THE LADY-BIRD OF OUR CHILDHOOD. 



" Give me leave 



To 0# mfjill) and I will through, and through 

 Cleanse the foul surface of the infected leaf. 11 



MANY who exterminate Spiders as a matter of merit, crush 

 Earwigs without remorse, and hold .Z?/ac&-Beetles in abhor- 

 rence, look with involuntary kindness on the little jRfccZ-Beetle, 

 styled a Lady -bird. For this especial favour she stands in- 

 debted partly to her pretty spotted gown, and partly to her 

 being associated with the earliest recollections of OUT child- 

 hood. A word or two, en passant, on Nursery Rhymes, on 

 that one at least which is pertinent to our subject : 



" Lady-bird ! Lady-bird ! fly away home, 

 Your house ia on fire and your children alone !" 



