give it me to begin with. See, it is going to fly; let me take it ;" and she held out her hand towards it; but Caroline drew back, saying,

« What, kill my pretty butterfly! No, Sarah, indeed I cannot consent to that, unless mamma says I ought." And both the children looked towards Mrs. M- for her answer.

"Nor could I consent to it, if Caroline would, Sarah," said she. "I do not approve of killing insects merely for our pleasure. We cannot give life, and why should we take it, and inflict pain where there is no necessity, and indeed no advantage in so doing? For when a child is the collector, there can be no real advantage attending it, and there must be many disadvantages. But I have not time to explain my reasons to you now; another opportunity I will say more to you on the subject, and in the meantime Caroline shall have the pleasure of letting this pretty butterfly take its first flight from her finger."

"What kind of butterfly is it, mamma ?" asked Caroline. "" Only see what beautiful co

lours are on its wings!"

<< It is called the little tortoise-shell butterfly," answered her mamma; " and look, Caroline, how it flutters its wings; it is trying their strength, and will soon trust itself upon them." And in a few more minutes, after again fluttering its wings, it spread them and flew away. The children all looked after it, and were delighted to see that after rising in the air, instead of flying quite away, it descended, hovered round Caroline's head, and alighted upon a beautiful bunch of lilac, which was in the front of her garland. Mrs. M took the garland gently off her head, without disturbing the butterfly, and pointed out to the children its long trunk, which it uncurled, and darted into each little flower, to find and suck the honey.

"Is the trunk of the butterfly like that of the bee, mamma?" said Caroline;" and does it lick up the honey in the same way?"

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No, my love," answered her mamma; "the trunk of the butterfly is hollow; it is composed of two or more pieces, which fit exactly together, so as to form a tube; and

through that tube the butterfly sucks the honey; and as honey is its only food, it has no other mouth. But the trunk of the bee is, as I told you before, only a long flexible tongue, with which it licks up the honey, and is a prolongation of its under jaw. But see, your butterfly is curling up its trunk, and is preparing to fly away-there it goes, high over our heads; now it has flown over the wall— good bye, pretty little butterfly; I hope no little hungry bird, or cruel child, will catch you. And now, my dear children, it is time for us to return to the house."

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CONVERSATION X.

WHEN the children had finished their breakfast, they came down into the parlour, where they found their mamma very busily employed unpacking a box, which had just arrived from Mrs. Green. It contained three dolls: a large wax one for Sarah, and two smaller composition dolls, for Caroline and Catherine. They were all very prettily dressed; and the little girls were quite delighted with them; nor was their joy lessened when Mrs. M told them that they need not learn any lessons, but might take their dolls into the garden, and play there.

"What, mamma," exclaimed Caroline," another holiday to-day! How kind you are!"

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Then, Caroline," said her mamma, "I hope you will not abuse my kindness, but will be

very diligent to-morrow, to prove to me that the

holidays have done you no harm. And you too, Sarah, must begin your lessons to-morrow." Sarah promised that she would; and after having requested Mrs. M- to take a walk with them after dinner, to which she consented, the children took up their dolls, and went out; all but Caroline, who remained to repeat her text to her mamma. When that was done, she too took up her doll, and ran to join her companions, who were at play in the garden.

The morning had been exceedingly bright and warm, but in a few hours the sky began to be overcast, and the easterly wind blew cold. Before dinner was over, the rain poured down in torrents, and the prospect of a walk was thus put an end to. Sarah and Caroline were rather inclined to repine; but as they could not go out, Mrs. M. proposed continuing the history of the bees to them, after dinner. To this Caroline joyfully assented, and Sarah made no objection, though she did not seem very anxiously to wish for it.

As soon therefore as the dinner was removed, and the children's hands and faces were washed,