the poor little animals."

"Fred is nothing but a wandering menagerie-cage; and no decent person is
safe anywhere near him," said Oscar, returning to his book.

"At any rate, my collections are not all the time falling through and
coming to nothing, like your clubs," retorted Fred. "And see here,
mamma, what a handsome and useful little fellow this is; let me read you
what it says about him"; and Fred opened his book, which was always
close at hand:--

"'The gold-chafer, _Auratus_, with its arched wing-coverings, and its
strong pincers, lives upon caterpillars, larvae, and other injurious
insects, and thus makes itself very useful. But instead of being
protected on this account, as it deserves to be, it is everywhere
persecuted and trodden upon.' So you see, mamma."

"We will not persecute your chafer, Fred; but his place is not in your
pocket, nor on the study-table, my boy; take him away," said his mother;
and at the same time his aunt called to Rikli through the open door:--

"Come back, dear little girl, and don't behave as if a little beetle
could eat you up alive! If you go through life shrieking out over every
trifle, you will some time or other be punished for it; for no one will
pay any attention to your screams, even when there is something really
the matter."

Rikli came back into the room just as Fred was carrying the beetle out,
and, as they met in the door-way, Fred said:--