and it does not like us to see
it.

Perhaps it is afraid of us.

ORTHOPTERA

THE OLD COCKROACHES

[Illustration]

Children, here is a cockroach.

It was one of the first insects that came to live on the earth;
cockroaches were here before people, and they are here yet.

You do not think it is pretty?

Neither do I.

I don't know anybody who thinks a cockroach pretty.

Oh, no, it won't bite you.

It will only get into your pantry and eat your food.

It will walk around in the night and frighten you if you go suddenly
into the kitchen.

It will not frighten you on purpose, but when it hears you coming, it
will run, and then maybe you will scream and run too.

What is that, May? You've a good mind to scream and run as it is?

Very well, scream and run if you want to; the cockroach won't care.

We do not often see these big black fellows in the North, but sometimes
we do. Down South cockroaches seem to be everywhere.

What, May? You are never going South, then?

Well, you do not need to go; the cockroaches won't care.

They have little heads and long antennae, like threads.

What is that, May? You don't care anything about their heads? You don't
want to know anything about cockroaches?

Oh, yes, you want to know about cockroaches. Remember how old they are.

They have six legs, you see.

You don't care how many legs they have?

Oh, yes, you do. They could not walk if they had no legs.

You wish they couldn't walk?

Dear me, May; you don't seem to like cockroaches.

Poor old cockroaches.

[Illustration]

Think how old they are.

What is that you say? They are old enough to know better?

Why, May, what have they ever done to you?

Nothing, only you don't like them?

Well, well, they don't like you, either. Poor old cockroaches; nobody
seems to like them.

Perhaps they don't care.

Will you let me tell you where they came from?

They do not belong to this country.

Their natural home is tropical Asia.

You see, about four hundred years ago, the ships that bore fruits and
other merchandise from India and other warm countries in Asia, bore, as
well, a number of little, flat, reddish brown stowaways.

[Illustration]

Stowaways, as you know, are people that do not buy their tickets, but
that hide among the ship's cargo, and so get free transportation to
other countries.

Well, these little flat stowaways were not human beings, they were
insects. Yes, May, they