Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-07-26
From Our Boys and Girls.
Yellow Back and the Lake Of Honey.
For TIE cHrLpREN.

bees, but as angry and vindictive as if
u mad come from wasp or a hornet.
II tell you what, comrades, it's time
MISS yellow Back was corrected lit
Lle3" spoke up grave old Velvet Legs
-She'u tnjure our reputation, if she
doesn't do any other harm. She's al
ways IN quarrel with something or
oGher5 and, for all she's SO quick and
. fierce, she does the least work of any
in the nest"
''It's her irritable temperament; she
can't help it poor 5hingV" said charita-
BILE Gauze Wing, emptying the honey
from her well-stored bags into the clean
wax cell
fThen let us treat her like a sick per-
sOn-put her into one of the sick wards,
and keep her out Of mischief" persist
ed Velvet Legs.
Legs" said Striped Wing, the brother
of Yellow Back. "You're old and dull.
You've not kept up to the times. Hel-
/ low Back is a genius, and genius is al
/ ways eTTablc. She'll dazzle us all yet
by her achievements. She is indignant
at our tameness. She says we are inn
posed upon, because we don't resent our
/ injuries. There's a great lake of pure
honey in the pantry Of the farmer.-
! Why should we spend our time wan
| dering all over the fields for q few drOps.
when we can help ourselves to that
| Yellow Back volunteers to lead the
| way. She has already brought a fine
/ specimen. Why should we be content
with so plOdding an existence, she asks,
when little boldness and ambition
would secure us a harvest Of plenty, so
that we might sit at our case 2"
''Hum, hum, hum, !" retorted old Vel
/ vet Legs, cOntemptuOUsly 81 have liV-
| ed longer than Yellow Back, and know
that her words are those Of folly. There
may be a lake Of honey, and there may
not. But / am sure Of this uluch-the
old way of humble bees is the way for
me, and I shall not enter into any such
reckless project. I am willing TO earn
my own food"
At that moment Yellow Back came
sailing in.
"Come, come 20 she cried "The coasts
clear; the great crystal gateway they cali
the window of the pantry is unc1Osed;
now is the moment for making our fol-
tunes. A bold move now, and we may
rest IN luxury the rest Of the season"
"What sort Of comfort would that be2''
demanded grim old Velvet Legs
you'd have all the time for quar-
reling. 1 warn you, frienis, that her
counsel is foolish, that it will lead to
ruin. Do you think the farmer will
tamely allow yOu to drain his lake of
honey? What if he comes to attack
you 2''
"Velvet Legs is a coward, and of dull
understanding, retOrted Yellow Back.
accept me for your leader, and I pro-
y VI
Ons Of our own DO not these clumsy
mOrtals run from our stings Who will
listen to such crOaker2 Come on, my
heroes -
The young and enthuiastic gathered
around Yellow Back. A few of the old
and sober ones had a regard for Velvet
Legs and valued his advice.
gauze Wing.
Velvet Legs sighed at this; for the
the ways of the world, and he guessed
that the flaming picture Of Yellow Back
would dazzle her.
Velvet Legs found that his fears
were prophetic. The queen ardentlY
approved the project, and from that
time the subject was settled. All the
empty jars and cells were put in order,
ready for the great supply of honey to
be stolen from the wonderful lake and
then the whole company sailed out
Velvet Legs accompanied them little
way, eXhOrting and entreating, and
warning them Of the danger they brav-
ed. But Yellow Back buzzed so loud
his voice was quite drowned.
Farewell ~ cried Velvet Legs. f'I
shall HE me to a safe distance beyond
the farmers vengeance, but near enough
to learn the result Of your expedition"
she shall have none of the honey"
said Yellow Back, scOrnfully.
''NO, do not desire, much less expect
any shall DG lldJlb 10 uGAD WOAs III
case your fine expedition turns out dis
astrously," replied Velvet Legs, sor-
roWfully.
he flew on, found a snug retreat un-
der the leaves Of a young cherry tree,
and waited there quietly.
Yellow Back meanwhile, buzZing in
her loudest fashion, led the way, and
sailed through the open window of the
pantry. There, to be sure, was the lake
Of honey. With loud huns of eXulta-
the humble bees all few towards it, and
gathered in a close line around the
smooth, white edges.
''See !" cried yellow Back. fDO you
heed that old croaker nOw2 Am I not
worthy leader2 Which viii you trust
in future ?"
'tYoul youl you % buzzed and hum
med from the delighted crowd.
The first disaster came to Gauze Wing.
He slipped on the smooth porcelain sur
face as he bent down, and went head
long into the lake. The honey was very
delectable to the taste, but exceedingly
disagreeable for a bath. GaUze Wing
was piniOned down as by iron fetters.-
The others endeaVOred to assist him,
but were in imminent danger of shar-
ing his fate. A loud buzz of cOnsulta-
uiOn ensued, so loud indeed that the
noise penetrated to the kitchen.
''Bless my heart father, won't you
look here Sarah, Jenny, only come
and see ~ cried out the farmers wife
peering into the pantry.
1.-THE enemy the enemyp' shouted
Striped Wing, giving the alarm.
"UseagOur stings fly at them ~ cried
Yellow Back /; and she dashed at the
white forehead Of dear little Jenny, and
left a cruel mark there.
A few Of the others followed her ex-
ample, and darted with savage rage at
one and another Of the intruders, who
retreated hastily.
''See, seei we are victors ~ cried Vel
low Back. But chat word was her last.
The farmer reappeared, yelled and GLOW
ed, with a long brush in his hand. He
used it vigorously, and Yellow Back
fell Iifeless to the floor In wild af-
fright the others darted towards the
window, but only two were through ere
that avenue af escape was closed. All
the rest were soon living, i'm an ignOmin-
iOus heap, beside the lake of honey.
Gauze Wing, held fast prisoner by the
honey. saw all and grOaned in anguish.
80, Velvet Legs, Velvet Legs, would
we had listened to your wise counsel
would we had trusted to your better
experience :" cried he, with his eNpir-
ing breath.
ut beats everything. 1 never saw
humble bees so bold and so vicious"
said the farmer. "I'll just stop up that
hole at the corner of the house their
nest must be there. Only look at poor
Jenny's forehead won't leave bum
BILE bee on the place"
And so the queen. waiting impatient
ly for The return of her spoil-laden sub
iects was first informed of the catas-
trOphe by the panic-stricl<en entrance
of one of the bees. She had scarcely
listened to the disastrous recital ere the
hot breath of the smoking brand the far
mer thrust into the hole gave notice OF
still more imminent danger. She expired,
calling on Velvet Legs for forgiveness.
He, poor fellow, witnessed with deep
sorrow the destruction of his swarm,
and the ruin of his home but he was
by knowing how earnestly he
had warned them. He made his way
to a neighboring swarm, where he
was warmly made wei come, and where
when silly young bees ridiCuled the
caution of the old ones, he was al
ways ready to relate the affecting story
Of Yellow Back and the Lake Of Honey.
M n. CCl10r.