Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-10-27

Ma" said little Bumblebee, Il am
going out to-day"
You must not, my child, " said his
mother, " for | see it is going to rain, and
you will get soaked with it, and perhaps
be drowned, or some terrible accident be-
fall you
But, ma. | want to 90" said he.
d" Buzz-z-z." said little Bumblebee's
father, as he awoke from his cosy place in
the soft dried grass, that made the home of
this estimable family Of bees. 1t had
once been the nest of Mrs. Mouse. and
here she had raised up a family Of cunning
little red mice, all Of which grew up into
fat plump ones, after Mrs. Tabitha Cat
caught their mother.
" Buzz-z-z," said Mr.. Bumblebee, as
he poked away the shives Of grass and
looked outdoors. This will be a rainy
day, l feel, and so | will not 20 out. We
have honey enough for the children, which
wife and | stored up several weeks ago,
and L will not run the risk OF going out"
But this boy wants to 60" said Mrs.
Bumblebee, " and | told him he ought
not too, for it was going to rain
Pa, can't | 90" said the willful boy.
" | don't believe 1t viii rain"
lit surely will" said his father, d. and
you must not 60"
Now little Bumblebee had been out only
twice; once Just on the clover heads that
grew about the stone-heaps which covered
their home, and the next time he went
further down beside the swamp, to a bunch
Of thimbleberry bushes, when his ma went
out to get SOM new honey for his youngest
brother, that was sick.
1t seemed so much better to be out hy-
ing through the fresh air, where the clover
fields smelled so sweet, than to be kept
in the house all day, that little Bamblebee
determined he would 90 after breakfast
break fast his ma told of her oldest brother,
who the year before went out on a cloudy
day, and when it began to rain started for
home, but getting his wings and body
soaked, fell into the river he was flying
over, and a big trout snapped him up
quicker than thought. And her uncle
saw it all, as he was hid from the rain
under a blackberry leaf, on the river
bank.
After prayers this boy bee looked out
again, and saw hat the sun was almost
shining through the thin clouds. His
father had laid himself snugly away for a
nap in the soft grass, while Mrs. Bundle
bee was busy feeding the younger children.
Then he crawled outside and said to him.
self it was not going to rain, and that he
would just 90 down to that bunch of
thimbleberry bushes, and if it should rain
he could get home in a minute.
Getting close to it he saw another
bumblebee, a week or two older than him
self, who buzzed out as he saw our truant
coming.
Hello! Going to get something to
eat ?'
"Yes, a little" said he, for he began
so soon to he sorry that he had run away
from home. He thought he would stay
out a little while, however, and then get
back before it could rain.
odd your folks want you to come ~
said this older bee.
No, for they said it was goin to rain,
and L might get into trouble"
"How fraid some people are! If our
folks could have their way we should never
learn to fly, and never get any of the new
money, OF IreSn ueW. MY mother ala not
want me to come, but l just told her |
should, and I'm glad did. 1t is ever so
much better than staying indoors all day,
and not seeing anybody. l am going down
to a big bunch of ~sullendine, where 1 went
yesterday and found lots of honey. Don't
you want to go?"
"I don't know" said little Bumblebee,
hesitating Il would if | thought it was
MT going to rain"
Rain. Buzz-z-z, suppose it does ?
We can get home all right, or else wait
under a leaf till the rain is over"
So away few these two truant bees, over
the swamp and across the meadow, to the
bunch Of sulIendine. As the older boy
said, lots of nice sweet honey was there
and they ate all they wanted to, and flew
from one blossom to another. till long after
noon. Some other bumblebees, that lived
in a rotten log only a few feet from the
sullendines, were there. They buzzed,
chased one another, and had a good time
generally, as boys always do when they get
together.
They did not notice how black the
clouds were growing, nor how the wind