CHAPTER XV. 



THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH. 



The subject of two of our most interesting Conver- 

 sations — the Music of Insects — was introduced by a 

 casual discussion between Sarah, Hugli and Dan. The 

 autumn air, ever since our advent to the old farm, liad 

 been full of the shrilling of crickets, and the noisy 

 vocalization of katy-dids. As the Fall advanced the 

 notes grew fewer and fainter. Silence fell upon the air 

 after the light, early frosts, which was broken once 

 more Avhen the returning warmth of October's mellow 

 suns allured the insects from their refuge in holes, under 

 stones and in crevices of trees. Tlie call of the katy-did 

 at last ceased ; the crickets creaked on through the 

 dreamy haze of Indian summer, then fell into silence 

 over all the fields, leaving only here and there a for- 

 tunate adventui'er to push his way into human habita- 

 tions, and from the shelter of friendly wall-crannies or 

 the warmth of a log-fire figure with his monotonous 

 chirrup as the "Cricket on the Hearth." (Fig. 96.) 



One evening Hugh and Dan were sitting on the bench 

 beside the back-kitchen door, smoking their pipes and 

 exchanging views upon the merits and demerits of in- 

 sects of various sorts. One of the pleasant results of 



our Conversations has been to supply our regular and 



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