WILD FLOWERS. 
269 
streams with boulders I am almost unable to 
cross ; but who, however, helps us with our bur- 
dens of beautiful spoils, which, on coming home, 
we spend half the morning arranging in drying- 
paper. Numbers of fine orchids grow on the 
slopes, and round the hut we have many already 
in a thriving state, 
I am serving my apprenticeship as a natural- 
ist, and have made such progress that I can net 
a bee without getting stung, and I now kpow 
the proper way to grasp a beetle 1 Large and 
beautiful butterflies flit among the high trees at 
the stream, and many a half-hour we spend there 
in the hope of capturing some, but they fly so 
high that we are not often rewarded. A beetle 
found by H, among the petals of a rose, a moth 
spied by me in the dark eaves of the old woman’s 
hut, and netted with excited caution, — these and 
suchlike are our pleasures, filling the days of 
this simple life ‘ f far from the madding crowd,” 
With all its drawbacks, we have here enjoy- 
ment of the serenest kind. The wondrously 
beautiful prospect before us never palls ; 
“ Scenes must be beautiful which, daily viewed, 
Please daily. p 
We are out on the verandah ere the outline of 
