Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-09-25
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but / am afraid that many OF tne but-
terfiies and other insects, and some OF
the birds, too had cause TO grieve that
Tommy and his little mates had been
there 10 a treat; II was none Tor 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. be could do
little with them. They were a source
of amusement to him for a short time,
and then he would let them hutter
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, think
ing himself badly used, he let II 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, wandering through
the green fields, had come across
large, scaly beetle, he had seized II. and
in spite of Its struggles, had put it III
his pocket.
And now Tommy was back from the
treat and in bed.
lie had not long fallen asleep when
he seemel TO be again IN the fields III
which he had played all day. But all
the butterflies, and bees, and beetles
and birds seemed SO have changed
places with him in point of size, for
they appeared as large as boys, and lie
as small a. beetle, and Tommy was
terribly frightened
s.Oh, - lie thought. 81 must hide IN
der the sticks, or those great creatures
! will catch me. Oh, dear, / wish l were
| home" for Tommy was frightened
| SO lie hid quickly under some small
sticks until all the butterflies and other
things should go away, but IL was no
use. Soon lac felt the sticks lifted, and
heard something scream out; he did
not know what the thing was at first,
! for lie dared not look up.
"Oh, Uhl come and look, here's such
a funny thing. Four legs, and OF ly
walks on two of them, and such Il
funny head
Then Tommy felt himself snatched
up and pinched, and screaming and
struggling he looked up at the thing
that held him. 1t was beetle of gI-
gantic size, 1t seemed 10 him.
''Ohl'' screamed the beetle again,
''Come and look what I've caught.
Such a funny thing. Whatever IS
itl''
What have you got?" asked a but
terfiy, about one hundred times Tom
my's size, flying up
"Why, look nerel l don't know what
il is
''Ohl' said the butterfly, sits only a
boy. They're common enough. If you
didn't live SO much underground 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 tiercely for
such a gentle creature, and Tommy
trembled.
"a boyl" shrieked the beetle, "a
boyl i know something about them,
only didn't know this was one. Ughl
you little brute" shaking Tommy,
you're a boy, are your I'll pinch
you" And the beetle did. and Tommy
screamed and kicked, but the beetle
held him tightly
What's on herey' asked a passing
bee. ''What have you got!''
''Oh, only boy" said the butterfly,
''and we're only going to pinch him to
see him kick"
''Oh, oh!'' screamed Tommy. ''you
cowardsl you wouldn't dare 10 do IL If
l were not 50 small;'' out the insects
took no notice of his cries
''Here, hand him over to me-" said
the Lee; Il owe boys a grudge; let me
sting him."
WAIT a bit.'' answered the beetle;
'let's have some fun with him first.
You'll kill him If you sting him. -
Not l. Besides, boys can't feel
"Ihey canl they CAMP shrieked
Tommy, but no heed was taken To his
words
just as the bee was about to sting its
shrieking victim linnet ito Tommy it
seemed the size of an eagle) flew up.
The butterfly fitted away sharply, and
the lee 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 It's scaly coat would protect
1t against the liunet. But the bee and
the butterfly had no sucn protection.
What have you cot?r asked the
innet.
"A boy. owe boys a grudge, so
Pm pincuing him;" and the beetle
squeezed Tommy again, and again lie
squealed.
''WnI you give him to me? I'd like
to take him somewhere" said the lin
net
SO the beetle dropped Tommy, who
was now quite sore, and the linnet
lifted him IN its beak.
Dreams are very Iunny things.
The lInnet seemed to be suddenly in
the room of house, and Tommy saw
II was his own bedroom.
What's the matterrn squeaked
funny voice. 1t WAS Tommy's white
mouse speaking; for Tommy kept
white mouse.
why. said the hnnet, and it
seemed quite friendly with the white
mouse, I've caught boy. What shall
L do with him?''
"A boy? Let me Iook,'' said the
white mouse, and added fiercely, why
it is Tommyl'
Yes please, Mr.. Mouse" said
Tommy. Its me You know me,
don't you?''
Tommy was afraid OF the white
mouse, It seemed 50 big.
Know your" screamed the mouse
I've good reason to know you'll Yesl
and now III make you know me.''
please, Mr.. Mouse" began Tom
my; but the white mouse interrupted
him.
Know your You're the boy that
fastened me Ill a cage without any
food, and L WAS hungry. Worse, worsel
L WAS thirsty, and all my water was
dried up. My cage las been left un-
clean for weeks. Know you? YesI !
and now you shall know me-
The white mouse rushed fiercely at
Tommy.
But suddenly Tommy awOke, and he !
WAS lying III bed, and OF his natural |
size