GNAT IMAGO. 29 



brilliant theatre, emerges through the rent, followed by the 

 shoulders and the filmy wings which are to play upon the 



air. But have a care, my little debutant ! thou art yet 



upon the water ; an unlucky somerset would wet thy still soft 

 and drooping pinions, and render them unfit for flight. Now 

 is thy critical moment hold thee steady lose not thy per- 

 pendicular, or But why fear we for the little mariner ? 



He who clothes the lily and feeds the sparrow has provided 

 him support in this, his point of peril. The stiff covering of 

 his recent form, from which he is struggling to escape, now 

 serves him as a life-boat. His upright body forms its mast 

 as well as sail, and in the breeze now rippling the water, he 

 is wafted rapidly along. He will assuredly be capsized from 

 press of sail. But see, he has acquired by this time other 

 helps to aid his self-preserving efforts. His slender legs 

 (hitherto hung pendant) now feel for and find the surface of 

 the pool. His boat is left behind and, still endowed with one 

 aquatic power, he stands a moment on the water, then rises 

 buoyant, a winged inhabitant of air ! 



'"Set ug tjjen gtrttoe to fieep up our fiuopancy." 



