New Walks in Old Ways 



Mistress Butterfly as she came his 

 way. If she found him exceptionally 

 sweet and tarried long — as butterflies 

 measure time — to show her apprecia- 

 tion, that was his reward." 



"Well, if there is such a thing as re- 

 incarnation," the butterfly's critic adds, 

 "and she could choose her own form 

 for her next existence, I hope she will 

 return as a meadow lark, and build her 

 nest close by the roots of that same 

 clover clump. Even the frivolous, 

 you know, have consciences, if they be 

 but touched." There are so-called 

 frivolous ones whose frivolity is merely 

 a cloak assumed, who are true as steel, 

 even when appearing most irrespon- 

 sible. Such are the devious ways in 

 which our many-colored natures mani- 

 fest themselves. 



Next June another butterfly will 

 drink as deeply from another clover 

 cup. Only not many of you will stop, 

 as I did, to study the proposition. 

 You might be doing something else 

 [80] 



