A NATURALIST'S BOYHOOD xm 



Gibson. " From my baby days I was curious about 

 flowers and insects. The two were always united in my 

 mind. What could not have been more than a child- 

 ish guess was confirmed in my later days." Then Mr. 

 Hamilton Gibson paused. I could see he was recalling, 

 not without emotion, some memories of the long past. 



" I was very young, and playing in the woods. I 

 tossed over the fallen leaves, when I came across a 

 chrysalis. There was nothing remarkable in that, for I 

 knew what it was. But, wonderful to relate providen- 

 tially I deem it as I held the object in my hand a but- 

 terfly slowly emerged, then fluttered in my fingers." 



" You were pleased with its beauty," I said. 



" Oh ! It was more than that. I do not know 

 whether I was or was not a youngster with an imagina- 

 tion, but suddenly the spiritual view of a new or of an- 

 other life struck me. I saw in this jewel born from an 

 unadorned casket some inkling of immortality. Yes, 

 that butterfly breaking from its chrysalis in my hand 

 shaped my future career." 



" But some young people may feel passing impulses, but 

 how account for your artistic skill and literary powers ?" 



" As to the art side, at least deftness of hand came 

 early. I had the most methodical of grandmothers. 

 Every day I had a certain task. I made a square of 

 patch-work for a quilt. I learned how to sew, and I can 

 sew neatly to-day. I knew how to use my fingers." 



"Did you like patch-work?" I inquired. 



" I simply despised it. Sewing must have helped me, 

 for it was eye-training, and when I went to work with a 

 pencil and a paint-brush I really had no trouble. I read 

 a great deal. I devoured Cooper's novels and the Rollo 

 series ; but there was one special volume, " Harris on 



