84 ' THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 



When they reached the field, they saw a number of men 

 swinging their scythes through the tall grass, which was 

 still wet with the morning dew. Hal and his party soon 

 were hard at work, spreading out the new-mown hay so 

 that it would catch the hot rays of the sun. Their merry 

 voices rang through the air as they called back and forth 

 to each other across the field. Meanwhile little Frank, 

 with his blue gauze net flying over his shoulder, was 

 jumping and running about all over the field, often stop- 

 ping to watch the yellow Philodice butterfly at play. The 

 Philodice were very numerous now, and they were flying 

 in pairs round and round over the sweet-scented hay. 



At last Tom stopped work and leaned on the handle 

 of his pitchfork. He was not quite so robust as the 

 country boys, and the work in the hot Summer sun was 

 harder than anything he had been accustomed to. But 

 all the boys began to feel tired, for they had not been 

 playing, but working with a will, each one trying to prove 

 himself the smartest man. They were all quite ready to 

 follow Hal, who proposed that they should stack their 

 pitchforks and go to the Elm. Here they found some 

 fairy had placed a basket of gingerbread and sandwiches 

 and a pail. of iced molasses and water. "Real haymaker's 

 fare," said Ben, as he seized a huge slice of gingerbread 

 and proceeded to dispose of it. Little Frank saw them 

 sitting under the tree, and came up for his share. He 

 held something very carefully in his net. 



