MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES 95 



It moves its head slowly from side to side, crossing 

 and attaching the threads until it is hidden from 

 sight, and in secret it finishes the work. When the 

 change that goes on in the cocoon is completed, the 

 moth pushes its way out of one end of the cocoon 

 and hangs like a crumpled mass, as did the butterfly, 

 until the wings are smooth and dry. Then away it 

 goes to hide until nightfall. 



How marvelous is this change! No sleeping 

 princess in a fairy tale could have a more wonderful 

 awakening, nor could a fairy's robe be more enchant- 

 ing than the soft, velvety wings of the butterflies 

 with their exquisite colors. 



Does the caterpillar know that it is to become 

 such a beautiful creature? Is that why it hurries 

 so and eats all it can night and day, to be ready 

 more quickly for its wonderful future? 



The caterpillar does not know why that sleepy 

 feeling comes on. It does not know that it wiU 

 wake up and find itself one of the most beautiful of 

 all creatures. It does not know that the end of its 

 crawling about has come and that after the long 

 sleep it can fly through the soft, transparent air and 

 sip the nectar from the sweet flowers instead of 

 having to chew the tough leaves. It only obeys 

 that ''still, small voice" that speaks to everything 

 in this world and tells it what to do. 



Suppose the caterpillar tired of changing its skin 

 and stopped eating before it was as full grown as its 

 companions, what would become of it? Would it be- 

 come a smaller butterfly than the others, after the en- 

 chanted sleep? Oh, no! It would become no butterfly 



