The Tale of Betsy Butterfly | Page 3

was where she was wrong. The moment he caught sight of her,
with her mottled red-and-brown wings with the violet tips, Johnnie
cried: "There's a beauty!"
But Betsy Butterfly was so used to such remarks that she paid little
heed to him. Even when he crept nearer and nearer to her, with old dog
Spot at his heels, she did not take fright.
With her tongue deep in a fragrant blossom she was enjoying its
delicious sweetness when Johnnie Green, bearing his net aloft, sprang
at her.
When Johnnie jumped, Betsy Butterfly started up in alarm. She had
really waited until it was too late. And if something unexpected hadn't
happened to Johnnie Green, Betsy would surely have had a place in his
collection.
But luckily for her, Johnnie met with a fall. He may have tripped on a
vine. Or his foot may have slipped on the wet ground. Anyhow, he fell
sprawling among the flowers, dropping his precious net as he stretched
out his hands to save himself.
Johnnie's fall gave Betsy Butterfly her only chance. Coiling her long
tongue out of her way, she quickly made her escape.
So Johnnie Green lost her. But she was not all that he lost. A strange
accident happened just as he fell, for old dog Spot leaped forward at the
same time. And, much to his surprise, Spot found his head inside the
butterfly net. The long broomstick handle thumped him sharply on his
back. And the silly fellow took fright at once.

With yelps of terror he scurried out of the flower garden. And Johnnie
picked himself up just in time to see Spot tearing across the meadow
toward the woods.
"Spot! Spot! Come back!" Johnnie Green shouted. But old Spot paid no
attention to his young master. Perhaps he was too scared to hear him.
Spot wanted to get rid of that net that covered his head. And he knew of
no better place to go than the woods where he hoped to be able to free
himself from his odd muzzle by rubbing against a tree or nosing among
some bushes.
Johnnie ran a little way after him. But when he saw Spot duck into the
woods he turned back sadly towards the house. For all he knew, old
Spot might run a mile further before he stopped.
Johnnie would have to make a new net if he wanted to catch any more
butterflies for his collection.
And the trouble was, he had no more mosquito netting.
A good many of the field people saw old Spot as he dashed off with the
butterfly net over his head. And they enjoyed a hearty laugh at the
strange sight.
As for Betsy Butterfly, she had learned to watch out for Johnnie Green.
And she knew that another time he would have to be twice as spry as he
had shown himself, if he expected to capture her.
Old Spot didn't come home till afternoon. When he appeared at last he
looked very sheepish. He hoped no one had noticed his fright. And he
wouldn't go near the flower garden again for a whole week.

IV
BUSYBODIES

LITTLE Mrs. Ladybug said that she wished Betsy Butterfly no ill luck.
But she thought that perhaps it would have been a good thing for her if
Johnnie Green had caught her and put her in his collection.
On hearing that strange remark Mehitable Moth turned quite pale. She
never wanted Johnnie Green's name mentioned by anyone, because she
lived in constant terror for fear he might mistake her for one of the
Butterfly family and capture her.
"What do you mean?" she asked Mrs. Ladybug, while fat Jennie
Junebug waddled nearer them, in order to hear everything they said.
Though Jennie was sleepy, having stayed out very late the night before,
the promise of a bit of gossip made her brighten up at once.
"I mean--" said Mrs. Ladybug--"I mean that Johnnie Green would
certainly have brushed Betsy Butterfly before adding her to his
collection." And then, seeing a blank look on the faces of her hearers,
she cried. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed how untidy Betsy
Butterfly is! Can it be possible that the airs she gives herself, and her
fine manners, have deceived you?"
"What is it?" asked Mehitable Moth breathlessly. And as for Jennie
Junebug, her breath was coming so fast that she couldn't say a word.
"I'll tell you exactly what I mean," Mrs. Ladybug continued. "I stopped
and spoke to Betsy Butterfly this very morning. And I stepped up close
to her, because I wanted to see if she really does paint her wings, as my
friend Miss Moth, here, suspects," Mrs. Ladybug explained to Jennie
Junebug. "And what do you think? I saw that Betsy