These swarms of May flies appear only from three to five days at a
time.

Wherever there are streams there are May flies, and the canals of
Holland make good breeding places for them; no wonder, then, the Dutch,
who you know live in Holland, have a saying, "As thick as May flies."

Although so many of the May flies perish at once, multitudes of them
drop their eggs into the water to renew the race of May flies.

Is it not wonderful that after so long a period of creeping about in the
mud as larvæ, these graceful and beautiful little creatures have but a
few hours in which to dance joyously about in the upper air on wings of
gossamer? Some, indeed, live less than an hour, and some, that come out
in the evening, finish their dance of life and perish before sunrise,
without ever having seen the beautiful daylight.

Yes, strange little beings are they.

They do us no harm and we should not kill them.

Let them live their short lives and be happy.




THE STONE FLY FOLK

[Illustration]