Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-01-31

to have an umbrella like he had seen
people of the big world carry to keep
off the rain.
What foolish fellow you are to
sit there so cross" said Mrs. Cater
pillar. Why don't you go to the
meadow where they grow?"
30, where is it?" said the little bee
tie.
81 will go with you." said Mrs.
Caterpillar, for l often visit there.
The umbrellas grow on the ground,
and they are very beautiful. You
can stay under them for days and new
er get wet"
So when the rain had ceased and
the sun came out they started off for
the meadows where the wonderful UNI
brellas grew.
1t was slow journey, for the sun
was hot, and Mrs. Caterpillar wore
such a heavy coat that she could not
get on very fast, but after they had
been travelling for some time, they
came to a lovely spot where grew the
most beautiful little umbrellas that
could be imagined, white outside and
pink underneath.
| The little beetle was delighted, and
thanked Mrs. Caterpillar warmly for
bringing him to this wonderful place.
| When Mrs. Caterpillar had rested
and was starting on her journey back,
you one thing. If you are not good
ard kind something may happen to
your umbrella"
Before he could ask her what she
/ meant she had disappeared around the
corner
For awhile the little beetle was
quite contented. But he was very
selfish little beetle and after awhile he
began to fear that someone else might
get his umbrella, while he was away
getting food, and do you know, he was
almost afraid to leave it at all.
So, instead of being happy he would
sit under his little umbrella and dart
out at any little bug that happened to
be going by.
One day when he came back from
getting his dinner he found little
! white butterfly sitting on tot OF his
! umbrella. Instead of saying How
do you do" and being pleased to see
such lovely creature, he flew into a
rage and told her to get away.
This was very naughty and selfish,
for there was room enough under the
umbrella for both, and several more
such little people.
Now the little white butterfly was
one of the fairy butterflies and every
body knows that the little umbrellas
that come out of the ground belong to
the fairies.
She did not reply to his rudeness al
first, but as she flew away she said
You selfish little beetle, just settled
down to rest my wings and alighteG or
your umbrella, which really does moi
belong to you alone. but to all the lit
tie woods people. If you had beer
good you might have always kept it
but since you have been SO selfish an(
rude you must lose it"
f AS she flew away he shouted afte
) her 81 shall not lose it, for | shall sta.
( here and watch it every minute"
He could hardly go. to sleep tina
l night for fear some one would com
5 and drive him away. but toward morn
5 ing he fell into troubled sleep.
/ Now, what do you suppose happene
while he slept? When he awoke n
d one had come to drive him away, bu
i. his lovely little white and pink I'm
V brella was all shriveled up. 1t wa
black underneath and all out OF
II shape.
y He gave little Shrek, for it jus
dawned upon him that the butterh
d which he had so rudely told to get 0,
+ was one OF the fairies. and that he Wa
+ thus punished for being so selfish an
naughty.
e To make things still worse it bega
y, to rain The little beetle got under
$ leaf and was looking out sadly whe
1t who should come along but nice o
Mrs. Caterpillar.
n We'll. / declare" she said, as 81
I'd looked at him in establishment, al
le so you did not heed what | told you,
le see
IS The little beetle told her all abouts
he When he had finished she said: No
u, we are not going to talk about it al
more, for l see you are sorry. Ju
let me curl up and take little ma
for 7 have travelled Ouite a diStanc