26 UP AND DOWN THE BROOKS. 



If ever a bug was a hypocrite it was Ranatra. 

 I have seen him when a water-boatman would 

 come and perch on his back. Ranatra would be 

 perfectly quiet. He knew he had been taken for 

 a stick, which he so much resembled, and a stick 

 he would be. And when the water-boatman sud- 

 denly took to its oars once more, not the slight- 

 est motion showed that Ranatra was alive. He 

 would hang poised over an unconscious bug, like 

 Damocles' sword, but, though long delayed, at 

 some sudden moment, the sword became alive, 

 and piercing the unfortunate bug finished its life. 



I think Ranatra had no music in his soul, and 

 he probably never missed the bird-twitterings of 

 his native brook. As a personal favor and a 

 reminder of the days when he lived in the creek, 

 I sometimes took a flute and played " 'Way down 

 upon the Swanee River " close to his jar. But 

 the calmness with which he received the serenade 

 was only equal to that with which he usually sur- 

 veyed the world when no music was going on. 

 Neither the " growly " nor the " squeaky " parts 

 of the piano affected his nerves, even when his 

 bottle was placed touching the instrument next 

 the keys. It was fitting, however, that music 

 should have no charms for such a deceiver as 

 Ranatra. Does not Shakespeare say, 



" The " (bug) " that hath no music in himself, 

 Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, 

 Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils ? " 



