PREJUDICE COMBATED. 91 



and bespattered gaiters evidence of our having been out 

 fishing not after wholesome perch or carp, but after insect 

 fry " poisonous pond varmints!" for whose domestic accom- 

 modation she looked upon the commonest of all her basins 

 as too good by half. Poor Martha! Time was when all 

 these, our harmless practices, brought thee both sore annoy- 

 ance and something worse ; since we believe, verily, that thou 

 didst take them for signs significant of thy old master's ap- 

 proaching dotage. 



We value our humble friend a great deal too highly ever 

 to feel quite indifferent about her opinion far less her feel- 

 ings however founded in lack of knowledge or in weakness. 

 We essayed, therefore, quite as much for our sake as for her's, 

 to overcome her prejudice against the insect race, and we 

 have succeeded ; but it was by means of going to work very 

 gently with her antipathies. 



We fanned them with the wings of butterflies dazzled 

 them by the lustre of our golden chafers amused and fairly 

 deceived them by the oddity of our caterpillar " puss." Hav- 

 ing thus cleared a loop-hole for its entrance, we threw in on 

 each of our subjects a ray of light, by the double evidence 

 of eyes and spectacles, convinced our wondering convert that 

 butterflies are of caterpillars come that there is no such 

 great difference, after all, betwixt the green chafer, our love 

 among the roses, and the black-beetle her horror among 

 insects and even that there are not wanting strong features 



