



Produced by Larry B. Harrison, and the Archives and Special
Collections, University Libraries, Ball State University
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net









[Illustration: Book Cover]

  MOTHER'S SERIES.

  The
  BUTTERFLYS'
  BALL.

  MC LOUGHLIN BRO'S & CO NEW YORK.




THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL.




[Illustration]

    The Butterfly, once, with the Grasshopper gay,
    A grand party gave in the middle of May;
    So, dear little readers, I'll tell you of all
    The guests who were asked to the feast and the ball.
    The Gnat was invited, the Dragonfly, too,
    And all his relations, green, orange, and blue;
    The Wasp, and Cockchafer, the Beetle and Bee;
    The stoutly-made Mole, and the Emmet so wee;

[Illustration]

    The Dormouse, and Snail, with a host more, were there
    But their names I can't tell you, I really declare.
    The Trumpeter Gadfly (who summoned the crew)
    Bade them all come at six, and to time, said, be true:
    In answer to which, they with pleasure replied,
    That they'd surely be there at the time specified.
    In the very best manner (without the least doubt)
    The kind-hearted hosts the grand banquet spread out,

[Illustration]

    Beneath an oak tree, which for ages had stood,
    In beauty and pride in the midst of a wood.
    A mushroom grew there, which a nice table made,
    And a waterdock-leaf for the cloth was soon laid.
    When the moment arrived, ready waiting were they
    To welcome their friends in the heartiest way;
    The first to arrive was the Beetle so black,
    Who carried the Emmet, his friend, on his back;

[Illustration]

    The Gnat and the Dragonfly next did each bring
    His friends; then the Wasp came, without his sharp sting.
    The Cockchafer hummed, as he journeyed along,
    Some songs he intended to sing to the throng.
    The sly little Dormouse peeped out of his hole,
    And led to the feast his blind cousin, the Mole.
    In fact they all came, as they promised to do,
    In the picture before you, so plain to the view.

[Illustration]

    The viands were various; delighted were they;
    Some honey the Bee brought, to honor the day.
    Said he, "My dear friends, I am far behind time,
    But, WORK BEFORE PLAY, is a maxim of mine."
    The feast now commenced, they ate and they talked
    Of the news of the day, and the distance they'd walked
    When the banquet was finished, they said one and all,
    That Gaffer Grasshopper must open the ball;

[Illustration]

    Behold him then, bowing politely, advance
    To ask Madam Butterfly with him to dance.
    The dancing began, each a partner had got,
    Excepting the Snail, who said, dance she could not,
    For, fatigued with the distance the length of an ell,
    She said she must sleep in her own little shell.
    The party was merry,--and well it might be--
    For the Cockchafer sang, and a soft voice had he:

[Illustration]

    The name of the song I've forgotten completely,
    And also the words, but they sounded most sweetly.
    The company, charmed, entreated another,
    And he favored them, gladly, with "Jack and his brother;"
    When ended the song, (it was loudly applauded,)
    The dance, for a time, again pleasure afforded,
    'Till slily came on the dark shadows of night,
    And the Watchmen, the Glowworms, each showed his bright light;

[Illustration]

    By the aid of their lanterns, each safely reached home;
    For some from a very great distance had come.
    Recollect, little readers, the saying is true,
    And I think, when you read it, you'll all say so too:
    That "EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE
    MAKE ALL BECOME HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE."




Picture Books FOR Little Children

For Sale at all Book Stores.

66 Different kinds, for Six Cents Each.


MOTHER'S SERIES.

16mo. Colored Toys. Printed in colors.

  Miss Vanity's Holiday.
  Passionate Child.
  Picture Fables.
  Little Sister.
  My Mother.
  Butterfly's Ball.


FATHER'S SERIES.

16mo. Colored Toys. Printed in colors.

  Harry Brown.
  Valentine & Orson.
  Tom Tearabout.
  Two Brothers, or the Echo.
  Puss in Boots.
  Jemmy String.


Susie Sunshine's Series.

Large 18mo. Toys. Printed in oil colors.

  Story of Simple Simon.
  The Three Little Kittens.
  Sad Fate of Poor Robin.
  Little Old Woman.
  The Robber Kitten.
  Little Bo-Peep.


Fairy Moonbeam's Series.

Large 18mo. Toys. Printed in oil colors.

  The Frog who would a Wooing Go.
  Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper.
  Aladdin, and The Wonderful Lamp.
  Hop O' My Thumb.
  The Three Bears.
  Sleeping Beauty.


PETER PRIM'S SERIES.

Large 18mo. Toys. Printed in oil colors.

  Pauline and the Matches.
  Cruel Frederick.
  Heedless Johnny.
  Truant Peter.
  Inky Boys.
  Lazy Charlotte.


Little Slovenly Peter.

Large 18mo. Toys. Printed in oil colors.

  Carrie and the Candle.
  Sammy Tickletooth.
  Johnny Sliderlegs.
  Little Jacob.
  Tom the Thief.
  The Dirty Child.


PLEASURE BOOKS.

16mo. 16 page Toys. Covers printed in colors.

  Old Dame and her Silver Sixpence.
  Life and Death of Jenny Wren.
  Little Man and Little Maid.
  The House that Jack Built.
  Fox and Geese.
  The Three Bears.


DAME WONDERS'.

Handsomely colored Picture Books. 12mo.

  The Little Drummer.
  The Little Traveler.
  The Little Sailor Boy.
  Multiplication Table.
  Animals and Birds.
  Little Orphan Girl.
  Mary Goodchild.
  George Worthy.
  Amusing Alphabet.
  Master Rose.
  Miss Rose.
  Table Book.


AUNT EFFIES.

Handsomely colored Picture Books. 12mo.

  History of an Apple Pie.
  Aladdin, or the Wonderful Lamp.
  Adventures of Little Dame Crump.
  Cinderella; or, the Little Glass Slipper.
  Little Red Riding Hood.
  The Children in the Wood.
  History of Johnny Gilpin.
  Robinson Crusoe.
  Queen Tab and her Kitten.
  Old Mother Hubbard and her Little Dog.
  Life and Death of Cock Robin.
  Dame Trot and her Comical Cat.


McLOUGHLIN BROS. & CO., Publishers, New York.





End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Butterflys' Ball, by Anonymous

*** 