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Stratton-Porter, Gene, 1863-1924

"A Girl of the Limberlost"

If there ever was a miracle, this whole
process is one. Now, as I understand it, this creature is going to keep
on spreading those wings, until they grow to size and harden to strength
sufficient to bear its body. Then it flies away, mates with its kind,
lays its eggs on the leaves of a certain tree, and the eggs hatch tiny
caterpillars which eat just that kind of leaves, and the worms grow and
grow, and take on different forms and colours until at last they are big
caterpillars six inches long, with large horns. Then they burrow into
the earth, build a water-proof house around themselves from material
which is inside them, and lie through rain and freezing cold for months.
A year from egg laying they come out like this, and begin the process
all over again. They don't eat, they don't see distinctly, they live
but a few days, and fly only at night; then they drop off easy, but the
process goes on."
A shivering movement went over the moth. The wings drooped and spread
wider. Mrs. Comstock sank into soft awed tones.
"There never was a moment in my life," she said, "when I felt so in the
Presence, as I do now. I feel as if the Almighty were so real, and so
near, that I could reach out and touch Him, as I could this wonderful
work of His, if I dared. I feel like saying to Him: 'To the extent of my
brain power I realize Your presence, and all it is in me to comprehend
of Your power. Help me to learn, even this late, the lessons of Your
wonderful creations.


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