American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-08-08
THE WONDERFUL BEES.
BY AMANDA ". DOUGLAS.

THERE, you are just like that wasp, "
declared Horace; "you have buzzed and
fretted and stewed until l am tired to
| death. | wish"
| But Horace did not finish his sentence,
| for he saw grandpa coming quietly
through the open door. Lucy did not,
| however, for her back was turned.
! We'll, you're like great hornet,
| them
| fly, or sting?' asked grandpa, good-na-
turedly.
He carried off my pencil, and he
| took my rubber to school yesterday and
| left it or lost it. i wish l c0uld keep my
things, and not have them scattered all
over the world. And three of my draw
ing copies are gone"
4 didn't touch them. You blame
everything to me-" and Horace colored
with veXation.
Il have Them" said Sue Il wanted
some flowers for a cluster, and you were
not here to ask
There, noww exclaimed Horace, tri
umphantly But you wouldn't believe
me-"
Lucy looked Il little crestfallen. She
did not dare to scOld Sue, who was near
ly five years older than herself.
'All you want to complete the group
is few bees" said grandpa.
" You think they need some honey:
and Sue smiled.
There, the wasp has gone out at last.
The window was down from the top all
the time, but he would not see it, and
has buzzed and fluttered and made him
self furiously angry when all the while
there was an easy way out"
''Quite philosophical, Master Horace.
What if you were to apply the wisdom to
real life?"
Il suppose we ought to be more like
bees; They do some good But wasps
and hornets" And Horace paused.
Have their uses to point a moral"
said Sue, with Il droll light in her eyes.
Il once knew boy who kept some
wonderful bees" said grandpa, slowly.
He had kept them in the house"
What-bees? asked Lucy. ".Oh, ii
is a story" and bringing an ottoman she
sat down at grandpa's knee Didn't
they ever sting, and where did they find
flowers to make honey with"
In the house, too"
Oh, you mean greenhouse"
No. He was Il poor boy. He lived
with his mother and sick father and
three troublesome little children. 1t was
very hard for him at first. When he was
out of the house doing odd jobs to earn Il
little money the children used to get his
books and his tools, and sometimes his
clothes would not be mended because
his mother was so busy. Then his father
was irritable, and thought he might put
in IA neighbours coal or carry parcels and
papers great deal quicker than he did.
The boy-well, we will call him. james
used to read to his father in his leisure
for his mother had to sew to
help get something to eat So poor
James had IA hard time of it,"
And | suppose he was cross occasion
ally" commented Horace.
Eyes. You see his patience was Sc
verely taxed He really did not know |
what to do. Sometimes he thought he |
would go off and drown himself, but the |
water was cold and he couldn't swim in |
case he should change his mind; and !
them too, it was pleasant to be alive and |
we'll"
But what made him think of getting |
bees" asked Lucy. " ] would rather have |
had Il bright, cunning canary bird to sing |
and be merry"
In tell YOU how it was One Sunday |
the children had been very bad,
and his father nervous and trying, until |
it seemed as if he could not stand it a
moment longer. His mother saw it all |
in his face; so after dinner she said
James, your shirt is ironcd up nice, and
l have mended your trousers 50 that they
look almost like new I'd put on my
hest clothes and go down to Give-away
Hall Maybe you will find something
there To suit you.
Did they really give things away
and on Sunday, too?" asked Lucy.
''Yes. As general thing do not ap-
prove of children rambling around ON
sundays, but Givc-away Hall was very
nice place, and many people went to 1t.
There was quite number when jamie
reached it. There was singing and
speaking, and then man began to emu
rncratc the gifts. Some were quite be
vond Il poor boys comprehension There
was peculiar kind of bread but Jamie
had had a very good dinner that day,
and did not feel hungry. In fact, moth
inc tempted him until the man began to
talk about the wonderful bees. .Iamic's
Eyes opened wider; even his lips fell
slightly apart and showed his pretty
white teeth. lie listened, as we say,
with all his ears The gentleman no
iced him and bccl>oncd him to come up.
- Wouldn't you like to have II few of
hese bees he asked
g. haven't any place to keep Them and
no flowers nor anything, and the tears
anne into Jamie's eyes. |