Old Primrose 125

the butterfly is first an egg, then a small
maggot, then a larger maggot, then a grub,
and finally a butterfly.

“T must begin at the beginning, and
come out of an egg,” old P. reflected.

For this time he meant to do 4
the thing thoroughly.
So he set to work to study

coming out of eggs; he went
and crawled under the hay-stack where Jane
the hen was hatching out a brood, and
watched little Zedekiah, the eldest chicken,
emerge from the shell.
“Would you mind repeating
that ?—I didn’t quite catch it,” said
old Primrose.
The new chick smiled, and got
in again and repeated it.
“Haven't guzte got the hang of
’ ityet,’saidold P. “If it wouldn't
give you too much trouble es
“Not at all—quite delighted, I’m sure,”
said the obliging chick, doing it again.
“Are you thinking of getting hatched,
Mr. Primrose?” asked Jane the hen politely.