AWAY WITH THE BUTTERFLIES. 15 The stork was crossing the bog, And he feard this gay, old frog. ‘7 foot the bill?’ thought the stork, ‘I will!’ He footed it towards the frog. Guests to the ball scampered in: Field-mice, young, old, fat and thin ; Grasshoppers, squirrels, all brought their girls, And soon was heard a great din. The ball commenced; Froggy rose And danced on very “p-toes ; While the stork, from on high, heaved a sigh: “He deems he’s safe from all foes!’ With quick, cruel dart of head Mister Stork knocked Froggy dead ; ‘ This shocking bill,’ screamed the guests, ‘ does ill!’ And then they fearfully fled. ced There was more to the poem, and Elsie strained her ears to hear it. She was conscious that Uncle Tom was still reading. But oddly, of a sudden, she seemed to lose the power to listen. Elsie heard a cricket calling, and there were countless grass- hoppers jumping about. Her eyes became riveted Onleanspot tm the Moss at her feet. Hére a num- ber of grasshoppers were crawling along in single file. At first there seemed to be nothing unusual in this proceeding, but it gradually — ; fa Lise