22 THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 



" I saw some of those great yellow butterflies he told 

 about, in a Museum once, under a glass," said Tom; "and 

 I thought then they were painted instead of being real 

 butterflies." 



" I 've often seen them flying about," said Hal, " and 

 once I caught a big one in my cap, but he was broken 

 all to pieces and I threw him away." 



"Well," said Johnny, "now Mr. Benedict has taught us 

 how to use nets, I think I can catch one without break- 

 ing it." 



"Annie, don't you feel very tired sitting still here all 

 these pleasant Spring days } " asked Tom. 



" O no," she rephed ; " I can look out of the window and 

 watch mother working among her flowers ; and then Johnny 

 is such a good boy, and brings me in mosses and wild- 

 flowers almost every day. Only I do long sometimes to 

 be out in the woods myself, and feel the soft Pine carpet 

 under my feet and hear the roar of the wind in the tree- 

 tops." 



" And so you shall, Annie," said Hal. " Some warm 

 day I will carry you to the woods myself" 



Then the boys told the girls that after a while they 

 were going to have a grand picnic in the grove at the 

 Den Rocks, and Mrs. Webb said if Annie was well enough 

 she should be carried to the grove to enjoy it with them. 



It was now time to go home ; and after saying good 



