The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-07-27
Selected.
HOW THE BUTTERFLY WON ITS FREEDOM

A heavy thunderstorm was coming up and Nell
and Dell ran to help Aunt Ruth gather the chicks
into the brooder. This was not always quickly done
for the little downy tots had learned that bugs and
grasshoppers were much more plentiful in theNad
joining meadow than their own grounds; slld
while they usually managed to get home about meal
time they did not enough enjoy being shut up at all
hours of the day to come back every time the clouds
lowered. So as it a rainy season, the children
were often called upon to help hunt them up.
As was picked up from the tall grass some
thing clug Its foot ann then to Aunt Ruths hand
She shook if off violently, thinking 1t but weed
and was hustng the a6ck under shelter when a
glance upon the ground showed a butterfly Of
strange coloring Storm and chicks were for the
moment forgotten, and the struggling insect, eI-
IDENTIFY Just Matched. claimed undivided attention.
1t was beautiful combination of light and dark
drown lighted by creamy white with just tinge of
rose, and each lower wing was conspicuous
rose-colored spot When at rest the upper wings
covered this and only the soft browns which might
belong to a dead leaf were visible. This colorinp-
Aunt Ruth explained is device often adopted bv
nature as a protection from birds and other emo
mics
Aunt Ruth suggested sending it to Professor
Lee. friend of the family, who was making col
lection of butterflies.
But you must tell him not to kill It," said Nell.
THAT is very likely just what he would do" was
the reply. Aunt Ruth strove to reconcile the chill
dren with the thought that his method would be
even at the best: and that this might be saved
from a more distressing end. Beside, if it proved
a rare species, it would help the professor In his
study.
"But don't want you to send it if he is going
to kill it." was NelPs only reply. Dell was silent,
but very sober
The desire to help friend in the study of sci
ence outweighed the dsapproval of childhood-a
disapproval based on the sympathy and common
sense which are bound to creep into our so-cailed
Scientific" studies. The butterfly was captured III
a glass tumbler and a piece of cheese cloth tied
over the top to allow plenty of air to go in brt no
butterfly to go out. There it hung all the after
noon, 'by its bangs" papa said, though really bV
its fore feet The feathery "feelers" or antennae
proved il to be not true butterfly but one OF the
subdivisions known a sphinx BESIDE It's wings
were not folded lightly together in butterfly fashion
when at rest yet they overlapped enough to entire
Nv hide the bright rose spots.
Toward mail time Aunt Ruth placed it in
small box lined with soft paper, into which she had
slinned one or two clover blossoms. Some holes
then made with fork through both paper and boz
10 prevent smothering The poor little thing wac
badly frightened despite the most gentle care and
heat its wings frantcally against the sides of the
box until Aunt Ruth feared 1t would ruin them and
be only torn ragged specimen, not worth preserv-
ING Other duties calling her, the box placed
an the desk 10 await the coming of the postman
Presently Nell slid into the room where she was
81 ,rorl- and said softly: eve could not think Tor
a long time what that queer noise could be; it's the
but+erAvD No more was said, for Nell was not
tease; but the mute appeal in her eye forcefu,
and Aunt Ruth who had thought that the fut-
terng would be kept up after she left the box re-
turned to it in dismay.
e'T've half a notion to let it CO." she observed.
hesitatn
eve do wish YOU would" was the earnest reply
of both Even Tom stopped his stick horse lone
enough to second the motion, and baby Tot teased
to helm act it do" But as Aunt took the box tH
the door all was silent though her kind thought
had come too late.
perhaps it has gone to sleep Tor the night.
in the midst of the little group. Sure enough, i
had crept up close into the corner Of tho box as 1t