Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-05-17
ABBY GOVE'S PET BUTTERFLY

t FL-w IN AT HER WINDOW THE DAY AZ
TER THE QUAKER POET WAS BURIED.
''Did you ever hear of a pet butter
fiy?" ask ed woman the other day.
"No; why, did you?"
"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, New Hampshire, at the old
Cove homestead. The only member
of the old name now left there is Miss
Abby Cove, to whom Whittier was
greatly attached. The day following
Whittier 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 large gclden-bro
butterfly. 1t lighted on the easement,
its puisating wings bronze dazzle of
color Quakeress as she was, Miss
Cove gave the tiny guest welcome,
and left it to enjoy its rest. The fol-
lowing day it was there just the same,
and 1t flew about the room making
light, graceful poises between its ht-
tIngs. Three days passed, but the
butterfly remained. On the fourth
day Miss Cove took 1t, with gentle
touch, putting 1t outside the window,
thinking erhaps 1t might have forgot
zen the way to liberty. But on the
next day, when the window was
opened, the little guest came back.
Twice afterward it was put out of
doors, but it invariably returned.
Miss Cove then took a plate and one
of the old-fsshioned wire screens, such
as are associated in ones mind with the
cheese dish on the farmers dinner
table, and taking the butterfly, she put
1t on the plate, covering it with the
screen. 1t seemed contented and
happy. Food was required for 1t, 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
1t piece of fine wire netting was
placed. This is the butterhy's perma-
nent 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 ont
stretched hand, and while there makes
purriDg noise, exactly similar 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 band, resuming its happy purr.
Its mistress now alv ays feeds it. Its
method of ahsor bing 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 proboscis an inch and
half long; this it thursts into the
liquid curling it around on the surface
of the substance; then it thrusts, with
quick strokes, the end of this natural
tube into Its mouth. When it has eat
en- all it wants, the proboscis is drawn
in, and it is then that the purring is
loudest. l saw it eating a meal the
other day, and it was a curious sight,
but to hear the song of comfort 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 Paw
tucket, r. l., the curious little pet at
tracted wide attention from callers.
Has it seemed to languish or de-
crease in ize?" asked one inter
ested listener.
Not at all; it appears healthy, brisk
and happy, and its mistress has great
affection for tLis singular creature"
"Does nybody say it is Whittier's
soul come back In new guise2' inquired
an imaginative hesrer.
"No, but somebody dideay that were
the gentle old poet alive he would
write some words about it that would
onfIive the hnftarHu hr n cantnrr ,,