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.”
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.
