STRAIGHT- WINGED INSECTS. 151 



ity. The gentle lamb, that even " licks the hand just 

 raised to shed its blood," shows us not only, 



" Blindness to the future, kindly given, 



That each may fill the circle marked by Heaven ;" 



But it affords us the most striking example of con- 

 fiding innocence and of spotless purity. The meta- 

 morphosis of the crawling Caterpillar into the beau- 

 tiful and lively butterfly, has in all ages proved a les- 

 son of comfort and of hope to man, almost divesting 

 death of its terrors by pointing the soul to its more 

 glorious garb in that higher aud purer ether into 

 which it introduces him. So each animated atom of 

 Creation bears the stamp of some great moral or in- 

 tellectual significance, and appeals alike to the poet's 

 enthusiasm, the naturalist's all-absorbing love of na- 

 ture, the philosopher's burning desire to penetrate 

 hidden mysteries, and to man's universal and unborn 

 conviction that nought was ever made in vain. 



Such reflections might be pursued through a thou- 

 sand various ramifications, and assuredly prove what 

 the contemplation of this little insect could do, if they 

 do not satisfactorily acquaint us with what " Katy-did." 

 But a facetious poet has asked this little insect tattler 

 what occasioned its ever-lasting song of " Katy-did," 

 and pretends to have obtained, for an answer, certain 

 hints as to sundry interviews between a certain Miss 

 Katy and her lover. After describing the happy in- 

 terview beneath the moon-lit bower of love, and as- 



