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THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS.
Tales told
_BY THE CRICKET, TEAPOT, AND SAUCEPAN_
BY COUSIN VIRGINIA.
NEW YORK:
WORTHINGTON CO.,
747 BROADWAY.
1888.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
NICHOLS AND NOYES,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.
Press of J.J. Little & Co.,
Astor Place, New York.
TO
Minnie Slack,
with all fresh young hearts and loving souls akin to her's, this
little book is dedicated,
BY COUSIN VIRGINIA.
My little friends, who read the first volume of the "Kettle Club" last
Christmas, will remember an allusion to the introduction of new members
this year. Their history will here be presented.
CONTENTS.
THE TRAVELLED SPIDER 14
THE AMBITIOUS WASP 41
THE DISAPPOINTED CATERPILLAR 73
THE FOUR SILVER PEACHES 82
GOING MAYING 101
GRANDPAPA MOUSE AND HIS FAMILY 116
THE ENCHANTED BABY-HOUSE 152
THE STORY OF AN UMBRELLA 179
THE GODMOTHER'S GIFTS 194
THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS.
The Club were all curiosity for some time to see the new members who
were to be introduced into the select circle.
"I am afraid of spiders," remarked the Teapot, with a lady-like shiver.
"If a caterpillar touched me, I should run a mile," exclaimed the
Saucepan.
"None of them can reach me," laughed the Kettle with a gurgle of
satisfaction.
At last the Cricket marched the strangers in one night, and gave them
places about the hearth.
"Allow me," said he, flourishing his right feeler in the air, "to
introduce to you, friends, some very distinguished additions to our
number,--the travelled Spider, the disappointed Caterpillar, and the
ambitious Wasp."
"How do you all do?" inquired the Kettle very politely, for the Saucepan
and Teapot seemed rather stiff in their manners.
"Very well, thank you," growled the Spider.
"Quite so," croaked the Caterpillar.
"In excellent spirits," echoed the Wasp, folding his gauzy wings in a
satisfied way.
"If it is agreeable to the rest, I propose your all joining the Club,"
continued the Cricket briskly.
"Certainly," assented the Kettle; "the more the merrier, you know."
"I think we should be extremely careful about admitting strangers to our
circle, unless they bring letters of introduction," said the Teapot
primly.
As for the Saucepan, she contented herself with looking sideways at the
Caterpillar, and coughing contemptuously. This was not very pleasant; so
the Cricket trotted up to the two rebellious members, and gave them a
pretty sharp lecture upon the laws of courtesy and good breeding, which
served effectually to make them ashamed of themselves. The visitors now
became angry, and began to talk together of leaving without delay,
which naturally distressed the good-hearted president, who was so much
affected by a desire to do something pleasant, that he swung himself
wildly upon the hook, and thereby sprinkled those below with a stream of
scalding water.
"Mercy!" shrieked the Wasp, dancing on one foot in an agony.
"Oh, my back!" groaned the Caterpillar, rolling himself about in a ball.
"What ails you, Kettle?" cried the poor Cricket, running about with his
eye almost put out from receiving a whole drop in it. "Do keep your hot
water to yourself."
The Spider alone was unhurt; so he merely shook himself, and sat
chuckling at the discomfiture of the others.
After doing all this mischief, the Kettle subsided, with many meek
apologies.
"We can give you references enough, if that is all you want," said the
Wasp snappishly; "but we had better leave, I think, comrades, before we
have another hot bath. My hind leg is completely disabled."
"Do not go," urged the Cricket. "We should enjoy your society so much, I
am sure, when we become better acquainted."
The three visitors looked at each other in silence for a time; then the
Spider said,--
"I have just returned home, and, as it is so near, I do not mind running
in to spend the evening; so I will join the Club."
"I will also," said the Caterpillar in a dismal tone of voice, "only I
am not very good company for any one now."
"Dear me," said the Wasp, airily, "I shall not promise to remain any
longer than I am amused."
The Teapot and Saucepan became more amiable in their behavior as the
evening advanced, and the Cricket hastened to assure the new-comers that
references, other than their evident respectability of appearance, were
entirely unnecessary. They insisted upon producing testimony, however.
The Caterpillar took from his throat, about which it was twisted like a
cravat, a bit of green rose-leaf, and handed it to the Cricket, who read
aloud,--
"I can certify that my esteemed friend, the Caterpillar, will prove
a charming addition to any circle.
"GRASSHOPPER, Jr."
The Wasp then passed a lump of wax to the chairman, with these words
pecked upon it:--
"I cordially recommend our neighbor Wasp to the society of all
intelligent people, as a most refined and agreeable companion.
"A. TITMOUSE, Esq."
The Spider alone of the three gave no letter, but said coolly,--
"I have seen plenty of the world, yet I have never troubled myself with
such nonsense as cards."
"You will not find ceremonies of the kind necessary here," remarked the
Cricket, with a severe glance at the Teapot. "Perhaps you will tell us
something of your adventures, however.
"I do not mind doing so at all," returned the Spider, gathering up his
long legs into a more comfortable position.
THE TRAVELLED SPIDER.
I was born in the cellar of this very house, and, for a delightful,
spidery residence, I know of no place to equal the dark, dust-stained
window ledge where I first drew breath. After a long period of absence,
I find my early home has lost none of its charms. This is the case with
men as well as spiders, I am told. The American thinks there is no river
in the world so grand as the great Mississippi; the Frenchman none so
beautiful as the Seine; the Englishman none so famous as the Thames; the
German as the Rhine; and the Egyptian as the sacred Nile,--because home
is represented by each.
"So, too, with me the cellar window has rare attractions: there one can
spin a dainty web to snare the silly flies and gnats, when they come
dancing along, for supper. Never believe the life of a spider is an
easy one, though: that is an altogether false idea. We work hard enough,
although we wear such good armor, and have such sharp, strong claws; for
we live by our wits, and a dull, stupid spider has but a poor chance of
it. First, one has to be on the watch for stray morsels of food, to be
ready for a pounce; then one's net may become torn in some way so as to
require mending; or a wandering spider comes prowling along to try and
conquer a home without the trouble of making it: so between all these
cares there is little leisure time to spare. The class to which I belong
does not have the constant labor that falls to the share of some of our
cousins, who spin their webs from trees, or festoon them about verandas
and other exposed localities, where the wind often blows them about so
roughly, that they are obliged to suspend bits of wood and stone to the
corners to maintain an equilibrium. I have some other relatives, to
think of whom alone is enough to warm any spider's heart with pride.
"Foremost of these ranks the scorpion of warmer climates, where it
creeps into sheltered crannies under every stone or sandy bank, even
inhabiting boots and gloves. When disturbed, out it pounces, with an
angry snap of the claws and a savage whisk of the tail, ready for some
mischief, you may be sure.
"Ah, I wish I was a scorpion, instead of a mere ordinary spider! But
then every one cannot be great, after all.
"Well, even the scorpion is foolish sometimes, as I will presently tell
you. It lives in burrows, which it digs in the ground, the entrance
being formed to the exact size of the insect. By the shape of the hole
people discover the residence, and, when they wish to destroy the
inmate, they pour some water down, to see if the scorpion is at home.
The scorpion detests water; and it no sooner feels the stream trickling
through the opening, than out it rushes, to see what is the matter. To
drive a spade into the hole and kill the scorpion is then an easy task.
"There is still another mode of destroying these princes of our race. A
circle of smouldering ashes is made around the burrow, and the scorpion,
after running for some minutes about the space inclosed, and seeing no
means of escape from the ring of fire, invariably bends its tail up over
the back, and inserting the point between two segments of the body,
stings itself to death.
"I have another powerful relative, to be found in South America. This is
a large hairy spider, two inches long in body, and seven inches with
expanded legs. Only fancy such a size! I should be a mere pigmy in
comparison. This spider is so powerful that it can kill small birds, by
entangling them in a strong web. Think of that!" cried the Spider,
hugging himself with satisfaction.
"You need not turn up your broken nose, Madame Teapot: we are all
murderers; still we do any amount of good, after all, in destroying
insects that would otherwise cause much trouble."
"I don't believe a word of what you say," interrupted the Saucepan. "A
spider kill a bird, indeed! Nobody ever heard of such a thing."
"My dear," interposed the Teapot scornfully, feeling very much angered
at the allusion to her nose made by the ill-bred stranger, "great
travellers always tell fine stories."
"While you stay at home, and, seeing nothing, doubt what we say,"
retorted the Spider half angrily.
"Oh, dear me!" exclaimed the Cricket impatiently, "shall we never have
peace? I was so much interested in your recital, friend, that an
interruption seems very annoying indeed."
"I am glad to find you a Cricket of such large views," replied the
Spider politely; "so I will proceed, if it affords you any pleasure. My
mother had much more experience of the outside world than any of her
neighbors, and, when I was still young, she talked with my father one
night about my future prospects in life. I remember that we children
were in the nursery--a silken tube, very soft and warm for our tender
bodies--when I overheard her remarks.
"'I cannot consent that my eldest son should settle down here at home,
when there is so much to be seen that will improve his mind,' she said.
"'That is foolish,' returned my father wisely. 'He will only fall into
all manner of mischief, and he cannot make himself any thing but a house
spider after all.'
"I never slept a wink afterward, that night; and soon after I gained the
consent of my parents to start on my travels.
"I had an easier time than most insects would enjoy, in leaving the
shelter of their homes. When I was in danger I could generally trust
that my long legs would carry me out of harm's way; and, if I was not
able to escape, I just hid under a stone, or rolled myself up into a
snug ball among the loose soil.
"I cannot begin to tell you all the curious adventures I had, or the
strange things I heard; for I have been away such a long while, I have
forgotten more than half. Still I remember a few particulars of
interest.
"I was trotting about one day through a field of dry stubble, when I saw
a pleasant river winding along in the sunlight, and sought the bank. The
first object I noticed was a Kingfisher, seated motionless upon an
overhanging branch, and peering eagerly down into the water in search
of food. A very handsome bird is the Kingfisher, I assure you, with his
blue coat of shining feathers, and scarlet shirt front; but so still is
he when watching for prey, you would not notice him, sometimes, among
the bushes.
"'How are you to-day, sir?' I cried, while still at a distance. 'Are the
fish lively, may I inquire?'
"'Keep quiet, will you?' said the Kingfisher, turning his head
impatiently towards me.
"'There, I have lost a splendid chance through your speaking,' he added
angrily, as a fish darted past.
"'I am very sorry to have disturbed you,' I replied, crawling out upon a
twig, the better to observe his proceedings.
"'I have carried every thing home to my family, and I am now as empty as
a drum,' said the Kingfisher in an aggrieved tone, and then he resumed
his watch.
"Suddenly down he dropped into the water, with a rush that fairly took
my breath away, and, after splashing about furiously for a few seconds,
returned to land, having a small fish in his beak.
"'Ha, ha!' laughed the Kingfisher, 'I've got you at last. Yes, and there
is plenty of room left for some of your plump brothers and sisters
besides.'
"So saying, he tossed the poor fish up in the air; then, opening wide
his beak, caught and swallowed it with great apparent relish. I was very
much amused by all this; so I said, as he settled upon the perch once
more,--
"'Well, well, we spiders are considered terrible butchers by most
people, but we are rather more dainty than to gulp down our meals in
that fashion. I hope you may not suffer from an indigestion, Mr.
Kingfisher.'
"'Do not worry over that,' returned he, cocking his bright eye at me.
Then he flew away, and I scrambled after him as fast as I could, for I
was curious to see how Madame Kingfisher and the babies fared.
"I followed the flight of the bird until he disappeared on the ground
somewhere, and I arrived just in time to see him pop into a hole on the
water side of the bank. I crept into the tunnel, which was originally
made by a tiny animal, the water-shrew, and which had been enlarged by
the Kingfisher to suit the size of the nest. This nest, my dear friends,
I found to be composed of dried fish-bones,--mostly those of
minnows,--and arranged in a nearly flat form, save a slight hollow
pressed by the bird's shape while laying eggs."
"Oh, oh!" spurted the incredulous Saucepan, "that is a worse fib than
the account of the bird spider."
"Very wonderful, indeed," bubbled the Kettle, who had not ventured to
speak since he scalded the company.
"I could tell you stranger things than that," said the Wasp, hopping out
upon the hearth nimbly as the Kettle swung.
"One at a time, if you please," interposed the Cricket, restoring order.
"You would not doubt the truth of what I say," continued the Spider,
shrugging his shoulders, and making a comical grimace, "if you once
sniffed the horribly fishy odor of the Kingfisher's burrow. Bah! I can
smell it yet. I hid in a dark corner, watching them as long as I dared;
for I feared I should be crushed when the bird came out again, the
entrance was so small.
"'How do you find yourself, my love?' inquired the father Kingfisher
politely.
"'It is rather dull, you know,' replied the mother Kingfisher. 'Hush,
nestlings, you cannot eat another morsel; so be quiet.'
"They chippered together for a while; then I ran out just in time, for
the other followed quickly.
"'What are you doing in my house?' he asked angrily.
"'I wanted to see how pretty it might be,' I answered saucily.
"Upon this the Kingfisher pounced at me; but I dodged this way and that,
and a fine race we had of it. Finally, I saw a lady and gentleman
walking along together; so I climbed upon her trailing dress, while the
bird grew shy, and flew away. I strolled about upon the lady's dress for
a while, until she saw me, and gave a shriek of alarm. This was even
better fun than the race with the Kingfisher. I cantered up and down,
the gentleman trying in vain to catch me; I pretended to run off upon
the grass; then I stole back, and hid inside one of her curls. Here I
remained all the evening, peering out now and then, when she returned to
the house, to watch the gay lights and people. When she retired to her
room, she combed me out of my hiding-place; but I did not care, so I
walked out the window as if nothing had happened. The stars were shining
brightly, and, as the night was so warm, I thought I would walk on a bit
farther before finding a night's lodging. Like all good travellers, I
had learned not to care much where I slept.
"The bats were swooping about on the watch for mosquitos and other
insects; the owls hooted from the tree-tops, and the bull-frogs croaked
duets across the marshes with each other; while beautiful moths
fluttered on the still air, to enjoy themselves after sleeping all day.
"Seated before the door of his house was a relative of yours [addressing
the Chairman], the Field-cricket, chirping briskly. I knew he was a
fierce, combative sort of fellow; still I tried to be very polite, as I
wanted to get a peep into his mansion.
"'I am glad to meet so clever a house-builder, as yourself,' I said,
with a low bow.
"'As to that,' returned he modestly, 'I am nothing to the Mole-cricket.'
"'If I could only have a glimpse of your residence,' I sighed.
"The Cricket grew affable, and offered to make a call with me upon the
Mole-cricket. Accordingly we started together; and it was fortunate I
had a guide, for otherwise I never should have discovered the abode of
this curious insect. It is very quarrelsome with its own kind, as
perhaps you are aware; and it passes nearly the whole of its life
underground, in the many winding galleries and passages, excavated by
means of the spade-like limbs.
"'I hope we may find him in a good humor,' remarked the Field-cricket.
'Hulloa!'
"He called several times; then, receiving no answer, pushed a blade of
grass into the opening, when out dashed the Mole-cricket, furious at the
intrusion.
"'What do you want?' he asked, snapping his strong claws at us in a very
unpleasant manner.
"'The Field-cricket was so kind as to bring me here, hoping that you
would allow me to see something of your house,' I said boldly.
"'I have just got it into a splendid state of order, so I do not mind.'
"'Wait,' exclaimed the Field-cricket, as we were about to enter, 'you
must promise not to eat us up after we get in.'
"'I promise,' laughed the other; 'I have already had my supper, so I am
not hungry.'
"For my own part I did not fear being devoured, as I knew I was too
prickly and tough a morsel to tempt any appetite. The Field-cricket,
however, might with reason entertain apprehensions, for he was as sleek
and plump as I was lean and bristly. He took the precaution of putting
me between himself and our guide, so that he could keep on guard should
the Mole-cricket forget his promise. Well, the latter behaved very well
instead; so I have really no complaint to make. He led us through such a
number of dark passages, that I was fairly bewildered with the size and
variety of the smooth-walled tunnels.
"'Why do you have so many?' I inquired, when we paused, quite out of
breath, in a kind of central chamber.
"'Oh!' he replied, 'one must have a large house to run about in; and
after all it is not so much work to make it. Besides, I can hide
securely here, in ever so many different places, if necessary. This is
the nursery,' he added, pausing before a really large cavity, which was
much nearer the surface of the ground than the rest of his habitation.
It was a fine apartment, nicely prepared for the reception of some two
or three hundred yellow eggs.
"'I build this so much nearer the surface,' explained the Mole-cricket,
'so that the eggs may have the benefit of the sun's warmth, although I
dislike it so much myself, that I always burrow deep in the earth while
the daylight lasts.'
"All this time I observed the Field-cricket grew more ill at ease,--now
giving an anxious croak, then skipping back a pace, if the Mole-cricket
only looked at him. He had some cause, sure enough. When we arrived at
the entrance once more, I saluted our host courteously, thanking him
for the pleasure he had given us. The Mole-cricket, instead of replying
politely, made a sudden rush at his cousin, with his large jaws wide
open. I stepped between them just in time to save the Field-cricket, who
ran away as fast as ever he could; and that is the last I ever saw of
him.
"'You had better go home again,' I said to the disappointed
Mole-cricket. 'All I regret is that I should have seen you do such a
thing, for I did not suppose you were so much of a barbarian.'
"'Ho, ho!' he growled, in a sulky tone. 'I would eat you up for your
impudence, were you not so tough-looking.'
"'I am afraid you would have a nightmare afterward,' I rejoined; and
then we parted, never to meet again.
"My attention was next attracted to a globe, about the size of a
cricket-ball, suspended from the head of a thistle by several stout
grass stems. It was woven together firmly, and presented no opening that
I could perceive; yet the walls were so delicately thin, that the forms
of some tiny animals, packed snugly together in this secure, though
airy nest, were to be seen. Presently I beheld a pretty little creature,
clothed in thick, soft fur, marked with white, nimbly climbing the stem
of a plant, to pounce upon an unsuspicious fly, which it did as swiftly
and accurately as a swallow.
"'What do you want here?' said the Harvest-mouse suspiciously.
"'I am only seeking a night's lodging; so I will creep into this
harebell, I think.'
"I slept soundly; the wind rocked my cradle delightfully. The next
morning my curiosity was gratified, when I peeped out, by seeing the
Harvest-mouse pay a visit to the baby mice. Her own body was so slender,
that she could easily crawl through any space in the nest: which she
did; and, when she came out again, the opening was carefully covered by
the meshes of fine grass blades, so that the ball was apparently entire
as before.
"'Ah, ha! my lady,' I cried, jumping down beside her. 'That is the way
you do it, eh?'
"The mother-mouse gave a little shriek of terror; but then, seeing it
was only a Spider that spoke, she laughed good-naturedly.
"'I am not afraid of harm from you,' she said 'but there are so many
horrible creatures about, ready to destroy us, that my nerves are often
sadly shaken.'
"'Pooh! you must not be so timid,' I urged. 'Now, for my part, I have
travelled a long distance; yet I have found no peril that I could not
easily escape from.'
"'Never mind,' returned the Harvest-mouse, shaking her head. 'You will
be frightened yet, depend upon it.'
"I soon found, to my sorrow, that I was to be not only frightened, but
in serious danger. I was nearly killed the next moment by the ant-lion."
"What is an ant-lion?" inquired the Teapot.
"Ah! I know," sighed the Wasp.
"And I also," echoed the Cricket.
"But what is it?" chimed in the eager Saucepan, by this time quite
interested in the Spider's narrative.
"I will tell you," pursued the Spider. "The ant-lion is a beautiful kind
of insect, resembling the dragon-fly in its larval or imperfect state.
It feeds chiefly upon active insects; and, as it is too slow of motion
to catch them otherwise, it resorts to a very clever expedient,--it
makes all food come within reach; thus saving a world of trouble. The
head is furnished with a pair of long, curved mandibles, which gives to
the inner jaws a free play. The grub makes a pitfall to entrap any
passing prey, by tracing a shallow trench, the circle varying from one
to two inches in diameter. It then makes another round, starting just
within the first circle; and so it proceeds, continually scooping up the
sand with its head, and jerking it outside the trench. By continuing
this process, always tracing smaller and smaller circles, the ant-lion
at last completes a conical pit, buries itself in the sand, and waits.
"Like many another inquisitive ant, beetle, or spider, I went along to
the edge of the pit, and peeped in to see what it might contain, when to
my horror the sand gave way, and I slid down, down, almost into the jaws
opened wide to receive me. I turned faint with fright for a moment; then
strength returned, and I scrambled up the side again. This was not easy,
as may be imagined: the sand loosened more and more every step I took,
and, even faster than I showered it down, the ant-lion flung it back,
endeavoring to keep the sides steep, and prevent my escape.
"I just struggled to the brink, when who should come to my assistance
but the good-hearted Harvest-mouse, who had witnessed the whole affair
from her overhanging nest. She kindly extended her long tail for my
benefit, which I eagerly clutched, and so was dragged out alive.
"Ugh! I never see a dragon-fly floating along, without thinking of that
dreadful pit where the ant-lion lurked in waiting for victims. I felt
too much exhausted to move after that, and, while in so miserably
helpless a state, a bird snapped me up, to carry me through the air by
three legs, as food for the young birds. They were very
hungry,--children generally are,--but they would not give me so much as
a peck of their greedy bills.
"'Why did you not bring a nice, fat-bodied garden-spider, while you were
about it?' said the robin-mother reproachfully.
"I was then flung out of the nest, and fortunately caught upon a
projecting twig as I fell. I hid under a leaf to rest awhile,
congratulating myself that I was so rough and ugly.
"Several pretty young squirrels were whisking about the branches, while
their parents gravely watched their sports with tails curled up over
their backs in repose; or joined in the fun, chasing to loftier perches,
where it made me giddy to watch them swaying about, and leaping from
tree to tree, then returning to my immediate vicinity again.
"'Do you live out here?' I inquired, going towards them.
"'Yes,' they said, 'this is our summer house, you know; and very
comfortable we find it for the heat of the season.'
"'I wish you would let me look at it.'
"'Oh! you can do that, certainly. It is built in sight of all the world.
This is not the case with our winter house, however.'
"The cage was made of very slight materials, and placed upon the
extremity of a frail branch, that swayed with every gust of wind. 'I
should think you would be shaken out,' I remarked.
"'Not a bit of it,' returned the mother Squirrel. 'We could not be
reached by any animal, the branch is so slender; and I am seldom
frightened by the cries of boys,--unless, indeed, a stone should rudely
strike the cage, when I take each of my young ones in my mouth, and
deposit them in a place of safety.'
"'Where, then, is your winter home?' I next asked.
"'Ah! that is a question,' replied the father Squirrel, rubbing his nose
with one little paw, in a knowing way.
"'I do not wish to make any impertinent inquiries, but I should like
very much to know something more of your interesting family,' I said
modestly.
"Upon this the two parents whispered and nodded together for a time,
then turned to me again. 'If you promise not to tell any cat afterward,
you can see it,' they said.
"Of course I consented. The winter cage was located in the fork of a
tree, where the boughs concealed it from view, and served to shelter
from the wind as well. The nest was quite large, being composed of
moss, leaves, and grass.
"'Come in and see how nice and warm it is,' invited the hospitable
Squirrels.
"'Do you build a new house every year?'
"'No: that would be too much trouble; so we generally occupy one for
several seasons.'
"Bidding the amiable Squirrel family good-by, I crawled down the tree to
the earth once more. I began to weary of this rough-and-tumble sort of
life. In the struggle with the ant-lion I had sprained my back, which
malady was severely aggravated by the rude treatment of the bird that
carried me through the air, only to throw me away when the nestlings
declined tasting of me.
"I reached the bank of the stream where I had first seen the Kingfisher;
then, as the day was cloudy and cool, I sat down in a nut-shell, that
served to keep me warm. While I lazily watched the fish dart through the
crystal waters, and the birds flutter overhead, a curious object came
floating towards me. What do you suppose it was? Why, nothing less than
a snug raft of dried leaves and twigs, fastened together with silken
threads, that bobbed along right merrily, bearing the sailor who
constructed it easily and securely. He was really a remarkably handsome
fellow, of a dark, chocolate-brown color, marked with a broad, orange
band, and with pale-red legs. This was the floating palace of the
Raft-spider, who not only pursues insects on shore, but trots out upon
the water after them just as well. In doing this he requires some
resting-place, and so builds the raft that excited my wonder and
admiration. When he saw me sitting in the nut-shell on the shore, he
laughed loudly; while I was only too glad to attract his attention, for
I had a favor to ask.
"'Will you take me on board?' I inquired.
"'Yes: run ahead to yonder large pebble; then you can jump on when I
pass by.'
"I did so; and when he came alongside I sprang aboard of the raft, which
was amply large enough to receive both of us. I thought there never was
better fun than sailing down the stream in this style. We danced along
smoothly on the current when the water was calm, or we whirled round
eddies and rapids; but we passed through all these dangers in safety.
The Raft-spider conversed pleasantly. He frequently dashed overboard
after some unlucky insect that had fallen into the water, moths, flies,
and beetles; or he snapped up some tiny wanderer that rose to the
surface for air; sometimes even crawling down the stems of plants for
prey to the depth of several inches. He always returned to the raft with
these spoils, and cordially invited me to share them, which I did with
relish.
"'Eat away,' he urged. 'I can get plenty more at any time, while you
look as thin as a starved grasshopper.'
"We had already become excellent friends, when we suddenly beheld a
large boat steering swiftly towards us. The Raft-spider is extremely
cautious; so, bidding me follow, he slid overboard to hide, as he was in
the habit of doing when any danger threatened. Now this was all very
well for him, as he could live under water for some time; but what was
to become of me? The water bubbled up into my ears; I opened my jaws to
scream, only to have more gurgle down my throat. I sputtered and gasped
and floundered, until my companion took compassion upon me, and held my
head up until the boat had passed, when he dragged me on to the raft
again, more dead than alive.
"'To be sure,' he remarked gayly, 'I forgot you were not the same kind
of a Spider as myself. You are only a landsman, after all.'
"'Do you have to jump overboard in that fashion often?' I faintly asked.
"'Bless you! I have done so every five minutes sometimes.'
"'I should like to land, then, if you please.'
"The Raft-spider made fun of my fears; but I was determined to get away
from the water as soon as possible, so he put me ashore, and went on his
way, still laughing."
Here the narrator was interrupted by the entrance of Hulda, who whisked
the Teapot and Saucepan off to a high shelf across the room. The
Cricket, Wasp, and Caterpillar fled in opposite directions, but the
unfortunate Spider was not quick enough to escape. The thrifty
housekeeper espied him with her keen eyes, and, pouncing upon him,
caught, and threw him out of the window.
Here was an abrupt close to the story. The others could do nothing but
sigh over this misfortune, and finally the Cricket said,--
"I propose, for one, that we do not meet again until the family have
gone to bed; as, by so doing, we will not run the risk of being thrown
out of the window."
To this they agreed; and then they separated, the Wasp and Caterpillar
accepting an invitation to visit the Cricket in his mansion behind the
brick.
The next night, when the household had retired, the Kettle Club resumed
their places about the hearth. The Teapot had been left beside the fire,
fortunately; but the poor Saucepan, to her great vexation, still rested
on the shelf. They had hoped to hear something of the fate of the
Spider; but, although the Cricket had been out of doors, prowling about
that day, he could find no trace of the missing member.
"Such an interesting Spider as he was, too," commented the Kettle.
"Yes, indeed," assented the Teapot amiably; "I did not suppose one of
his race could be so agreeable."
"There is no use groaning, since it cannot bring him back again," said
the Wasp sharply. "Who is to speak to-night?"
"We should be delighted to hear you," said the crafty Cricket, desirous
of keeping the Wasp in a good humor.
"Perhaps you will not find my history interesting, after that of the
Spider," said he with affected modesty: he thought it would be much more
so all the time.
"I am sure we shall," cordially returned the Cricket.
THE AMBITIOUS WASP.
"To begin then," commenced the Wasp, "I must first describe to you how I
was born. Did any of you ever see, very early in the spring, one of my
tribe flying slowly about, pausing to examine every earth bank, now
exploring the burrow of a field-mouse, or perhaps entering the tunnel of
a boring insect, all the while buzzing in a fussy way?"
"I now remember watching a Wasp during my travels, that behaved in a
very curious manner," said the Cricket. "It alighted upon a wood-pile,
and gnawed off a quantity of fibres, which were kneaded together
carefully into a ball; and then the Wasp flew away with the ball to a
hole near by. I did not dare ask any questions; because I feared
receiving a sting for my curiosity, and I have heard such a wound is
most painful."
"Ah! that is always the way," said the other in an aggrieved tone. "We
are thought by man to be good for nothing but to steal sugar, or other
sweets; and gnaw holes in fruit, to disfigure the ripe beauty of
peaches, plums, and apricots. We are called lazy fellows, going about to
give any one a sharp thrust; when in reality a sting often causes death,
by tearing the poison-bag. This belief is partly true; still not
altogether, for we are also of some good in the world. We do not live
solely upon the juices of flowers and fruits: we are very fond of the
hosts of flies that swarm about and render themselves so annoying in the
summer season. For instance, if you notice the pigs in the farm-yard any
warm day, you will observe that the flies cluster thickly over their
skins, tormenting the poor animals terribly. This torment is greatly
lessened by the wasps, who skim over the fence every now and then, and
capture a fly inevitably in their fatal grasp."
"Is it possible!" exclaimed the Teapot.
"Yes, indeed," returned the Wasp complacently. "But I must tell you how
I was born. The Wasp you saw on the wood-pile was selecting a home,
like a careful matron, and was bundling the fibres together to use in
the construction of her nest. This she was obliged to do without any
help whatever, for all the other wasps had died the previous autumn,
while she was left to sleep through the winter in some warm nook, then
found a new colony in the spring. Having brought the fibres to her
burrow, she runs up the side of the chamber, clinging to the roof with
the last pair of legs, while with the first pair aided by the jaws, she
fixes the woody pulp to the roof, forming a little pillar. Other pellets
are attached, until this pillar, like a stalactite in a cave, is
completed. At the end of the pillar she places three very shallow cups,
lays an egg in each, and makes a roof over them. More cells are then
added, eggs laid in them, and the roof extended over the whole. By the
time all this is done, the eggs laid in the first three cells are
hatched into tiny grubs, who are terribly hungry, requiring ever so many
flies from the mother Wasp. At last they cease to feed; spin a silken
cover over their cells; and, after spending a short time in this
retirement, tear away the covering with their jaws, emerging perfect
insects.
"They now repay the mother Wasp for her care, by assisting in all heavy
labors, so that she really has little to do, but lay eggs as fast as
cells can be made for their accommodation. Before long the first terrace
is completely filled with cells, and more room is needed. The wasps next
construct several more pillars exactly like the first one; and, by
adding cells to these, another terrace is built below the first one.
Three or four more terraces continue to form, the cells of these last
being so small, that the mother Wasp cannot put her head into them. The
inmates of these cradles are very much smaller than their parent, and
are known as the workers, their lives being devoted to labor. These
workers make excellent nurses, always feeding and tending the baby wasps
with jealous care. Towards the close of the summer their conduct
changes, however; they feel that a quick death for those nurslings who
will not have time to grow up before cold weather is best, so they pull
the helpless white things out of their beds, and carry them outside to
die. I am glad I was able to grow to wasphood."
"Please raise your voice a trifle," said the Saucepan, in a vexed tone.
"I cannot hear half that you say, over there."
"You had better use an ear-trumpet," remarked the Wasp impertinently. "I
am already as hoarse as a raven from shouting so loudly."
"When the nest is abandoned the workers die; and so do almost all of the
others, save a few of the females."
"How is it that you are alive, then?" interrupted the Teapot.
"One thing at a time, if you please," said the Wasp pettishly; "I am
telling you as fast as ever I can. When I first spread my wings to fly
out into the warm, bright sunshine, I was half-wild with delight at my
new strength and beauty. The world seemed such a wonderful place! The
air was so fresh, the flowers so fragrant and varied in coloring, and
the hills so grand in height, that I could only flutter from place to
place, bewildered with happiness. I alighted finally upon a
catalpa-tree, whose branches were covered with splendid blossoms."
"'You feel very gay,' rustled the tree.
"'Yes, I am only just born; so I may well be gay.' I answered.
"'Ah! dance while you may,' said the Catalpa gravely. 'Your life lasts a
few hours, but mine for years.'
"My fine spirits were chilled in a moment, and I dropped to the grass,
feeling utterly miserable. I could only enjoy all this pleasure for a
few hours after all! There was so much to see, and so little time to see
it in, where should I turn first? While I sat there thinking after this
fashion, a pansy slowly unfolded, and out of it stepped a tiny figure,
no longer than one of my legs. I was not very wise, but I knew it must
be a fairy or elf that now stood before me. He wore knee-breeches, a
jacket to match, and a funny little cobweb cap.
"'So we are sad, eh?' he said, winking one eye drolly.
"'I have such a short time to live, that I do not know which way to turn
first,' I replied.
"'That is a pity,' said the sprite, rocking himself upon a stem of
seed-grass, as if it were a hobby horse. 'What would you do if you
could live longer?'
"'What would I not do?' I exclaimed. 'I should try to see every thing
beautiful and curious in the whole world.'
"'Stop a bit,' he interposed. 'You shall do this if you desire it so
much.' He took off his cobweb cap and threw it at me, saying, 'This will
make you invisible, if you put it on your head, when any danger
threatens.'
"Before I had time to thank him the elf turned a somersault in the air,
and plunged head first into his pansy mansion, which closed upon him."
Just at this moment the Kettle Club was startled by a sudden thump,
thump in the room.
"What was that?" whispered the Teapot; and all the others listened,
without daring to look over their shoulders, for the fire was rather
low.
"It is only I," said the Saucepan. "I have jumped off the shelf to hear
better."
"You must have hurt yourself," said the Kettle.
"Oh, no: I only feel a trifle jarred. I am made of tin, you know."
How were they to move the Saucepan nearer to the hearth?
"I think I could be rolled over, if any one would be so kind as to push
me," she suggested eagerly.
So the Cricket, Caterpillar, and Wasp trotted out, and by pushing
together succeeded in moving the Saucepan to the fireside.
"We can never turn you over," panted the Caterpillar.
"I can rest on my side," said the Saucepan cheerily.
"Your lid lies out yonder on the floor," said the Cricket.
"That is not the least matter. It would not stay on my head if I had it.
Go on with the story, please; I am sorry to have made so much trouble."
"Where was I?" inquired the Wasp.
"The pansy fairy had just disappeared," said the Kettle, who for a
wonder remembered the story.
"To be sure," resumed the Wasp briskly. "I skipped with delight at my
brighter prospects, and started forward again with renewed courage. I
first encountered some of my brothers and sisters, to whom I at once
communicated my good fortune. Strange to say they none of them seemed to
appreciate my superior advantages.
"'For my part I do not wish to live any longer than the sunlight lasts,'
said one; and to this sentiment the others agreed.
"'My ambition leads me further,' I answered, and flew onward, never to
see them more.
"I passed over the broad expanse of land, until I saw the sea glittering
like a polished mirror in the distance. How I should like to make a
voyage! I paused to rest upon a cliff that rose steep and smooth, with
the ocean foaming about the base. There were a great number of
bird-nests drilled in the surface of the rock, and by peering over the
brink I could see the young birds, that were the funniest little balls
of white down imaginable. Suddenly a parent bird came swooping home,
and hopped into the very nest that I was examining.
"'Don't tumble me into the water,' I cried, clutching at the slippery
stone, for the rapid flutter of the bird's wings made me giddy.
"'I will not hurt you,' said the other. 'I have been a long way to-day,
and I have really gained little to eat for my trouble. I followed a
great ship for hours, and only caught up a few crumbs, after all.'
"'Why, I do believe you are one of Mother Carey's chickens,' I
exclaimed.
"'My proper name is the Stormy Petrel; still the sailors call me Mother
Carey's chicken. I do not know why, but then sailors have queer ideas.
Bless you, I can frighten them terribly by just skimming round and round
on the wind: they then reef all sails, thinking I am about to bring a
storm by my presence. Ha, ha!' laughed the bird merrily, 'only think of
little me being dreaded by great, strong men. I can generally tell when
a storm is coming,--they are right in supposing that much,--and oh! how
I enjoy it! Why, friend Wasp, you have no idea what life really is,
just fluttering about among the flowers and trees: I should gasp for
breath where every thing is only still sunshine. What I call life is to
see the clouds piled in dark masses overhead, the waves rearing
mountains high, and to have the wind blow a hurricane.'
"'I should imagine such exposure would beat the life out of you,' I
remarked.
"'Not at all,' replied the Petrel. 'I like to be tossed about, and
spread my wings on the gale, although it may nearly take my breath
away.'
"'I never dreamed of such a life,' I said; 'please tell me more about
yourself.'
"'First I must feed my young one, as I have been away all day. We never
lay but one egg, fortunately, for we have to feed them ourselves. We
secrete a kind of oil in the digestive organs for them. Indeed, we are
such oily birds, that in some parts of the world the natives thrust a
stick through our bodies, and use us for lamps.'
"'You are gone so long,' piped the nursling.
"'That is to find something to eat, my dear.'
"'The time is so long, doing nothing but sit alone, staring out at the
sea,' clamored the nursling.
"'Very true,' assented the mother Petrel quietly; 'but there is no help
for it, except to grow strong and fly for yourself.'
"Upon this the young one began to strut and tumble about the nest, to
the great delight of the parent, who encouraged such exertions. We
became excellent friends, and talked over my plans of travel.
"'I dare not venture upon the ocean; because, if I grew tired of flying,
I must fall into the waves and be drowned.'
"'You would soon be fatigued. Supposing I carried you?' said the Petrel.
"Here was a splendid idea. If I could only be taken to other lands, what
pleasures would be in store for me. The Petrel promised to bear me over
the seas, if I would wait until the nestling was able to take care of
itself. I lived inland while I waited, and visited the birds every day
in their rocky home. When the time approached for our departure, the
mother bird proposed I should take a sail, just to accustom myself to
the voyage by way of trial. I climbed upon her back, and she made a dart
straight out into the air, that drove every particle of bravery out of
my body.
"'Now, then,' said Mother Carey's chicken, 'hold on tight, and I will
show you some better fun still.'
"I begged her to return to land; but the wind blew so strongly, that she
did not hear my faint voice. She whirled in circles, pattered upon the
water surface unconcernedly, and rose in the air with the rapidity of
the arrow shot from a bow. I closed my eyes, and clung about the bird's
neck, fearing every moment a fall into the great green billows that
rolled away into space, as far as sight could reach. When we landed once
more, I fainted away. The Petrel was dancing on one leg, and laughed at
me, when I opened my eyes again.
"'I have a great mind to give up the journey,' I said in a pet. 'I can
never cling to you in this way. If I had been content to lead the life
of an ordinary wasp, I might have escaped all this trouble and
vexation.'
"'It is never well to quarrel with destiny,' remarked my companion.
'Still, I would not give up because of a first sea-sickness.'
"Presently I regained my courage somewhat, and we began to ponder how I
could be fastened on. I flew to land, and procured several long
horse-hairs. These I wound about the bird's slender throat, and strapped
myself tightly to her body. What a journey we made of it! The faithful
Petrel must have carried me an immense distance. Sometimes she perched
on the rigging of a ship, sometimes we rode on the waves, or we paused
for the night at some rocky isle; yet Mother Carey's chicken never
seemed to weary of the scenery about us."
"What did you have to eat?" inquired the Caterpillar, who, like all
caterpillars, had a famous appetite of his own.
"Very little, indeed," said the Wasp. "A stray insect now and then, but
never a sip of honey the whole way. I took the precaution, before
starting, of fastening a blade of grass about my waist; in the same way
that Indians gird themselves before making a journey, to prevent any
feeling of hunger. At last land was seen in the distance, and I again
stood on firm, dry ground.
"'Good-by,' said Mother Carey's chicken, spreading her wings as though
ready for a fresh journey. 'I wish you good luck. Should you ever desire
to go back north, any of us will give you a passage.'
"So saying the pretty, good-natured Petrel flew away, leaving me alone.
I did not feel very happy just then: I almost wished myself still a baby
wasp in my wax cradle again, with nothing to do but eat and sleep. I was
afraid at finding myself so far from home; and besides that I was very,
very hungry: there is nothing like a sea-voyage to give one an appetite.
Beyond the barren sand beach there rose a stately forest, which I
determined to visit; but just then my attention was attracted by a
beautiful object in the water. It was a flower of the most exquisite
coloring, with a rich purplish-crimson outer edge and a disk of the same
hue, the stout, short tentacles of which were marked with pellucid rings
of white and lilac. Floating just beneath a crystal film of sea, it
expanded temptingly under my wistful gaze. What a wonderful place, I
thought, where delicious flowers were borne to hungry travellers! I
fluttered nearer, longing for a sip of honey; and in another moment
should have been lost, had not a little fish come along, to be stung and
devoured by the anemone before I fell into its clutches. I afterwards
learned that many a bee or wasp was enticed to death, as I had so nearly
been; for the beautiful flower was only a greedy zoophyte, after all,
swallowing every thing that came in its way.