A bumble-bee sat on the wild-rose tree, And grumbled because he was big and fat; "Just look at yon butterfly light," quoth he, "I wish I were airy and graceful like that! O ho! I know 'Tis hard to be heavy, and huge, and slow!" A mischievous boy the butterfly caught, And in his rough grasp it fluttered and died. Sir Bumble his dagger drew out, and thought That his end had come; but he boldly cried: "Come on! My son; This stinger and I weigh nearly a ton." "You'll have to excuse me, sir," said the lad, "I know the weight of your little barbed spear. Were your logic less pungent I'd be most glad To meet you in conflict and vanquish you here. Good-day! I'll say; For I fear 'twould unhealthy prove to stay." The bumble-bee laughed a stitch in his side When he saw the youngster in full retreat; Then he stretched himself in a new-born pride And threw out his chest with martial conceit. "Dear me!" Said the bee, "'Tis easy to see An ounce of sting Is better than yards of butterfly-wing." And now you shall have a story that isn't in verse, though there's poetry in it. "Turn about is fair play," and this will interest you in the butterflies. PRETTY DUSTY WINGS. DEAR JACK: Please let me tell you this true story: Dusty Wings is the name of a charming little pet of mine; and he is so curious a thing to have for a pet, that if it were not for his name, I don't believe you could ever guess what he is. One day in the early part of November, as I sat by the window, I noticed lying on the piazza a beautiful butterfly, with his gorgeous wings outspread. He was apparently stunned by the cold, as he did not attempt to fly away when I went to pick him up. I brought him into the warm room, when he soon became very lively. His body is dark brown, covered with fine hairs, which look like feathers when put under a magnifying glass. The wings show all the colors of the rainbow, arranged in the most artistic manner. The wings themselves are transparent, like those of a fly, and the color is given to them by fine scales, which come off very easily. The _antennae_ which grow from each side of the head are black and white.