380 NATURE STUDY. 



As I watched these some of the voices began to sound clearer. 

 One green pod showed a little crack near the upper end. I peeped in, 

 and well, I cannot tell you what I saw ; it was too pretty to tell 

 about. I thought I had seen some pretty cradles, but that was the 

 Jaintiest. It rocked back and forth so gently. It had the finest, 

 smoothest lining. At first I could see inside only the softest, finest, 

 whitest silk. I looked again, and then well, maybe you won't be- 

 lieve me, but it is so ; I saw them there were in that cradle hun- 

 dreds, yes hundreds of babies. Some, those near the top, were wide 

 awake, and trying to get out ; some were just waking up ; and some, 

 those lower down, were sound asleep. 



Some little folks that I know cannot sleep together, with only two 

 in a bed, without sometimes pushing and pulling, and sometimes, I 

 am afraid, quarrelling. But the little folks in this cradle were not 

 quarrelling, or even pushing one another. Each had his place. 



Those at the top began to sit up, and one peeped out. Then I saw 

 that each had two legs, but I could not find any arms. I began to 

 wonder how all those babies were going to get a living. They cer- 

 tainly could not go very far on those weak little legs. I could not see 

 how they could even stand up on them. If they all settled down to- 

 gether, and all tried to grow as big as their mother well, most of 

 them would have to starve to death, or die because they could not 

 get air to breathe. Poor babies ! they would have a hard time of it. 



I watched the baby who was farthest out, and what was the mat- 

 ter with his legs ? They seemed to be getting thicker and thicker. 

 Suddenly out he jumped ; and his legs changed, right before my eyes, 

 into it would be hard for me to believe it if I had not seen it 

 into wings, the daintiest, fluffiest, most beautiful wings ; and away he 

 went, carried by a puff of wind which happened along just then. 

 Then another, and another, and another came out in the same way, 

 spread its wings, and flew away. 



I had been so interested watching the babies that I could see or 

 hear nothing else. Now I heard all about me the funniest sounds. 

 The stem of the milkweed was laughing, and at the same time telling 

 the roots how the babies were flying away. The wonderful thing for 

 which all had been working and waiting had happened at last. The 

 milkweed leaves, every one of them, were dancing and singing, 

 " Didn't we tell you so ? Didn't we tell you all if you would wait 

 until fall you would find out ? " The robin was singing his happiest 

 song. The ferns were nodding, and bowing, and dancing for joy. 

 The buttercup was smiling and laughing and chuckling all at once. 



