WILD PASTURES 



They are old and grumpy, these water 

 goblins, and they never cease to mumble 

 to themselves about their troubles. 



Very likely they complain incessantly 

 because they are hungry and the supply 

 of demoiselle nymphs is running short. 

 There are plenty of demoiselles, flitting 

 back and forth across the pools on glit- 

 tering black wings, which they fold 

 closely to their iridescent green bodies 

 when they light. They are such lady- 

 like dragon-flies that it is no wonder 

 that the name " demoiselle," which 

 French scientists with admirable gallan- 

 try have given them, has stuck. With 

 all their ladylike short and modest flights 

 and the saintly way in which they fold 

 their wings when they light on some 

 leaf beside the pool, a folding as of 

 hands in prayer, the demoiselles are 

 dragon-flies, and each prayer may well 

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