THE BUTTERFLY AND THE FLOWERS.

THIS beautiful little play is a great favourite in France. All those who are to join in it take the name of some flower or insect; and they then choose one to begin the game, who is called the Butterfly. This game may be played either by young ladies and gentlemen, by little girls and boys, or by little girls alone. If there are gentlemen or boys, they always take the part of insects; ladies and little girls take the names of different flowers; if little girls play it by them

selves, it is necessary, in order to avoid confusion, to have the insects ranged on one side. and the flowers on the other, in the form of half circles each. The one who is chosen to represent the Butterfly should be in the centre of the circle. There are eight rules in the game, which must be carefully observed.

1st. The insects shall be represented by boys, if any boys take part in the game; and the flowers shall be represented by girls.

2d. No flower or insect must be mentioned, unless there is some one in the company who is called by the name of that flower or insect. Thus, if there are six little girls who play the game, and it is agreed that one shall be called Lily, another Balsamine, another Violet, another Pink, another Daisy, and another Snow-drop, it will not do for any of the players to mention a Rose in any way; if they do, they must pay a forfeit, because there is no one who represents a Rose. The six on the other side may be called Caterpillar, Wasp, Spider, Bee, Gnat, and Beetle ; whoever should happen to mention a Musquito, in this case must pay a forfeit.

3d. The name of no flower or insect must be mentioned twice.

4th. At the mention of the gardener, all the little girls representing flowers must stretch out their right hands, to show how the flowers open their leaves and rejoice at the refreshing water which the gardener brings. All those who bear

the name of insects, on the contrary, must jump up and step back a little, to show that they are afraid of him.

5th. At the word water-pot, all the flowers must rise and lift up their heads as if eager for the water; and all the insects must drop on one knee and hold their heads down, as if afraid of being drowned.

6th. All the players must observe at the mention of the sun, to rise, as if to hail his presence, equally delightful to flowers and insects.

7th. Each one must speak the moment she hears her name.

8th. After taking the positions prescribed in rules 4, 5, and 6, every one must remain as they are until some insect or flower is again mentioned. (See the example of the Wasp.) When any of these rules are broken, the company demand what forfeit they please.

There are no rules concerning what shall be said by the different actors; that must depend upon the wit and skill of the players. The beauty of the game is very much increased by each insect and flower saying something appropriate to its own character, either original, or quoted from books.

I will give a few sentences by way of example, and leave to the good taste and intelligence of my little readers to provide themselves with such a variety as the occasion may require.

After all is arranged according to the above

rules, the Butterfly begins by saying, “Oh! beautiful flower, so pure and sweet! what shall

I

say in praise of thee? They tell me I am capricious, that I am always roaming from flower to flower; but indeed, I could repose many minutes on the leaves of the white Lily.

Here the Lily, hearing her name, interrupts him :

say

"Your flattery is a sign that you are an inconstant coxcomb. Faithful friends but little about their love. Of what value are your silly compliments to a flower who opens her petals only to the pure rays of the SUN? (Here all the players rise.) Your flattery displeases me almost as much as the stinging sarcasms of the Wasp"

Here the Wasp, who with the others have kept standing until a name was mentioned, reseats himself and speaks:

"Whatever flowers may say, they are never so well pleased as when they are called beautiful. If they pretend to dislike flattery, it is only in the hope of getting more of it. Even when their heads are drooping with the heat, and their leaves covered with dust, they are sorry to see the GARDENER, (Here Rule 4th must be observed) for fear his WATER-POT (Rule 5th) will frighten avay the crowd of insects which buzz around them; especially the impatient Balsamine."