Page:The New-Year's Bargain (1884).djvu/84

 dress hid his small, dark limbs. A little bow was in his hand, a quiver on his back; and as he jumped from behind a bush, and joined in the frolic, it was like a brown twig flying after two snow-white blossoms blown from the tree.

"The little ones were not frightened. They took kindly to a new playmate, whatever his color might be. 'Sister' made friends at once, while Baby stared at him with her big blue eyes. On they trotted together; and by and by the nimble boy made a clutch which secured the butterfly, and the brown head and the fair ones met together over the prize.

'Pitty! pitty!' cried Baby, and she patted the little Indian with her soft hand. Then the same soft fingers made a grab at the purple wings. Ah me! one of them came off in her grasp. My poor butterfly! The first of the season!

"The children were sorry. Children are always sorry," said May, tartly, "after the mischief is done; but I don't see that it makes them