like　a　green　wall　and　exclaimed：　　〃How　beautiful！〃
  Mrs。　Comstock　was　pleased。　　〃If　you　think　that；〃　she
  said；　〃perhaps　you　will　understand　how；　in　all　this　present…
  day　rush　to　be　modern；　I　have　preferred　to　remain　as　I　began。
  My　husband　and　I　took　up　this　land；　and　enough
  trees　to　build　the　cabin；　stable；　and　outbuildings　are
  nearly　all　we　ever　cut。　　Of　course；　if　he　had　lived；
  I　suppose　we　should　have　kept　up　with　our　neighbours。　　I　hear
  considerable　about　the　value　of　the　land；　the　trees　which
  are　on　it；　and　the　oil　which　is　supposed　to　be　under　it；
  but　as　yet　I　haven't　brought　myself　to　change　anything。
  So　we　stand　for　one　of　the　few　remaining　homes　of　first
  settlers　in　this　region。　　Come　in。　　You　are　very　welcome
  to　what　we　have。〃
  Mrs。　Comstock　stepped　forward　and　took　the　lead。
  She　had　a　bowl　of　soft　water　and　a　pair　of　boots　to　offer
  for　the　heavy　waders；　for　outer　comfort；　a　glass　of　cold
  buttermilk　and　a　bench　on　which　to　rest；　in　the　circular
  arbour　until　dinner　was　ready。　　Philip　Ammon　splashed
  in　the　water。　　He　followed　to　the　stable　and　exchanged
  boots　there。　　He　was　ravenous　for　the　buttermilk；　and
  when　he　stretched　on　the　bench　in　the　arbour　the
  flickering　patches　of　sunlight　so　tantalized　his　tired　eyes；
  while　the　bees　made　such　splendid　music；　he　was　soon
  sound　asleep。　　When　Elnora　and　her　mother　came　out　with　a
  table　they　stood　a　short　time　looking　at　him。　　It　is　probable
  Mrs。　Comstock　voiced　a　united　thought　when　she　said：　　〃What　a
  refined；　decent　looking　young　man！　　How　proud　his　mother　must
  be　of　him！　　We　must　be　careful　what　we　let　him　eat。〃
  Then　they　returned　to　the　kitchen　where　Mrs。　Comstock
  proceeded　to　be　careful。　　She　broiled　ham　of　her　own
  sugar…curing；　creamed　potatoes；　served　asparagus　on
  toast；　and　made　a　delicious　strawberry　shortcake。　　As　she
  cooked　dandelions　with　bacon；　she　feared　to　serve　them　to
  him；　so　she　made　an　excuse　that　it　took　too　long　to　prepare
  them；　blanched　some　and　made　a　salad。　　When　everything
  was　ready　she　touched　Philip's　sleeve。
  〃Best　have　something　to　eat；　lad；　before　you　get　too
  hungry；〃　she　said。
  〃Please　hurry！〃　he　begged　laughingly　as　he　held　a　plate
  toward　her　to　be　filled。　　〃I　thought　I　had　enough　self…
  restraint　to　start　out　alone；　but　I　see　I　was　mistaken。
  If　you　would　allow　me；　just　now；　I　am　afraid　I　should　start
  a　fever　again。　　I　never　did　smell　food　so　good　as　this。
  It's　mighty　kind　of　you　to　take　me　in。　　I　hope　I　will　be　man
  enough　in　a　few　days　to　do　something　worth　while　in　return。〃
  Spots　of　sunshine　fell　on　the　white　cloth　and　blue　china；
  the　bees　and　an　occasional　stray　butterfly　came　searching
  for　food。　　A　rose…breasted　grosbeak；　released　from　a　three
  hours'　siege　of　brooding；　while　his　independent　mate　took
  her　bath　and　recreation；　mounted　the　top　branch　of　a
  maple　in　the　west　woods　from　which　he　serenaded　the
  dinner　party　with　a　joyful　chorus　in　celebration　of　his　freedom。
  Philip's　eyes　strayed　to　the　beautiful　cabin；　to　the
  mixture　of　flowers　and　vegetables　stretching　down　to　the
  road；　and　to　the　singing　bird　with　his　red…splotched　breast
  of　white　and　he　said：　　〃I　can't　realize　now　that　I　ever　lay　in
  ice　packs　in　a　hospital。　　How　I　wish　all　the　sick　folks　could
  come　here　to　grow　strong！〃
  The　grosbeak　sang　on；　a　big　Turnus　butterfly　sailed
  through　the　arbour　and　poised　over　the　table。　　Elnora　held
  up　a　lump　of　sugar　and　the　butterfly；　clinging　to　her
  fingers；　tasted　daintily。　　With　eager　eyes　and　parted
  lips；　the　girl　held　steadily。　　When　at　last　it　wavered
  away；　〃That　made　a　picture！〃　said　Philip。　　〃Ask　me　some
  other　time　how　I　lost　my　illusions　concerning　butterflies。
  I　always　thought　of　them　in　connection　with　sunshine；
  flower　pollen；　and　fruit　nectar；　until　one　sad　day。〃
  〃I　know！〃　laughed　Elnora。　　〃I've　seen　that；　too；　but
  it　didn't　destroy　any　illusion　for　me。　　I　think　quite　as
  much　of　the　butterflies　as　ever。〃
  Then　they　talked　of　flowers；　moths；　dragonflies；　Indian
  relics；　and　all　the　natural　wonders　the　swamp　afforded；
  straying　from　those　subjects　to　books　and　school　work。
  When　they　cleared　the　table　Philip　assisted；　carrying
  several　tray　loads　to　the　kitchen。　　He　and　Elnora　mounted
  specimens　while　Mrs　Comstock　washed　the　dishes。　　Then　she
  came　out　with　a　ruffle　she　was　embroidering。
  〃I　wonder　if　I　did　not　see　a　picture　of　you　in　Onabasha
  last　night；〃　Philip　said　to　Elnora。　　〃Aunt　Anna　took　me
  to　call　on　Miss　Brownlee。　　She　was　showing　me　her
  crowdof　course；　it　was　you！　　But　it　didn't　half　do　you
  justice；　although　it　was　the　nearest　human　of　any　of　them。
  Miss　Brownlee　is　very　fond　of　you。　　She　said　the　finest　things。〃
  Then　they　talked　of　Commencement；　and　at　last　Philip　said
  he　must　go　or　his　friends　would　become　anxious　about　him。
  Mrs。　Comstock　brought　him　a　blue　bowl　of　creamy　milk
  and　a　plate　of　bread。　　She　stopped　a　passing　team　and
  secured　a　ride　to　the　city　for　him；　as　his　exercise　of　the
  morning　had　been　too　violent；　and　he　was　forced　to　admit
  he　was　tired。
  〃May　I　come　to…morrow　afternoon　and　hunt　moths　awhile？〃
  he　asked　Mrs。　Comstock　as　he　arose。　　〃We　will　‘sugar'　a
  tree　and　put　a　light　beside　it；　if　I　can　get　stuff　to
  make　the　preparation。　　Possibly　we　can　take　some　that　way。
  I　always　enjoy　moth　hunting；　I'd　like　to　help　Miss　Elnora；
  and　it　would　be　a　charity　to　me。　　I've　got　to　remain
  outdoors　some　place；　and　I'm　quite　sure　I'd　get　well
  faster　here　than　anywhere　else。　　Please　say　I　may　come。〃
  〃I　have　no　objections；　if　Elnora　really　would　like　help；〃
  said　Mrs。　Comstock。
  In　her　heart　she　wished　he　would　not　come。　　She　wanted
  her　newly　found　treasure　all　to　herself；　for　a　time；
  at　least。　　But　Elnora's　were　eager；　shining　eyes。
  She　thought　it　would　be　splendid　to　have　help；　and
  great　fun　to　try　book　methods　for　taking　moths；　so　it
  was　arranged。　　As　Philip　rode　away；　Mrs。　Comstock's　eyes
  followed　him。　　〃What　a　nice　young　man！〃　she　said。
  〃He　seems　fine；〃　agreed　Elnora。
  〃He　comes　of　a　good　family；　too。　　I've　often　heard　of
  his　father。　　He　is　a　great　lawyer。〃
  〃I　am　glad　he　likes　it　here。　　I　need　help。　　Possibly〃
  〃Possibly　what？〃
  〃We　can　find　many　moths。〃
  〃What　did　he　mean　about　the　butterflies？〃
  〃That　he　always　had　connected　them　with　sunshine；
  flowers；　and　fruits；　and　thought　of　them　as　the　most
  exquisite　of　creations；　then　one　day　he　found　some
  clustering　thickly　over　carrion。〃
  〃Come　to　think　of　it；　I　have　seen　butterflies〃
  〃So　had　he；〃　laughed　Elnora。　　〃And　that　is　what　he　meant。〃
  CHAPTER　XIV
  WHEREIN　A　NEW　POSITION　IS　TENDERED　ELNORA；
  AND　PHILIP　AMMON　IS　SHOWN　LIMBERLOST　VIOLETS
  The　next　morning　Mrs。　Comstock　called　to　Elnora；
  〃The　mail　carrier　stopped　at　our　box。〃
  Elnora　ran　down　the　walk　and　came　back　carrying　an
  official　letter。　　She　tore　it　open　and　read：
  MY　DEAR　MISS　COMSTOCK：
  At　the　weekly　meeting　of　the　Onabasha　School　Board　last　night；　it
  was　decided　to　add　the　position　of　Lecturer　on　Natural　History　to
  our　corps　of　city　teachers。　　It　will　be　the　duty　of　this　person　to
  spend　two　hours　a　week　in　each　of　the　grade　schools　exhibiting　and
  explaining　specimens　of　the　most　prominent　objects　in　nature：
  animals；　birds；　insects；　flowers；　vines；　shrubs；　bushes；　and　trees。
  These　specimens　and　lectures　should　be　appropriate　to　the　seasons
  and　the　comprehension　of　the　grades。　　This　position　was　unanimously
  voted　to　you。　　I　think　you　will　find　the　work　delightful　and　much
  easier　than　the　routine　grind　of　the　other　teachers。　　It　is　my　advice
  that　you　accept　and　begin　to　prepare　yourself　at　once。　　Your　salary
  will　be　750　a　year；　and　you　will　be　allowed　200　for　expenses　in
  procuring　specimens　and　books。　　Let　us　know　at　once　if　you　want　the
  position；　as　it　is　going　to　be　difficult　to　fill　satisfactorily　if
  you　do　not。
  Very　truly　yours；
  DAVID　THOMPSON；　President；　Onabasha　Schools。
  〃I　hardly　understand；〃　marvelled　Mrs。　Comstock。
  〃It　is　a　new　position。　　They　never　have　had　anything
  like　it　before。　　I　suspect　it　arose　from　the　help　I've　been
  giving　the　grade　teachers　in　their　nature　work。　　They　are
  trying　to　teach　the　children　something；　and　half　the
  instructors　don't　know　a　blue　jay　from　a　king…fisher；　a
  beech　leaf　from　an　elm；　or　a　wasp　from　a　hornet。〃
  〃Well；　do　you？〃　anxiously　inquired　Mrs。　Comstock。
  〃Indeed；　I　do！〃　laughed　Elnora；　〃and　several　other
  things　beside。　　When　Freckles　bequeathed　me　the
  swamp；　he　gave　me　a　bigger　inheritance　than　he　knew。
  While　you　have　thought　I　was　wandering　aimlessly；　I
  have　been　following　a　definite　plan；　studying　hard；　and
  storing　up　the　stuff　that　will　earn　these　seven　hundred
  and　fifty　dollars。　　Mother　dear；　I　am　going　to　accept
  this；　of　course。　　The　work　will　be　a　delight。　　I'd　love
  it　most　of　anything　in　teaching。　　You　must　help