The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-09-14
ONLY A DREAM.

streets in which he lived, into the beau
tiful green, fresh country.
And Tommy had enjoyed the treat;
but am afraid that many of the but
terflies and other insects, and some of
the birds. too, had cause to grieve that
Tommy and his little mates had been
there to treat-it was none for them.
A great part of the day Tommy had
spent in what he thought good fun.
He had chased beautiful butterflies,
but when he caught them he could do
little with them. They were a source
of amusement to him for short time,
and then he would let them futter
away with spoilt and broken wings.
He had tried to capture the large bees
which he saw flying about; but as he
laid hold on one it stung him, so.
thinking himself badly used, he let it
go. Then he had frightened many of
the birds by throwing stones at them
only fortunately he aimed badly,
and never hit his mark! And when he
and some of his companions, wander
ing through the green fields, had come
across a large, scaly beetle, he had
seized it, and in spite of its struggles
had put it in his pocket.
And now Tommy was back from
the treat and in bed.
He had not long fallen asleep when
he seemed to be again in the fields in
which he had played all day. But all
the butterflies. and bees, and beetles,
and birds seemed to have changed
places with him in point of size, for
they appeared as large as boys, and he
as small as beetle, and Tommy was
terribly frightened.
"Oh," he thought, 1 must hide I'M
der the sticks. or those great Great
were homer for Tommy was fright
ened.
So he hid quickly under some small
sticks until all the butterflies and
other things should go away; but it
was no use. Soon he felt the sticks
lifted, and heard something scream
out; he did not know what the thing
was at first, for he dared not look up.
"Oh, oh! come and look; here's such
funny thing. Four legs! and it only
walks on two of them! and such fun
ny head"
Then Tommy felt himself snatched
up and pinchcd; and screaming and
struggling, he looked up at the things
that held him. 1t was beetle of gil
gantic size it seemed to him.
OH screamed the beetle again,
''come and look what I've caught
Such funny thing; whatever is it?"
What have you got?" asked a
butterfly, about one hundred times
Tommy's size, flying up.
"Why. look here! l don't know what
it is"
OH said the butterfly, ats only a
boy. They're common enough. If
you didn't live SO much under the
ground you'd know a boy when you
see him. That's only a little one, but
I've seen big ones, and I've good cause
to remember them, too; they've chased
me often enough"
The butterfly spoke very fiercely for
such gentle creature, and Tommy
trembled.
"A boy!' shrieked the beetle-"a
boy! know something about them,
only didn't know this was one. Ugh!
you little Understanding Tommy
you're a boy, are you? I'll pinch
you" And the beetle did, and Tommy
screamed and kicked; but the beetle
held him tightly. ....
Whats going on herep" asked a
passing bee. What have you got?''
'Oh, only boy" said the butterfly,
land we're only going to pinch him to
see him kick"
"Oh, oh" screamed Tommy, ''you
towards! you wouldn't dare to do it if
l were not SO SMALL" but the insects
took no notice of his cries.
Here, hand him over to me-" said
the bee; 81 owe boys grudge; let me
sting him."
wait Bit" answered the beetle;
'let's have some fun with him first
You'll kill him if you sting him."
mot l. Besides, boys can't feel"
They can! they canm shrieked
Tommy, but no heed was paid to his
words.
just as the bee was about to sting it's
shrieking victim linnet Ito Tommy it
seemed the size of an eagle) flew up.
The butterfly fitted away sharply, and
the bee suddenly became impressed
with the necessity of going also, and
went. Only the beetle remained, hold
ing Tommy tightly still, for the beetle
knew that its scaly coat would protect
it against the linnet. But the bee and
the butterfly had not such protection.
What have you gotP" asked the
linnet.
IA boy. l owe boys a grudge, so
I'm pinching him." and the beetle
squeezed Tommy again, and again he
sQuealed.