The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-11-03
Tho Birth OF 4 Dragon-Fly.

Tho Birth Of a Dragon-Fl =s
The April sun shone warm, and the
soft wind blew the yellow dust from
the alder tassels that hung along the
brook side. Pussy willows had DOTTED
their furry winter coats, and put on
bright yellow ones for spring. The
first butterfy-his wings were border
ed with yellow, too sailed lazily from
bush to bush. He was trying his wings
for the first time after their long win
ter's rest {5sSg il ~ s.it 5sz 4.
looked down to see what signs OF
spring there were in the brook itself.
A speckled trout darted up towards the
bridge. I followed him with my eye,
and as he disappeared in a shadoWy
nook, I caught sight Of a little dark
creature clinging to a tWig that dipped
into the water. Going nearer, Il saw
that he was a stranger to me, though
II had thought I was acquainted with
all the. brook folk. S. h Y
a,sDo you belong here?" Isasked him.
Belong .here!" he answered rather
sscornfully Where else ulds be
long, when Z was born ill., nlts this II very
brook, and have lived here all Il my
life!''
looked at him in wonder. Just
then a little poll yWog came Wrigg1ing
along, and my new aequa intance thrust
out a long arm, seized the pollywog,5
and swallowed it.
i ell, si1. /" said; nov that you
have had that tidbit. hope you will
tell me something about yourself
Did you ever see dragon-fy ~ was
y his answer, which I thought very:
strange, as I was not making any in.
quiries about dragon flies.
u y why, certainly / replied. IS j:
Then you know all about me-. he
said. .tI'm 4 dragon fly; a larya, as
the scientific folk call me. am stay
ing here only to pass the time away
q till I shall have two pairs Of wings to
fly off with. These are not good for
much now - and he indicated some
curious bits Of wings on the top of his
4 back but they be all right by and
/ by ~ @ B. Ell ss 4. ISIS.
Isstared at him in stonishment Was
it possible that the gorgeous dragon
flies, the living flashes of light, = as
Tennyson calls them, were once ugly
\ creatures, creeping about in the mud?
.s well, don't you believe me?" he
said, while I was conside ring what to
say next, because If you don't, come
here about six weeks from now, and
b you will see US all coming out in our
Promptly on the first day Of June
made my way to the brookside early in.
the morning. On STOPPING down to
pick a leaf OF. watercress, / heard a
4 shrilI voice: E, 5s s.5
Il see you are on time. Don't you
know me?' n. sssSS
Looking about, / spied my friend on
a rush, but he was quite changed in
appearance, so that I hardly recognized
him. .sS ~ t5 {E5ss5s e 3 IT
Itch me closely. z he said. It
/ shan't be able to talk much more, for
am going through a great change this
morning !" M
was all attenti on, and he crept i
little higher, where the sun shone hot
upon him, and presently u saw "a crack
appearing in the top Of his back #
u grew wider and WIDER and pretty soon
+. he drew out his head, then his legs
came out, sloWl y, one by B one, with
many jerks and Wrigg les TO free them
Il from the larval Skin at last his wings,
b all wet and folded UP Il like fans, APP
lpeared; then. with one final tug, his
long body came out. He clung to the
reed, limp and quite worn out with his
.fs hard struggle, until the sun dried his
wings so that he could spread them
out. How they shone and glittered!
They were finer than the daintiest lace
ever made by human hands. His two
great eyes were like moonstones full
sof light, and his slender brown body
was oarred at every joint with golden
yell low.
exc aimed. splendid
s. you are T.! e
He looked down and saw his reflec-
ton id the water below. Then. giving
3 his old skin scornfu il push, ne said:
Yes, rather an impr oyements on that. I
\ should say. y ~ Il b
81 suppose you will be flying OF
soon, II cd sale.
III an hour or two my wings
Will be strong enough e carry me any