As the days went by there were indeed signs all around that spring was on the way. The wind no longer bellowed hoarsely in the treetops, but had a mellow, musical sound and the raindrops that struck the window pane trickled softly as if glad to come out of the clouds. Just after school one bright afternoon Polly came to the door on the side porch and called in to Miss Katharine: "I'll be playing out in the yard awhile. Louise and Nancy have come to stay till half-past five o'clock, so if mother needs me you'll know where to find me." "All right" said Miss Kathy. "Go on and have a jolly time." And a jolly time they had, judging from the merry shouts that came in through the open door. "I've got your tag! I've got your tag!" I could hear Polly say, and then there was a great scampering of feet and roars of laughter as they chased each other up and down the walks. This was kept up for some minutes, then a voice began: "Intery-mintery, cutery-corn, Apple-seed and briar-thorn, Wire, briar, limber-lock, Three geese in one flock; One flew east and one flew west And one flew over the cuckoo's nest." "Oh, Louise, you're out! It's your turn first." "I wonder if we are the geese?" said Nancy. Then they all giggled as if what she had said was very funny. "Louise, Louise, look, look! You're going to have good luck," presently shouted two voices. "A ladybird has lighted on your shoulder." "Oh, goody!" said Louise. "I wonder what my good luck is going to be?" "Shake it off, Louise, let it light on me," said Nancy. "I want good luck to come to me too." "It is just the color of my new crimson dress," declared Polly. "Only your red dress hasn't spots on it," corrected Louise. "No, but the red is about the same shade as my dress. Oh, girls, wouldn't a row of ladybirds for buttons be pretty on my waist?" At this quaint conceit the three girls all giggled again. "I do think they are the cutest little bugs. I never get tired of looking at them," observed Polly. "Bugs? You wouldn't call them bugs, would you?" inquired Louise. "I think they are little beetles." "Beetles? No, no," said Polly and Nancy both in one breath, "A beetle is a big black thing that flies around only at dusk." "Do you suppose your father would know?" asked Louise of Polly. "Let's take it in the house and ask him, and so settle whether it is bug or beetle." And they came running into the sitting room behind the store to show the lady-bird to Polly's father, who was there looking over his paper. "Is it a bug or a beetle?" they asked. He laid down the paper and looked at the pretty little insect a moment. "It is a ladybird." "Yes, of course, we know that, papa; but Nancy and I say it is a bug, and Louise says it's a beetle," explained Polly. "Louise is right," was his reply. "It is classed as a beetle. It is one of the best friends the farmer has, and the fruit grower too." "How is it useful to him?" asked Nancy.