STER)

(MARCH OR APRIL)

A LESSON OF FAITH

BY MRS. ALFRED GATTY (ADAPTED)

"Let me hire you as a nurse for my poor children," said a butterfly to
a quiet caterpillar, who was strolling along a cabbage-leaf in her odd,
lumbering fashion.

"See these little eggs," continued the butterfly; "I do not know how
long it will be before they come to life, and I feel very sick. If I
should die, who will take care of my baby butterflies when I am gone?
Will you, kind, mild, green caterpillar? They cannot, of course, live
on your rough food. You must give them early dew, and honey from the
flowers, and you must let them fly about only a little way at first.
Dear me! it is a sad pity that you cannot fly yourself. Dear, dear! I
cannot think what made me come and lay my eggs on a cabbage-leaf! What
a place for young butterflies to be bore upon! Here, take this gold-dust
from my wings as a reward. Oh, how dizzy I am! Caterpillar! you will
remember about the food--"

And with these words the butterfly drooped her wings and died. The green
caterpillar, who had not had the opportunity of even saying "yes"
or "no" to the request, was left standing alone by the side of the
butterfly's eggs.

"A pretty nurse she has chosen, indeed, poor lady!" exclaimed she, "and
a pretty business I have in hand. Why did she ever ask a poor crawling
creature like me to bring up her dainty little ones! Much they'll mind
me, truly, when they feel the gay wings on their backs, and can fly
away."

However, the poor butterfly was dead, and there lay the eggs on the
cabbage-leaf, and the green caterpillar had a kind heart, so she
resolved to do her best.

"But two heads are better than one," said she; "I will consult some wise
animal on the matter."

Then she thought and thought till at last she thought of the lark, and
she fancied that because he went up so high, and nobody knew where he
went to, he must be very clever and know a great deal.

Now in the neighboring cornfield there lived a lark, and the caterpillar
sent a message to him, begging him to come and talk to her. When he came
she told him all her difficulties, and asked him how she was to feed and
rear the little butterfly creatures.

"Perhaps you will be able to inquire and learn something about it the
next time you go up high," said the caterpillar timidly.

"Perhaps I can," answered the lark; and then he went singing upwards
into the bright, blue sky, till the green caterpill