THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 6 1 



how many flowers you can crush with your tiny foot, or 

 how many poor butterflies you can worry out of hfe ; only, 

 if you should happen to find a big one, don't ride off" 

 upon it, and leave us forlorn." 



Frank fairly turned a somerset with delight, and scam- 

 pered ofl" among the Birches. All the others soon followed 

 him, the boys carrying butterfly-nets and the girls little 

 tin boxes and baskets for flowers. Maggie remained with 

 Annie, and when all the rest were gone, she sat down on 

 the grass, and the two girls talked over all that had 

 happened since they parted. Maggie mentioned Annie's 

 lameness. "I do beUeve," said she, "that if Dr. Grey 

 could see you, he would be able to cure you. He has 

 done so many wonderful things of that kind." 



"I am afraid to hope for any such thing," said Annie, 

 "only I cannot help thinking how nice it would be if I 

 could walk just a little, if only enough to save mother 

 from waiting upon me so much." 



While the girls were talking, Mr. Benedict came climbing 

 up the rock, carrying his net, and an armful of branches 

 covered with large Oak-leaves. He saw the girls, and 

 came over to where they were sitting. 



"I brought these leaves for you to make berry-cups of," 

 said he. "By running the stems through the points of 

 the leaf, you can make very nice cups for the young folks 

 to use at their lunch." 



