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IN offering this little volume to the public of youthful readers the author wishes to say that it has no claim to the completeness of a scientific treatise, but is merely the result of a summers rambling through the woods and meadows of New England. It is, however, accurate as far as it goes. The illustrations have been drawn and engraved, with great care and accuracy, by MR. ALBERT C. RUSSELL, of Boston, from specimens in the authors collection, and all the descriptions have been carefully studied from nature. The volume is published with the .hope that it will awaken in boys and girls a greater interest in the study of a delightful branch of natural history ; and the author will be fully satisfied if other little folks find in reading it as much pleasure as it has already given to a little boy named Tom, for whom it was written, and to whom it is fondly dedicated by his M
, ^ ' festooned of evergreen, in butterflies, It which with long wreaths which were fastened innumerable yellow Tom and Hal had been collecting all for this very purpose THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS l6l The young folks began to gather on the bank of the Mountain Stream about noon All our old friends of the butterfly class werre there, who had been invited and many other young people and Hal, with Maggie Stewart, were the "Now," homage said Jennie to The young Annie to Tom to share the sports of the day last to arrive Graham, "we are all here ready to our Queen." folks arrive were waiting with much impatience for With the exception of Tom and Hal, no one had seen her since her recovery It was not long before a shout was heard from the boys who had been sent to the entrance of the picnic ground to herald the coming of the royal watched eagerly cession The children all approach, and very soon the pro- for its Two appeared party maids of honor came then Annie with Rose and little Mary first, and Behind them came Mr Benedict, Annie's father and mother, and the parents of some of the other young folks Annie was dressed spangled all over with silver butterflies head she wore a wreath of white flowers green, As Annie walked the young folks It the woods ring with their shouts much to believe that she was them there happy and well, instead of being the lame girl they had known for so long a time Mr Benedict took Annie's ii her' slowly across the green to her throne,, made was almost too On in hand and assisted withfeeble; her' to THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS 62 mount the The throne four maids of honor seated them- on the moss-covered steps at her feet Then Annie looked all round on the company and smiled her thanks selves welcome for its hearty " Now, Queen Mr said boys," resting with is time in games, after " Benedict, her let maids, which we will while us see our pretty spend the which boy will all have the good fortune to win the privilege of escorting the Queen to lunch." The boys had arranged a croquet ground on the green, and it was now taken possession of by a party of the young others went folks, been put up search Autumn of the in enjoy the swings which had to grove, flowers and and some strayed away in Maggie Stewart grasses The meeting stayed with Annie and her maids of honor between the two say which- It was hard to girls was very joyous the most pleasure, Maggie to know that felt her friend was well, or Annie to think that she was so partly through Maggie's instrumentality "So you are to be caught and carried off as a prize, Annie," said Maggie "O replied Annie, no," The boys "And are to if Mary me if shall not be caught at they can, but they all can't." they don't catch you, then they have no right to try for the little win "I maids of honor, have they " ? asked modest THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS 163 "No, Mary They must catch the Queen without any of us." first, or go was not long before the company, especially the boys, came trooping back to the green They were on tiptoe It know about catching to When the Queen they were all Rose stood up by Annie and said that the would now yield up her place as head of the assembled, Queen Festival who said succeeds," Rose, head of the the at any boy who could to the If Festival table catch "shall stand "The boy with the Queen her and be hailed King of the Queen conquers all her subjects she have the right to choose her own companion." By order of the girls the boys had built two seats on the throne, and they were now to fight for the right of shall occupying the vacant one by Annie's side Rose said she thought the boys would yield to Mr Benedict the right make to "No, the no, first trial we won't that," said Tom, Hal, and a dozen others at once , "Then you must draw Tom lots for chances," said wrote some numbers on they were all shaken little Rose pieces of paper together in a basket, which and Rose held, and each boy drew out one ticket Only the boys belonging to the butterfly class were allowed to draw " Number one " ! shouted Joe Dane, as ticket triumphantly over his head he waved his THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS 164 Annie came down the know what he was expected him handed forward and sticks Another maid and stood on steps of her throne Joe Dane was waiting the grass a to in great excitement to and a pair of grace-hoop honor of when Rose stepped do, gave a similar set to Annie "The boy who can crown me with Annie, "shall conduct me back the vacant seat by side." my They were skilful all hoop," said and occupy to the throne All the boys cheered loudly for the game the Queen and for the players and they laughed at Annie's confidence that no one could catch her " Where did Annie "O, Annie used learn to play play with to she sat by the front door at catching the hoop I " ? asked Gilbert me," said Johnny, "as home, and she never missed don't believe one of you can crown her." At a signal from Rose the trimmed with which were game flowers, The started flew back hoops, and forth through the air Joe's four throws, which were all that were allowed to each boy, were soon given, and at every throw Annie caught the hoop gracefully and surely on the end of her sticks sticks and came next The boys shouted as Joe threw down his retired discomfited from the field He Gilbert's turn confidently took up the sticks "Annie," said he, "it 's too bad for such a great fellow THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS am play with you 165 can throw the hoops so much faster than you can catch them." For reply Annie sent a hoop whirling at his head which, as I to I before he could spring and catch landed safely on his it, broad shoulders " Now But me the same to was no it use you can," said Annie if after Boy and tried his skill boy failed "Annie will get tired at last," said Ben Wait, "and then she will be easily caught." "No, she won't be with At me all had and gave tried all as fast as they were, be over Johnny "She often plays the afternoon." all length his place tired," said and He failed except Hal his attention to the throws it Playing did not take long for the Annie caught the last took trial hoop and whirling it to on her sticks turned in triumph to the boys "Now Annie is Queen," shouted must ascend the throne alone." "No, said Frankie," throne alone I am Annie, "I little shall Then turning homage to their to the King were at their own not mount my going to take you with me." She went forward and taking the led him up the steps and placed him side Frank, "and she failure company The whole little fellow's hand, in the chair at her she bade them party, vexed as all they to win the place of honor, burst THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS 66 and into roars of laughter, The Frank as King all hastened forward to greet fellow little was almost wild with delight "Now," said Annie, "choose your companion and we march to the lunch table." " am bound will somebody," said Joe Dane, and seizing a grace-hoop he threw it over the head of little Mary and led her off in triumph I to catch The boys had for built a rustic table just within the grove, the lunch leaves, and It was trimmed with evergreen and red was placed a small Fir-tree, its in the centre branches ornamented with gay-colored butterflies The party spent a long time about the table was full silver butterflies in a As of fun new she moved about among them glistening in the light, she Annie all, seemed to her be world After lunch they spent the time in singing and playing But the day passed away, as all sweet things do, games and the long shadows of the setting sun them to turn towards home It was Tom's last at length warned After the evening in the country home with him to his uncle's picnic the whole party walked house They were through the long companion, full skilful all unwilling to bid him good by, for Summer days he had been their favorite and ready of fun and good-nature at all their games, and always THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS The parting words were Elm under the watched foot his of the young hill chiefs as a last all said at Tom last stood with his sister and his two cousins, and friends they all go off down the road good by, and then passed out of Cambridge : At the turned and waved their handker- Electrotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co sight