友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
a girl of the limberlost-第61部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
left ear。 These bushes muss you so you remind me of a
sheep poking its nose through a hedge fence。〃
Mrs。 Comstock started down the path toward the log
again; when she reached it she called sharply: 〃Elnora;
come here! I believe I have found something myself。〃
The 〃something〃 was a Citheronia Regalis which had
emerged from its case on the soft earth under the log。
It climbed up the wood; its stout legs dragging a big
pursy body; while it wildly flapped tiny wings the size
of a man's thumb…nail。 Elnora gave one look and a cry
which brought Philip。
〃That's the rarest moth in America!〃 he announced。
〃Mrs。 Comstock; you've gone up head。 You can put
that in a box with a screen cover to…night; and attract
half a dozen; possibly。〃
〃Is it rare; Elnora?〃 inquired Mrs。 Comstock; as if no
one else knew。
〃It surely is;〃 answered Elnora。 〃If we can find
it a mate to…night; it will lay from two hundred and fifty
to three hundred eggs to…morrow。 With any luck at
all I can raise two hundred caterpillars from them。
I did once before。 And they are worth a dollar apiece。〃
〃Was the one I killed like that?〃
〃No。 That was a different moth; but its life processes
were the same as this。 The Bird Woman calls this the
King of the Poets。〃
〃Why does she?〃
〃Because it is named for Citheron who was a poet; and
regalis refers to a king。 You mustn't touch it or you
may stunt wing development。 You watch and don't let
that moth out of sight; or anything touch it。 When the
wings are expanded and hardened we will put it in a box。〃
〃I am afraid it will race itself to death;〃 objected
Mrs。 Comstock。
〃That's a part of the game;〃 said Philip。 〃It is starting
circulation now。 When the right moment comes; it will
stop and expand its wings。 If you watch closely you can
see them expand。〃
Presently the moth found a rough projection of bark
and clung with its feet; back down; its wings hanging。
The body was an unusual orange red; the tiny wings were
gray; striped with the red and splotched here and there
with markings of canary yellow。 Mrs。 Comstock watched
breathlessly。 Presently she slipped from the log and
knelt to secure a better view。
〃Are its wings developing?〃 called Elnora。
〃They are growing larger and the markings coming
stronger every minute。〃
〃Let's watch; too;〃 said Elnora to Philip。
They came and looked over Mrs。 Comstock's shoulder。
Lower drooped the gay wings; wider they spread; brighter
grew the markings as if laid off in geometrical patterns。
They could hear Mrs。 Comstock's tense breath and see
her absorbed expression。
〃Young people;〃 she said solemnly; 〃if your studying
science and the elements has ever led you to feel that
things just happen; kind of evolve by chance; as it were;
this sight will be good for you。 Maybe earth and air
accumulate; but it takes the wisdom of the Almighty God
to devise the wing of a moth。 If there ever was a miracle;
this whole process is one。 Now; as I understand it; this
creature is going to keep on spreading those wings; until
they grow to size and harden to strength sufficient to
bear its body。 Then it flies away; mates with its kind;
lays its eggs on the leaves of a certain tree; and the eggs
hatch tiny caterpillars which eat just that kind of leaves;
and the worms grow and grow; and take on different
forms and colours until at last they are big caterpillars
six inches long; with large horns。 Then they burrow into
the earth; build a water…proof house around themselves
from material which is inside them; and lie through rain
and freezing cold for months。 A year from egg laying they
come out like this; and begin the process all over again。
They don't eat; they don't see distinctly; they live but
a few days; and fly only at night; then they drop off easy;
but the process goes on。〃
A shivering movement went over the moth。 The wings
drooped and spread wider。 Mrs。 Comstock sank into
soft awed tones。
〃There never was a moment in my life;〃 she said;
〃when I felt so in the Presence; as I do now。 I feel as
if the Almighty were so real; and so near; that I could
reach out and touch Him; as I could this wonderful work
of His; if I dared。 I feel like saying to Him: ‘To the
extent of my brain power I realize Your presence; and all
it is in me to comprehend of Your power。 Help me to learn;
even this late; the lessons of Your wonderful creations。
Help me to unshackle and expand my soul to the fullest
realization of Your wonders。 Almighty God; make me bigger;
make me broader!'〃
The moth climbed to the end of the projection; up it
a little way; then suddenly reversed its wings; turned
the hidden sides out and dropped them beside its abdomen;
like a large fly。 The upper side of the wings; thus
exposed; was far richer colour; more exquisite texture than
the under; and they slowly half lifted and drooped again。
Mrs。 Comstock turned her face to Philip。
〃Am I an old fool; or do you feel it; too?〃 she half whispered。
〃You are wiser than you ever have been before;〃
answered he。 〃I feel it; also。〃
〃And I;〃 breathed Elnora。
The moth spread its wings; shivered them tremulously;
opening and closing them rapidly。 Philip handed the box
to Elnora。
She shook her head。
〃I can't take that one;〃 she said。 〃Give her freedom。〃
〃But; Elnora;〃 protested Mrs。 Comstock; 〃I don't want to
let her go。 She's mine。 She's the first one I ever found
this way。 Can't you put her in a big box; and let her live;
without hurting her? I can't bear to let her go。 I want
to learn all about her。〃
〃Then watch while we gather these on the trees;〃 said Elnora。
〃We will take her home until night and then decide what to do。
She won't fly for a long time yet。〃
Mrs。 Comstock settled on the ground; gazing at the moth。
Elnora and Philip went to the baited trees; placing
several large moths and a number of smaller ones in the
cyanide jar; and searching the bushes beyond where they
found several paired specimens of differing families。
When they returned Elnora showed her mother how to
hold her hand before the moth so that it would climb upon
her fingers。 Then they started back to the cabin; Elnora
and Philip leading the way; Mrs。 Comstock followed
slowly; stepping with great care lest she stumble and
injure the moth。 Her face wore a look of comprehension;
in her eyes was an exalted light。 On she came to the blue…
bordered pool lying beside her path。
A turtle scrambled from a log and splashed into the
water; while a red…wing shouted; 〃O…ka…lee!〃 to her。
Mrs。 Comstock paused and looked intently at the slime…
covered quagmire; framed in a flower riot and homed over
by sweet…voiced birds。 Then she gazed at the thing of
incomparable beauty clinging to her fingers and said softly:
〃If you had known about wonders like these in the
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!