Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-05-04
MISS oovEs BUTTERFLY.
It Came to whittier's Summer House
the Day After His Death.

It Came to whittier's Summer House
the Day After His Death.
"Did you ever hear Of pet butter
flyp" asked woman the other day.
"No; why, did youp"
"Yes, and l will tell you about II.
You know for several summers past,
previous to his death, John G. Whit
tier passed the season at Hampton
Falls, N. H., at the old Cove home
stead. The only member of the old
name left there is Miss Abby Cove,
to whom Whittier was greatly at
tached. The day following Whit
tiers funeral which service was held
at the old house, Miss Cove opened
the windows Of the quaint, old-timey
'keeping-room,' and following the
burst of sunlight and summer breeze
came light, golden-brown butterfly.
II lighted on the easement, its pull
sating wings bronze dazzle OF color.
Quakeress as she was, Miss Cove gave
the tiny guest welcome, and left it to
enjoy its rest. The following day it
was there just the same, and it flew
about the room making light, grace
full poises between its fittings. Three
days passed but the butterfly remain
ed, says the New York Sun. On the
fourth day Miss Cove took it. with
/ gentle touch, putting it outside the
window, thinking perhaps it might
have forgotten the way to liberty.
But on the next day, when the win
dow was open, the little guest came
back. Twice afterward it was put
out Of doors but it invariably re-
turned. Miss Cove then took a
plate and one Of the old fashioned
wire screens, such as are associated
in ones mind with the cheese dish
on the farmers dinner table, and,
taking the butterfly, she put it on the
plate, covering it with the screen,
1t seemed contented and happy.
Food was required for it so its owner
bought toy cup, in which she
mixed honey and water, and this the
tiny insect evidently approved. A
new cage, like that used to house
canary birds, was bought and around
it a piece of fine wire netting placed,
This is the butterhy's permanent
home now. 1t has learned to know
and to be fond of Miss Cove When
she opens the door of the cage the
butterfly poises at once on her out
stretched hand, and while there
makes purring noise. exactly SIM
liar to that of contented kitten,
only of slightly less volume of sound
If any one comes near Miss Cove
the insect flies away, seemingly much
perturbed, but when the stranger
withdraws it returns to her hand,
resrming its happy purr. Its mis-
trcss now always feeds it. It's method
of absorbing its food is this: The cup
of honey and water, being held in
the hand of Miss Cove, the butterfly
| lights on her finger and runs out a
needle-like probosis an inch and a
half long; this it thrusts into the
| liquid, curling it around on the sur
face of the substances; then it thrusts,
! with quick strokes, the end of this
natural tube into its mouth. When
| it has eaten all it wants the probosis
is drawn in, and it is then the purring
| is loudest. | saw it eating meal
the other day and it was a curious
| sight, but to hear the song of com
fort it purred forth afterward was to
! me more wonderful. Miss Cove takes
it about with her, and last week
while visiting Mrs. Elizabeth b. Chace
of Pawtucket, II. l., the curious little
pet attracted wide attention from
callers.
Has it seemed to anguish or de
! crease in size?" asked ono interested
! listener.
Not at all; it appears healthy,
brisk and happy, and its mistress has
great affection for this singular
creature"
docs anybody say it is Whittier's
soul come back in Il new guise?n in
quired an imaginative nearer.
"No, but somebody did say that
were the gentle old poet alive he
would write some words about it that
would outlive the butterfly by cent
ury.n