THE FIRST PAPER-MAKER 157 



As soon as the first cells are formed in their early 

 shallow shape, the busy mother, sallying forth once 

 more in search of wood or fibre, proceeds to make 

 more paper-pulp, and construct an umbrella-shaped 

 covering above the three saucers. In each of the 

 three she lays an egg ; and then, leaving the eggs to 



NO. 3. THE CITY, FIVE DAYS OLD. 



hatch out quietly by themselves into larvae, she goes 

 on cutting not bread and butter, like Charlotte 

 in Thackeray's song but more wood-fibre to make 

 more cells and more coverings. These new cells 

 she hangs up beside the original three, and lays 

 an egg in each as soon as it is completed. But a 

 mother's work is never finished ; and surely there 



