"See, it's going now. I wonder whether it really understands us?"
"Of course it does," replied her companion positively.
"Daddy-long-legs are real smart too. I caught one last night and I
said over three times, 'Tell me which way our cow goes or I will kill
you,' and it pointed in the direction of our pasture lot every time."
"You wouldn't really have killed the poor thing, though," exclaimed
Alice, who had drawn near to look at the crimson lady-bug. "A
daddy-long-legs is such a harmless creature. It has a right to live as
well as we have."
"Oh, Caleb, did you catch it?" interrupted Matilda. "Bring it here!"
and she beckoned to a small boy who was busy near a large beech tree
some distance away. "He's been after a tree-frog," she explained.
"There's one up in that tree that sings the cutest every evening and
morning. I hear him when I am gathering bluebells."
"It's pretty near dead," said the boy bringing his trophy. "I guess I
squeezed it too hard. We might as well kill it."
"No, no! that would be cruel; the poor little thing will soon be all
right if you put it back on its tree. We'll go with you and help you
put it up," replied Alice. "Come on, girls."
"It ain't hardly worth the trouble," and the boy looked at the frog
disdainfully.
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