The Tale of Betsy Butterfly Read online

  "She's a bold piece!" Mrs. Ladybug exclaimed, under her breath.

  "Perhaps you won't be so happy to see us when you hear what we have tosay to you," Mrs. Ladybug began.

  "There hasn't been an accident, I hope!" Betsy cried. "Your house hasn'tburned?"

  "No!" replied Mrs. Ladybug. And again she said, "No!" in a very decidedmanner. "We've come to warn you that we've found out about yourtrickery," she announced. "We know that you like butter, and thatyou're in the habit of taking it from Farmer Green--yes! and eggs, too!"

  "Why, I don't know what you're talking about!" Betsy Butterfly faltered.She was really greatly surprised.

  "It won't help you to be untruthful," Mrs. Ladybug told her severely."It's no wonder--" she added--"it's no wonder Mrs. Green wouldn't giveme a bit of butter when I went to the farmhouse yesterday. She thought_I_ was the one that's been stealing it from her, right along."

  And then Mrs. Ladybug was amazed by what followed. For Betsy Butterflyactually smiled at her.

  "You're mistaken," she said. "I never eat butter. I don't like it. Andas for eggs, how could I ever break through an egg-shell?"

  "I don't know anything about that," said Mrs. Ladybug. "And besides, Ididn't come here to be questioned," she added tartly. "If you have anyquestions to ask, just ask 'em of _him_, for he's seen you with yourface buried in butter!" And she pointed at Daddy Longlegs.

  And now it was _his_ turn to look uncomfortable. For he considered BetsyButterfly to be very beautiful indeed.

  XII

  A TERRIBLE BLUNDER

  WHEN the beautiful Betsy Butterfly turned her gaze on him, DaddyLonglegs couldn't help wishing that he had worn his new coat that day.However, he straightened his necktie carefully and tried to look as wellas he could.

  "So you've seen me eating butter, have you?" Betsy Butterfly asked him.

  "Not _eating_ it!" he corrected her. "I've seen you _standing_ on it.And your face was hidden in it, too."

  Mrs. Ladybug shot a triumphant glance at the crowd, of which she andBetsy Butterfly and Daddy Longlegs were the center.

  "What have you to say now, my fine lady?" she demanded of Betsy with asneer.

  And still Betsy Butterfly was quite unruffled.

  "Where did you see me doing that?" she asked Daddy Longlegs pleasantlyenough.

  "I object!" Mrs. Ladybug interrupted hastily. "You needn't answer herquestion," she advised Daddy Longlegs. "I know her tricks! She'll keepus talking here until we forget what our errand was!"

  But Daddy Longlegs paid no attention to Mrs. Ladybug's advice.

  "I saw you in this meadow," he explained.

  And Mrs. Ladybug began to look somewhat worried.

  "Come!" she cried. "Let's all go home now. We've warned her; and we'llleave her to think over what she's done.... I hope--" Mrs. Ladybugadded, turning to Betsy Butterfly--"I hope you'll decide to turn over anew leaf."

  "Why, that's exactly what she did, that time when I saw her!" DaddyLonglegs shouted. "While I was watching her I saw her turn over a leaf.So what's the use of her turning over another."

  And now it was Mrs. Ladybug's turn to look amazed and bewildered.

  "I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped, glaring at DaddyLonglegs. "And I don't believe you know, yourself."

  "Oh! yes, I do!" he retorted shrilly.

  "Butter has no leaves," said Mrs. Ladybug with a knowing air. "I sawheaps and heaps of it in Farmer Green's buttery yesterday. And therewasn't a leaf on it."

  "How about eggs, then?" shouted somebody in the crowd. It was stupidBuster Bumblebee! And of course nobody paid any heed to his sillyquestion.

  As he stared at Mrs. Ladybug dully Daddy Longlegs let his mouth fallwide open.

  "Why, what do you mean?" he demanded at last. "You and I aren't talkingabout the same sort of butter at all! You're describing the kind ofbutter that Mrs. Green makes at the farmhouse."

  "And what, pray tell, have you been talking about all this time?" Mrs.Ladybug gasped.

  "The butter-and-eggs in the meadow!" Daddy Longlegs informed her. "Isuppose you know the plant, don't you?"

  "I've heard of it," Mrs. Ladybug replied. "But I doubt if there is sucha thing."

  "And I say there is!" Buster Bumblebee clamored. "We Bumblebees are veryfond of butter-and-eggs. And we're about the only field people thatknow how to open a blossom and reach its nectar."

  Little Mrs. Ladybug waited to hear no more.

  "You've made a terrible blunder!" she told Daddy Longlegs hurriedly. Andbefore he could answer her she had hastened away.

  Like many another jealous body, Mrs. Ladybug had behaved very foolishly.And it was no wonder that she wanted to get away from the crowd.

  She didn't even beg Betsy Butterfly's pardon for calling her a thief.But all the rest of the field people realized at last that Betsy was nothief.

  The butter-and-eggs plant, they were well aware, was as free as theclover, or the milk-weed blossoms, or any other of the wild flowers.Everybody knew that Farmer Green laid no claim to them, though they didgrow in his meadow.

  And when Betsy Butterfly thanked Daddy Longlegs for his explanation hewished more than ever that he had worn his new coat that day--and hisnew hat, too.

  XIII

  THE FRIENDLY STRANGER

  OF course, anyone so beautiful as Betsy Butterfly was bound to attractattention. Wherever she went people turned their heads--if theycould--to look at her. And those whose heads were so fastened to theirbodies that they simply couldn't crane their necks at anybody--eventhose unlucky creatures wheeled themselves about in order to gaze atBetsy.

  If they happened to be ladies they stared at her because they wanted tosee what was the latest style in gowns, or maybe hats. And if theyhappened to be gentlemen they looked at her because they just couldn'thelp it.

  It was no wonder, then, that Betsy Butterfly had many admirers. In fact,she was so accustomed to their flittering after her that usually shepaid little heed to them. But now and then one of them made himself soagreeable that Betsy favored him slightly more than the others.

  Such was a stranger dressed in yellowish brown whom she chanced to meetamong the flowers one day. He was flying from flower to flower with aloud buzzing. And he reminded Betsy Butterfly of somebody, but shecouldn't just think who it was.

  "Ah!" said the stranger, as soon as he caught Betsy's eye. "The blossomsare fine and fresh after last night's shower, aren't they?"

  Betsy had to admit that what the stranger said was true. And when hecame right over to the flower where she was breakfasting and beganbuzzing around her, and eating pollen, Betsy Butterfly thought that fora stranger he seemed very friendly.

  She looked at him for a time, out of the corner of her eye, while shetried to recall whom the newcomer resembled. But he looked like no oneshe had even seen. And then all at once Betsy knew what was so familiarabout him. It was his voice!

  "You remind me of a friend of mine," she remarked. "He lives in themeadow not far from here. It's your buzzing," she explained. "If Ididn't see you I should think you were Buster Bumblebee."

  Betsy's remark seemed to please the stranger. And he smiled smugly whilehe buzzed louder than ever.

  "It's not surprising that I make you think of him," he observed. "Indeedit would be odd if I didn't, for I'm a sort of cousin of Buster's, soto speak. Perhaps you didn't know that my name is Bumble--JosephBumble."

  Naturally Betsy and Joseph became good friends on the spot. And afterthat people often saw them rambling together among the flowers.

  Now, Joseph Bumble proved to be a great talker. And since BetsyButterfly was an excellent listener, they spent many agreeable hourstogether.

  At least, Joseph enjoyed every minute that he spent in Betsy Butterfly'scompany. And if at times she found his prattle a bit tiresome, she wastoo well-mannered to say so.

  If the truth were known, Joseph Bumble proved to be somewhat of abraggart. He was forever boasting of his connection with the Bumblebeefamily. And Betsy co
uldn't say anything to him without his remarkingthat his cousin Buster Bumblebee's mother, the well-known Queen, thoughtthis or that.

  "And being of royal blood, the Queen ought to know what's what," hefrequently said.

  "I suppose--" Betsy said to him at last--"I suppose you're of royalblood yourself, Mr. Bumble?"

  "Oh, very!" he replied with a smirk. "We're all of us very royalindeed."

  And Betsy Butterfly thought how pleasant it was to be friends withanyone who came from such a fine family as Joseph Bumble's.

  XIV

  A DEEP PLOT

  AS time passed, Betsy continued to see a great deal of Joseph Bumble.And she noticed one peculiar thing: Although he talked continually ofhis cousin Buster Bumblebee, the Queen's son, no one had ever seen thetwo together.

  "How does it happen," she asked Joseph at last, "that I never find youwith your cousin? Aren't you friends?"

  "We're certainly not _enemies_," said Joseph Bumble, "though I mustadmit that we're not quite so intimate as we might be. You see, Busterand I have different tastes. And now that the red clover is in blossomhe spends all his time in the clover field. But as you know, like you Iam very fond of flowers. And I'd far rather be here in the meadow--orthe flower garden--with you, than in the clover patch with BusterBumblebee."

  Naturally such an answer was bound to please Betsy Butterfly. And afterthat she bothered her head no more about the friendship between the twocousins. Certainly Joseph Bumble's explanation sounded reasonable. Andshe had no cause to doubt his statement.

  Meanwhile there were others among Betsy Butterfly's admirers who becamevery peevish on observing how much time Betsy and the newcomer in theneighborhood, Joseph Bumble, were spending in each other's society. Andthey agreed among themselves that something ought to be done to put anend to the upstart Bumble's boasting.

  "Betsy Butterfly thinks the fellow is a cousin of Buster Bumblebee's,"said Chirpy Cricket. "But I've noticed that he and Buster are nevertogether. Let's ask Buster to come over to the meadow so that he maymeet this cousin of his! And then perhaps we'll learn something moreabout Joseph Bumble than we know now."

  Everybody said that that was a good plan. And Betsy's admirers choseDaddy Longlegs to call on Buster Bumblebee and invite him to a party tobe given in the meadow the following day.

  Daddy Longlegs agreed to do the errand, in spite of the fact that forhim it was half a day's journey to the Bumblebee's home from the stonewall where he lived. But he thought that by hurrying he ought to be ableto get back in time to put on his best coat and go to the party, thoughhe might arrive somewhat late.

  "Don't forget to ask Betsy Butterfly to the party!" Daddy called, as hestarted off on his long trip.

  "Don't worry! I'll attend to that myself," Chirpy Cricket promised.

  "And don't forget to invite Joseph Bumble!" Daddy cautioned him.

  "Oh! we don't need to ask him," said Chirpy Cricket. "_He'll_ comewithout being invited, unless I'm greatly mistaken."

  * * * * *

  Luckily for Daddy Longlegs there was not a breath of wind either thatday or the following one. So he made excellent time to the Bumblebeehome, where he found Buster Bumblebee and gave him his invitation. ThenDaddy turned around and started back towards his stone wall. BusterBumblebee had promised to come to the party. And Daddy wanted to bepresent when the two cousins, Buster Bumblebee and Joseph Bumble,met--with Betsy Butterfly right there to watch them.

  XV

  JOSEPH BUMBLE'S COMPLAINT

  IT happened just as Chirpy Cricket had expected. Betsy Butterfly arrivedat the party with her admirer, Joseph Bumble, buzzing close behind her.Although he had not been invited, he did not feel the least bit shyabout coming.

  "Being of a royal family, I never wait to be asked to a place," he hadexplained loftily to Betsy. "And you'll see that everybody will be gladto see me at the party. People always consider it an honor to have me attheir entertainments."

  Joseph's words proved partly true, anyhow. Anyone could see that JosephBumble was more than welcome. Chirpy Cricket and Daddy Longlegs--aswell good many others--rushed up to him and told him how pleased theywere to see him.

  And Joseph Bumble was having a very agreeable time talking in a loudvoice about himself and his family when he suddenly stopped short. Alook of displeasure crossed his face. And Daddy Longlegs asked him if hehad eaten something that disagreed with him.

  "No!" replied Joseph Bumble. "I've been interrupted. And it's hardly thesort of treatment a person of royal blood--like myself--expects toreceive at a party."

  "Who interrupted you?" Chirpy Cricket inquired.

  "I don't know," Joseph Bumble answered. "But someone was talking in aloud voice."

  "Are you sure it wasn't yourself that you heard?" Daddy Longlegs wantedto know.

  "Certainly not!" cried Joseph. "Don't be silly! Don't you suppose I knowmy own voice when I hear it?"

  "Perhaps it was your echo that you heard," Daddy ventured.

  At that Joseph Bumble rudely turned his back on him and began whisperingto Chirpy Cricket. He was actually suggesting that Daddy Longlegs shouldbe thrown out of the party!

  And then Mr. Bumble again paused abruptly and listened.

  "There!" he said to Chirpy Cricket. "Don't you hear that buzzing? That'sthe person that interrupted me. And I'd like to have him put out of theparty too, along with this queer old chap who insulted me a moment ago."

  Chirpy Cricket looked around, until his eye rested on Buster Bumblebee,who had just arrived and who was at that moment talking with BetsyButterfly.

  "There's the young man you hear!" Chirpy told Joseph Bumble. "Don't youknow him?"

  "No!" replied Joseph, as his eyes followed Chirpy Cricket's. "And Idon't want to know him, either. He looks to me to be a very ordinaryperson. And anybody can see that he's annoying Betsy Butterfly. I tellyou, I want him chased away from here at once. For I'm of royal blood;and I'm not accustomed to go to parties with ragtags and bobtails. I'm acousin of Buster Bumblebee, the Queen's son."

  Well, Chirpy Cricket tried hard not to laugh right in Joseph Bumble'sface.

  "I'll see what I can do," Chirpy promised him. "And I will admit that_somebody_ ought to be barred out of this party."

  "Good!" exclaimed Joseph Bumble. "I'm glad to know that you're sosensible."

  Perhaps he would have spoken in a different fashion had he known exactlywhat Chirpy Cricket had in mind. But now he said nothing more, though hecontinued to stare angrily at Buster Bumblebee, who was glad to seeBetsy Butterfly, and was telling her as much, too.

  XVI

  NOTHING BUT A FRAUD

  AT last Joseph Bumble's displeasure passed all control. He began to buzzas loud as he could, hoping to drown Buster Bumblebee's buzzing, so thatBuster could no longer talk to Betsy Butterfly.

  Naturally, Buster soon had to raise his own voice, in order to makehimself heard. And soon the two made such a roar that everybody else hadto stop up his ears.

  Noticing a look of distress on Betsy Butterfly's face, Buster asked herwhat the trouble was.

  "You and your cousin Joseph are making a terrible racket," she told him.

  "My cousin Joseph!" cried Buster Bumblebee. "And who is he, I shouldlike to know? Point him out to me, please! For I didn't know I had acousin at this party."

  "There he is!" said Betsy Butterfly, nodding her head towards theglowering Joseph.

  "What! That unshaven stranger in the yellowish-brown suit?" cried BusterBumblebee. "I assure you he's no relation of mine."

  "You must be mistaken," Betsy persisted. "He says he's your cousin, andof royal blood himself."

  "Nonsense!" cried Buster Bumblebee. "Just let me talk to him a moment,and I'll soon prove that your friend is nothing but a fraud."

  Accordingly Buster left her, and straightway perched himself upon adaisy directly in front of Joseph Bumble.

  "How-dy do!" said Buster. "I hear you've been talking about me."

  Now, Joseph Bum
ble's only thought was that the noisy chap in the yellowand black velvet must have overheard what he had said to Chirpy Cricketabout throwing him out of the party.

  "I don't care to talk with you," Joseph announced in his grandestmanner. "I'm from such a fine family that I have to be very particularabout whom I'm seen with."

  "Is that so?" said Buster. "I suppose if Buster Bumblebee were at thisparty you'd be glad to talk with him?"

  "I should say I would!" was the other's answer. "He's my cousin."

  "What's your name, anyhow?" Buster Inquired.

  "Joseph Bumble!"

  "What's the rest of it?" Buster Bumblebee demanded, while the wholecompany surged around him, so that they might hear.

  "I refuse to answer!" said Joseph Bumble. And afterward Daddy Longlegsdeclared that at that moment he saw the fellow's knees trembling.

  "Come!" said Joseph Bumble, turning suddenly to Betsy Butterfly. "I seethat we've accidentally fallen in with some rough people; and we'dbetter be moving on."

  But Betsy Butterfly didn't even look at Joseph.

  "What _is_ his full name?" she asked Buster.

  "He's a Bumble Flower-Beetle," Buster said. "And as for his beingrelated to me, that's all humbug. This stranger is no kin either to theBumblebee or any other Bee family. But his voice is so much like oursthat he's taken part of our name, though our family has always claimedthat he has no right to it."