208 



OUR BACKDOOR NEIGHBORS 



about uncertainly and gradually unfolded her 

 wings until they were nicely spread, as a 

 butterfly's should be. She then remained 

 quietly hanging to the shell of the empty casket 

 from which she had so lately emerged, while 

 she dried her feathers and gained strength to 

 venture forth. 



All too soon she began flitting her wings as 

 though to try them, and soon rinding them 

 strong enough to bear her weight flew to the 

 window. She was then released and sailed 



away in the sunshine. 

 She was soon sipping 

 nectar from the clover 

 blossoms, and from the 

 roadside thistles, all un- 

 mindful of the coarser 

 food which had so lately 

 sustained her, and prob- 

 ably forgetful of the 

 hard life that had so re- 

 cently prepared her for 

 the glorified state in 

 which she now found 

 herself. 



The Naturalist had 

 M lost all trace of his 



She then remained quietly hanging to the shell 

 of the empty casket. 



