Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-04-01
''NOt Lost, But Gone Be-
FORE"

in the center of the wood. Trees anC
flowers were growing about, bird
sang and insects hummed above it
Uuder the water, too, there was lit
tie world of beings. Fishes and lit
tie creatures that live in water filled
it full of busy life. Among then
was the grub of the dragon-fiy, will
a large family of brothers and sis.
ters."
"What is dragon-1y?' interrupt
ed Arthur.
"It's just darning-needle," said
Helen.
Eyes, you children call it darning-
needle" said their father; ''that
beautiful, swift creature, with long,
glittering blue-and-green body and
brilliant gauzy wings. Now, before
he became dragon-fy, darting thro'
the air and flashing back the sunshine,
he was dark, scaly grub, and lived
down in the forest pond. He and his
family were born there and knew no
other world. They spent their time
in rowing in and out among the plants
at the bottom of the water in search
of food.
''But one day this grub began to
talk among its mates about the frog.
Every little while,' said he, 'the
frog goes to the side of the water and
disappears. What becomes of him
when he leaves this world? What can
there be beyond?'
-" 'You idle fellow, replied anoth-
er grub, 'attend to the world you are
in, and leave the "beyond'' to those
that are there So said all his rela-
tons, and the curious grub tried to
forget his questionings. But he could
not do it so one day when he heard
heavy splash in the water and saw
a great frog swim down to the bot
tom, he screwed up his courage to
ask the frog himself.
8 'Honored frog said he, APP
preaching that dignified parsonage as
meekly as possible, permit me to in
quire what there is beyond the world
"'What world do you mean?' said
the frog, rolling his goggled eyes.
''This world, of course; our
world answered the grub.
s. This pond, you mean,' remark
ed the frog with a sneer.
"'I mean the place we live in; l
call it the world, cried the grub with
spirit.
'''Do you, indeed '' rejoined the
frog. Then what is the place you
don't live in; the ''beyond'' the
world, eh?'
" THAT is just what L want you to
tell me- replied the grub briskly.
"'Well, them said froggy, 'it is
dry land
Can one swim about there !? ask
ed the grub.
g Dry land is not water, little fell
low chuckled the frog; that is just
what it is not
g But tell me what it is, persisted
the grub.
well, then, you troublesome
creature,' cried the frog, dry land is
some like the bottom of this pond,
only it is not wet, because there is no
water
i''Really,' said the grub, 'what is
there them
"'They call it air, replied the frog.
1T is the nearest approach to moth
ing
Grinding that he could not make
the grub understand, the good-natur-
ed frog offered to take him on his
back to the dry land, where the grub
might see for himself. The grub was
delighted. He dropped himself down
upon the frogs back land chung close
ly to him while he swan up to the
rushes at the waters edge. But the
moment he emerged into the air, the
grub fell reeling back into the water,
painting and struggling for life. 'Hor-
ribler cried he, as soon as he had
rallied little; there is nothing but
death beyond the world. The frog
deceived me. He can not go there
at any rate
''Then the grub told his story to
his friends. and they talked great
deal about the mystery. but conld ar
rive at no explanation.
"That evening the yellow frog ap-
peared again at the bottom of the
pond.
"'You herel' cried the startled
grub. you never left this world at
all, 1 suppose
"'Clumsy creature replied the
frog. why did not you cling to my
back? When l landed on the grass
you were gone
1.-THE grub related his deathlike
struggle and added, 'Since there is
nothing but death beyond this world,
all your stories about going there
must be false
80 'Iforgive your offensive remarks
said the frog gravely, because ] have
learned to-day the reason of your
tiresome curiosity. AS 1 was hop
ping about in the grass on the edge
of the pond, saw one of your race
slowly climbing up the stalk of a
reed. Suddenly there appeared a
rent in his seaiy coat, and after many
struggles there came out of it one of