The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-09-12
ONLY A DREAM.

Tommy had been to the school treat.
away out from tho dirty. crowded. hot
streets in which he lived. into tho beau.
tifnl green. fresh country.
And Tommy had enjoyed the treat
but am afraid that many of the but.
terfiies and other insects, and some ol
the birds. too. had cause To grievc that
Tommy and his little mates had been
there to treat-it was none for them.
A great part OF the day Tommy haG
spent in what he thought good fun.
He had chased beautiful butterflies.
little with them. They were 4 source
OF amusement to him for short time.
aud then he would let them Huttcr
away with spoilt and broken wings.
lie had tried to capture the large bees
which he saw flying about; but us he
laid hold on one ii stung him. SO.
thinking himself badly used. he let it
60. 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 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 NIL day. But all
the butterflies. and bees. and beetles,
and birds seemed 10 have changed
places with him in point Of size. for
they appeared as large as boys. and he
rs small as Il beetle. and Tommy was
terribly frightened.
oh" he thought, | must hide UNI
der the sticks. err those great Great
urcs will catch me. oh. dear! wish
were home!' for Tommy was fright
cncd.
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 snatchcd
up and pinched; aud screaming and
struggling. he looked up ut the things
that held him. II was beetle of gi-
gantic size it seemed to him.
''Oh!' screamed the beetle again.
''cOme and look what I've caught
Such a funny thing; whatever is it?'
What have you got?' asked Il
butterfly, about one hundred times
Tommys size. flying up
why. look here! don't know what
1t is"
OH said the butterfly, "It's only a
boy. They're common enough. Ii
you didn't live so much under the
ground you'd know boy when you
see him. That's only little one. but
I've seen big ones, and I've good cause
to remember them, too; they We chased
me often enough.
The butterfly spoke very iiercely 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 e'-shakiDg Tommy
you're boy. are you? Ill pinch
you" And the beetle did, and Tommy
screamed and kicked; but the beetle
held him tightly.
Whats going on here?' 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, lyon
towards! you wouldn't dare TO do it if
] were not SO SMALL but the insects
took no notice of his cries.
Here. hand him over to me-" said
the bee; II owe boys II grudge; let me
sting him."
'.Wai. 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"
They can. they can!' shrieked
Tommy, but no heed was paid to his
words.
Just MS the bee was about to sting its
shricking victim Il linnct ito Tommy it
seemed the size Of an caylc) few 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 tho beetle
knew that its scaly coat would protect
it against the linnct. But the bee and
the butterfly had not such protection.
What have you got?" asked the
linnct.
"A boy. owe boys grudge. so
I'm pinching him. and the beetle
squeezed Tommy again, and again he
squealed.
''Wlll 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 lnnet
lifted him in its beak.
Dreams are worry funny things.
The linnet seemed to be s,aSlenly in
.he room Of house, and Tommy saw
was his own bedroom.
Whats the natter?' squeaked a
.,nny voice II was Tommy's white
mouse speaking; for Tommy kept a
,hite mouse.
Why" said the linnet. and il
seemed quite friendl; with the white
mouse, "Fye caught II boy. VIVA,
shall do with him.
"A boy? Let me look" said the
white mouse, and added fiercely;
why. it's Tommy"
Yes, please, Mr.. Mouse" said Tom.