1、the Butterflyby Hans Christian Andersen（1861） theRE was once a butterfly who wished for abride， and， as may be supposed， he wanted tochoose a very pretty one from among the flowers.He glanced， with a very critical eye， at all theflower-beds， and found
2、that the flowers wereseated quietly and demurely on their stalks， just asmaidens should sit before they are engaged； butthere was a GREat number of them， and itappeared as if his search would become very wearisome. The butterfly did not like to take too
3、much trouble， so he flew off on a visit to the daisies. The French call this flower “Marguerite，”and they say that the little daisy can prophesy. Lovers pluck off the leaves， and as they pluckeach leaf， they ask a question about their lovers； thus：“Does
4、 he or she love me？—Ardently？ Distractedly？ Very much？ A little？ Not at all？” and so on. Every one speaksthese words in his own language. The butterfly came also to Marguerite to inquire， but hedid not pluck off her leaves； he pressed a kiss on each of
5、them， for he thought there wasalways more to be done by kindness. “Darling Marguerite daisy，” he said to her，“you are the wisest woman of all the flowers.Pray tell me which of the flowers I shall choose for my wife. Which will be my bride？ When Iknow，
6、I will fly directly to her， and propose.” But Marguerite did not answer him； she was offended that he should call her a womanwhen she was only a girl； and there is a GREat difference. He asked her a second time， andthen a third； but she remained dumb，
7、and answered not a word. Then he would wait nolonger， but flew away， to commence his wooing at once. It was in the early spring， whenthe crocus and the snowdrop were in full bloom. “they are very pretty，” thought the butterfly；“charming little lasses；
8、but they arerather formal.” then， as the young lads often do， he looked out for the elder girls. He next flew to theanemones； these were rather sour to his taste. The violet， a little too sentimental. The lime-blossoms， too smal
