Atalapha, a Winged Brownie 
skyward above the trees, sometimes spinning up 
and down, faster than any of its lesser kin. One 
not gifted with night eyes would have marvelled 
to learn that in all this airy wheeling and speeding 
she, for it was a Queen Bat, carried a heavy burden. 
Clinging to her breast were two young Bats, her 
offspring. They were growing fast and already a 
heavy weight; but none who marked only the 
mother’s flight would have guessed that she was so 
trammelled and heavy laden. 
Up and down the fairway of the water she 
skimmed, or high above the trees where roam the 
bigger flyers of the night, till she had caught and 
eaten her fill, then after another hovering drink at 
the Beaver pond she left the almost-deserted fly- 
way and soaring over the treetops, she made up the 
mountain-side to her home den, a knot-hole in a hol- 
low maple too small to be entered by Marten or 
Hawk or any creature big enough to do her harm. 
THE SCHOOLING OF A BROWNIE 
As June, the Moon of Roses, passed, the young 
Bats grew apace. They were full furred now, and 
their weight so great that the mother left them in 
the den in the hollow branch each time she went 
forth seeking food. Now she brought back the 
bodies of her prey, moths and June-bugs; for the 
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