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EB" CAS BIE TOK LIFE to drink of the Fountain of Immortality. They traveled in company, like people following the same road. Pensive introduced Graceful to a young butterfly that chatted agreeably. Friendship springs up quickly in youth; in an hour the two comrades were inseparable. To go straight forward does not suit the taste of butterflies, and Graceful’s friend was constantly losing himself among the grass. Graceful, who had never been free in his life, nor had seen so many flowers and so much sunshine, followed all the windings of his companion, and troubled himself no more about the day than if it were never to end; but, after a few leagues’ journey his new friend began to be weary. “Don’t go any farther,” said he to Graceful. “See how beautiful is this landscape, how fragrant these flowers, and how balmy these fields. Let us stay here; this 1s life.” “Let us go on,” said Fido; "the day is long, and we are only at the beginning." “Let us go on,” said Pensive; "the sky is clear and the horizon unbounded. Let us go on.” Graceful, restored to his senses, reasoned sagely with the butterfly, who fluttered constantly to the right and the left, but all in vain. "What matters it to me?" said the insect. “Yesterday I was a caterpillar, to-night I shall be nothing. I will enjoy to-day." And he settled on a full-blown Pestum rose. The perfume was so strong that the poor 57
