Clapping his hands at the end , he made another double salutation , and then ran to hide his head in his mother 's lap , quite overcome by the success of his `` piece , '' for the applause was tremendous . Dick and Dolly did not write , but were encouraged to observe the habits of animals and insects , and report what they saw . Dick liked this , and always had a great deal to say ; so , when his name was called , he marched up , and , looking at the audience with his bright confiding eyes , told his little story so earnestly that no one smiled at his crooked body , because the `` straight soul '' shone through it beautifully . `` I 've been watching dragonflies , and I read about them in Dan 's book , and I 'll try and tell you what I remember . There 's lots of them flying round on the pond , all blue , with big eyes , and sort of lace wings , very pretty . I caught one , and looked at him , and I think he was the handsomest insect I ever saw . They catch littler creatures than they are to eat , and have a queer kind of hook thing that folds up when they ai n't hunting . It likes the sunshine , and dances round all day . Let me see ! what else was there to tell about ? Oh , I know ! The eggs are laid in the water , and go down to the bottom , and are hatched in the mud . Little ugly things come out of 'em ; I ca n't say the name , but they are brown , and keep having new skins , and getting bigger and bigger . Only think ! it takes them two years to be a dragonfly ! Now this is the curiousest part of it , so you listen tight , for I do n't believe you know it . When it is ready it knows somehow , and the ugly , grubby thing climbs up out of the water on a flag or a bulrush , and bursts open its back . '' `` Come , I do n't believe that , '' said Tommy , who was not an observant boy , and really thought Dick was `` making up . '' `` It does burst open its back , do n't it ? '' and Dick appealed to Mr. Bhaer , who nodded a very decided affirmative , to the little speaker 's great satisfaction .
`` Well , out comes the XXXXX , all whole , and he sits in the sun sort of coming alive , you know ; and he gets strong , and then he spreads his pretty wings , and flies away up in the air , and never is a grub any more .
Bhaer Dan Dick Dolly bulrush day dragonflies dragonfly littler years