“Seemstomeyouarewanderingfromthesubject。“
　　“No，Iain’t；wearetowriteaboutvegetablesoranimals，andI’mdoingboth：forboysareanimals，aren’tthey？“criedNan；and，undauntedbytheindignant“No!“shoutedather，shecalmlyproceeded，­；
　　“Onemoreinterestingthingisdonewithsponges，andthisiswhendoctorsputetheronit，andholdittopeople’snoseswhentheyhaveteethout。IshalldothiswhenIambigger，andgiveethertothesick，sotheywillgotosleepandnotfeelmecutofftheirlegsandarms。“
　　“Iknowsomebodywhokilledcatswithit，“calledoutDemi，butwaspromptlycrushedbyDan，whoupsethiscamp-stoolandputahatoverhisface。
　　“Iwillnotbeinterruckted，“saidNan，frowningupontheunseemlyscrimmagers。Orderwasinstantlyrestored，andtheyoungladyclosedherremarksasfollows：­；
　　“Mycompositionhasthreemorals，myfriends。“Somebodygroaned，butnonoticewastakenoftheinsult。“First，iskeepyourfacesclean­；second，getupearly­；third，whentheetherspongeisputoveryournose，breathehardanddon’tkick，andyourteethwillcomeouteasy。Ihavenomoretosay。“AndMissNansatdownamidtumultuousapplause。
　　“Thatisaveryremarkablecomposition；itstoneishigh，andthereisagooddealofhumorinit。Verywelldone，Nan。Now，Daisy，“andMr。
　　Bhaersmiledatoneyoungladyashebeckonedtheother。
　　Daisycoloredprettilyasshetookherplace，andsaid，inhermodestlittlevoice，­；
　　“I’mafraidyouwon’tlikemine；itisn’tniceandfunnylikeNan’s。
　　ButIcouldn’tdoanybetter。“
　　“Wealwayslikeyours，Posy，“saidUncleFritz，andagentlemurmurfromtheboysseemedtoconfirmtheremark。Thusencouraged，Daisyreadherlittlepaper，whichwaslistenedtowithrespectfulattention。“THECAT
　　“Thecatisasweetanimal。Ilovethemverymuch。Theyarecleanandpretty，andcatchratsandmice，andletyoupetthem，andarefondofyouifyouarekind。Theyareverywise，andcanfindtheirwayanywhere。
　　Littlecatsarecalledkittens，andaredearthings。Ihavetwo，namedHuzandBuz，andtheirmotherisTopaz，becauseshehasyelloweyes。UncletoldmeaprettystoryaboutamannamedMa-ho-met。Hehadanicecat，andwhenshewasasleeponhissleeve，andhewantedtogoaway，hecutoffthesleevesoasnottowakeherup。Ithinkhewasakindman。Somecatscatchfish。“
　　“SodoI!“criedTeddy，jumpingupeagertotellabouthistrout。
　　“Hush!“saidhismother，settinghimdownagainasquicklyaspossible，fororderlyDaisyhatedtobe“interruckted，“asNanexpressedit。
　　“Ireadaboutonewhousedtodoitveryslyly。ItriedtomakeTopaz，butshedidnotlikethewater，andscratchedme。Shedoesliketea，andwhenIplayinmykitchenshepatstheteapotwithherpaw，tillIgivehersome。Sheisafinecat，sheeatsapple-puddingandmolasses。Mostcatsdonot。“
　　“That’safirst-rater，“calledoutNat，andDaisyretired，pleasedwiththepraiseofherfriend。
　　“Demilookssoimpatientwemusthavehimupatonceorhewon’tholdout，“saidUncleFritz，andDemiskippedupwithalacrity。
　　“Mineisapoem!“heannouncedinatoneoftriumph，andreadhisfirsteffortinaloudandsolemnvoice：­；“Iwriteaboutthebutterfly，Itisaprettything；
　　Andfliesaboutlikethebirds，Butitdoesnotsing。
　　“Firstitisalittlegrub，Andthenitisaniceyellowcocoon，AndthenthebutterflyEatsitswayoutsoon。
　　“Theyliveondewandhoney，Theydonothaveanyhive，Theydonotstinglikewasps，andbees，andhornets，Andtobeasgoodastheyareweshouldstrive。
　　“Ishouldliketobeabeautifulbutterfly，Allyellow，andblue，andgreen，andred；
　　ButIshouldnotlikeTohaveDanputcamphoronmypoorlittlehead。“Thisunusualburstofgeniusbroughtdownthehouse，andDemiwasobligedtoreaditagain，asomewhatdifficulttask，astherewasnopunctuationwhatever，andthelittlepoet’sbreathgaveoutbeforehegottotheendofsomeofthelonglines。
　　“HewillbeaShakespeareyet，“saidAuntJo，laughingasifshewoulddie，forthispoeticgemremindedherofoneofherown，writtenattheageoften，andbeginninggloomily，­；“IwishIhadaquiettomb，Besidealittlerill；
　　Wherebirds，andbees，andbutterflies，Wouldsinguponthehill。““Comeon，Tommy。Ifthereisasmuchinkinsideyourpaperasthereisoutside，itwillbealongcomposition，“saidMr。Bhaer，whenDemihadbeeninducedtotearhimselffromhispoemandsitdown。
　　“Itisn’tacomposition，it’saletter。Yousee，Iforgotallaboutitsbeingmyturntillafterschool，andthenIdidn’tknowwhattohave，andtherewasn’ttimetoreadup；soIthoughtyouwouldn’tmindmytakingaletterthatIwrotetomyGrandma。It’sgotsomethingaboutbirdsinit，soIthoughtitwoulddo。“
　　Withthislongexcuse，Tommyplungedintoaseaofinkandflounderedthrough，pausingnowandthentodecipheroneofhisownflourishes。
　　“MYDEARGRANDMA，­；Ihopeyouarewell。UncleJamessentmeapocketrifle。Itisabeautifullittleinstrumentofkilling，shapedlikethis­；[HereTommydisplayedaremarkablesketchofwhatlookedlikeanintricatepump，ortheinsideofasmallsteam-engine]­；44arethesights；6isafalsestockthatfitsinatA；3isthetrigger，and2isthecock。Itloadsatthebreech，andfireswithgreatforceandstraightness。Iamgoingoutshootingsquirrelssoon。Ishotseveralfinebirdsforthemuseum。
　　Theyhadspeckledbreasts，andDanlikedthemverymuch。Hestuffedthemtip-top，andtheysitonthetreequitenatural，onlyonelooksalittletipsy。WehadaFrenchmanworkingheretheotherday，andAsiacalledhisnamesofunnilythatIwilltellyouaboutit。HisnamewasGermain：firstshecalledhimJerry，butwelaughedather，andshechangedittoJeremiah；
　　butridiculewastheresult，soitbecameMr。Germany；butridiculehavingbeenagainresumed，itbecameGarrymon，whichithasremainedeversince。
　　Idonotwriteoften，Iamsobusy；butIthinkofyouoften，andsympathizewithyou，andsincerelyhopeyougetonaswellascanbeexpectedwithoutme。­；Youraffectionategrandson，“THOMASBUCKMINSTERBANGS。
　　“P。S。？Ifyoucomeacrossanypostage-stamps，rememberme。
　　“N。B。­；Lovetoall，andagreatdealtoAuntAlmira。Doesshemakeanyniceplum-cakesnow？
　　“P。S。？Mrs。Bhaersendsherrespects。
　　“P。S。？AndsowouldMr。B，ifheknewIwasinacttowrite。
　　“N。B。­；Fatherisgoingtogivemeawatchonmybirthday。
　　IamgladasatpresentIhavenomeansoftellingtime，andamoftenlateatschool。
　　“P。S。？Ihopetoseeyousoon。Don’tyouwishtosendforme？T。B。B。“
　　Aseachpostscriptwasreceivedwithafreshlaughfromtheboys，bythetimehecametothesixthandlast，Tommywassoexhaustedthathewasgladtositdownandwipehisruddyface。
　　“Ihopethedearoldladywilllivethroughit，“saidMr。Bhaer，undercoverofthenoise。
　　“Wewon’ttakeanynoticeofthebroadhintgiveninthatlastP。S。TheletterwillbequiteasmuchasshecanbearwithoutavisitfromTommy，“
　　answeredMrs。Jo，rememberingthattheoldladyusuallytooktoherbedafteravisitationfromherirrepressiblegrandson。
　　“Now，me，“saidTeddy，whohadlearnedabitofpoetry，andwassoeagertosayitthathehadbeenbobbingupanddownduringthereading，andcouldnolongerberestrained。
　　“I’mafraidhewillforgetitifhewaits；andIhavehadadealoftroubleteachinghim，“saidhismother。
　　Teddytrottedtotherostrum，droppedacurtseyandnoddedhisheadatthesametime，asifanxioustosuiteveryone；then，inhisbabyvoice，andputtingtheemphasisonthewrongwords，hesaidhisverseallinonebreath：­；“Littledropsofwater，Littledrainsofsand，Mateamightokumocean，Andapeasantland。
　　“Littlewordsofkindness，Pokinevvyday，Makeahomeahebbin，Andhepusonaway。“Clappinghishandsattheend，hemadeanotherdoublesalutation，andthenrantohidehisheadinhismother’slap，quiteovercomebythesuccessofhis“piece，“fortheapplausewastremendous。
　　DickandDollydidnotwrite，butwereencouragedtoobservethehabitsofanimalsandinsects，andreportwhattheysaw。Dicklikedthis，andalwayshadagreatdealtosay；so，whenhisnamewascalled，hemarchedup，and，lookingattheaudiencewithhisbrightconfidingeyes，toldhislittlestorysoearnestlythatnoonesmiledathiscrookedbody，becausethe“straightsoul“shonethroughitbeautifully。
　　“I’vebeenwatchingdragonflies，andIreadabouttheminDan’sbook，andI’lltryandtellyouwhatIremember。There’slotsofthemflyingroundonthepond，allblue，withbigeyes，andsortoflacewings，verypretty。Icaughtone，andlookedathim，andIthinkhewasthehandsomestinsectIeversaw。Theycatchlittlercreaturesthantheyaretoeat，andhaveaqueerkindofhookthingthatfoldsupwhentheyain’thunting。
　　Itlikesthesunshine，anddancesroundallday。Letmesee!whatelsewastheretotellabout？Oh，Iknow!Theeggsarelaidinthewater，andgodowntothebottom，andarehatchedinthemud。Littleuglythingscomeoutof’em；Ican’tsaythename，buttheyarebrown，andkeephavingnewskins，andgettingbiggerandbigger。Onlythink!ittakesthemtwoyearstobeadragonfly!Nowthisisthecuriousestpartofit，soyoulistentight，forIdon’tbelieveyouknowit。Whenitisreadyitknowssomehow，andtheugly，grubbythingclimbsupoutofthewateronaflagorabulrush，andburstsopenitsback。“
　　“Come，Idon’tbelievethat，“saidTommy，whowasnotanobservantboy，andreallythoughtDickwas“makingup。“
　　“Itdoesburstopenitsback，don’tit？“andDickappealedtoMr。Bhaer，whonoddedaverydecidedaffirmative，tothelittlespeaker’sgreatsatisfaction。
　　“Well，outcomesthedragonfly，allwhole，andhesitsinthesun­；sortofcomingalive，youknow；andhegetsstrong，andthenhespreadshisprettywings，andfliesawayupintheair，andneverisagrubanymore。
　　That’sallIknow；butIshallwatchandtrytoseehimdoit，forIthinkit’ssplendidtoturnintoabeautifuldragonfly，don’tyou？“
　　Dickhadtoldhisstorywell，and，whenhedescribedtheflightofthenew-borninsect，hadwavedhishands，andlookedupasifhesaw，andwantedtofollowit。SomethinginhisfacesuggestedtothemindsoftheelderlistenersthethoughtthatsomedaylittleDickwouldhavehiswish，andafteryearsofhelplessnessandpainwouldclimbupintothesunsomehappyday，and，leavinghispoorlittlebodybehindhim，findanewlovelyshapeinafairerworldthanthis。Mrs。Jodrewhimtoherside，andsaid，withakissonhisthincheek，­；
　　“Thatisasweetlittlestory，dear，andyouremembereditwonderfullywell。Ishallwriteandtellyourmotherallaboutit；“andDicksatonherknee，contentedlysmilingatthepraise，andresolvingtowatchwell，andcatchthedragonflyintheactofleavingitsoldbodyforthenew，andseehowhedidit。Dollyhadafewremarkstomakeuponthe“Duck，“
　　andmadetheminasing-songtone，forhehadlearneditbyheart，andthoughtitagreatplaguetodoitatall。
　　“Wildducksarehardtokill；menhideandshootatthem，andhavetameduckstoquackandmakethewildonescomewherethemencanfireatthem。
　　Theyhavewoodenducksmadetoo，andtheysailround，andthewildonescometoseethem；theyarestupid，Ithink。Ourducksareverytame。Theyeatagreatdeal，andgopokingroundinthemudandwater。Theydon’ttakegoodcareoftheireggs，butthemspoil，and­；“
　　“Minedon’t!“criedTommy。
　　“Well，somepeople’sdo；Silassaidso。Henstakegoodcareoflittleducks，onlytheydon’tliketohavethemgointhewater，andmakeagreatfuss。Butthelittleonesdon’tcareabit。Iliketoeatduckswithstuffinginthemandlotsofapple-sauce。“
　　“Ihavesomethingtosayaboutowls，“beganNat，whohadcarefullypreparedapaperuponthissubjectwithsomehelpfromDan。
　　“Owlshavebigheads，roundeyes，hookedbills，andstrongclaws。Somearegray，somewhite，someblackandyellowish。Theirfeathersareverysoft，andstickoutagreatdeal。Theyflyveryquietly，andhuntbats，mice，littlebirds，andsuchthings。Theybuildnestsinbarns，hollowtrees，andsometakethenestsofotherbirds。Thegreathornedowlhastwoeggsbiggerthanahen’sandreddishbrown。Thetawnyowlhasfiveeggs，whiteandsmooth；andthisisthekindthathootsatnight。Anotherkindsoundslikeachildcrying。Theyeatmiceandbatswhole，andthepartsthattheycannotdigesttheymakeintolittleballsandspitout。“
　　“Mygracious!howfunny!“Nanwasheardtoobserve。