with a match, stuck on a
pm, or put under a glass; But to drop
down here in the cold, gasping, CULVER
ing, and die all alone
VINO comes? Can [ believe nv own
eyes? Is it light2 Hol A fly with a
lantern How quick he darts Stop,
there, sou with lanterni
1t is the very same mean fly l met this
morning. Good fly Best creature
Charming insect, [ pray you light me
home. Do you know where the flower
garden is? You do! That is my
homo, My lodgings are among the
d&mask- rose-leaves. l am q poor. be-
lated butterfly. L lost my way. Stayed
very long with the sweetbrier and never
thought tho daylight would so,
You will light me homel That's a
dear fly. Your name is Firefy? What
sweet name But how fast you go
Please don't dart SO quick, because I
cannot follow, for my wings are very,
. very tired Slower, slower, that's n
kind FREELY. Now we so nicely on.
What will You take for YOUR lamp /?
Went sell? But you viii forget, hope.
our morning conversation. Perha,,s
though; 50 little 4 fly can't remember so
long You can remember? Then what
a kind, forgiving creature You are /
shall certainly speak wei of YOU to my
friends Cali on me most any time, that
is, almost any evening, and we will take
a fly together. Ne have come a very
long way and should now be quite near