The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-02-04

drum and Yellowbelt. You see, there aren't
so many names made and provided for bees
as there are for boys and girls so perhaps the
words may sound very queer and old-fash-
Toned to you; but the parent bees were quite
convinced that theyhad made an excellent
selection of names.
80, ves" said Zulema, the queen bee, 1.-The
names are all well enough. It's the bees that
/ obiec to-lazy, shiftless little ne'er-do-
weelsl'
For bees have fau Its as we'll as children
(you never thought of that, little folks, did
you, when you have watched the small buzz
Ting fellows plunge head-forem ost into a
hOllyhOck cup, or sip the dew from a snowy
buckwheat blossom?) Well, they have--and
although these little bees were very decent to
look at, Humdrum was so lazy he could
scarcely bear to flap his wings, and Yellow
belt was the vainest and most conceited little
elf that ever erawled in and out of hive in
honey time.
please your majesty" said the mother bee
to Queen Zullema, they'll be older and wiser
in time"
"If they're not, won't have them in this
hiveI" said the queen. And she looked IS if
she meant it.
So the mother bee flew 10 a bed of pansies,
where her two lazy youngsters were taking
their comfort in the sunshine, and read them
a regular lecture.
"Dear me, what is all this row-de-dow
about?" said Humdrum, who was a disre-
spectful bee, as well as an indolent one. Zone
would really think the world was coming TO
an end. Look at that merry. jumping little
fellow, the grasshOpper He don't work.
And l shan't, either"
Meanwhile, Yellowbelt was prinking in a
little pool of clear water, which served eX-
cellently well for looking-glass for him.
and trying to initiate the airs and graces of
of beautiful maroon-colored butterfly, with
long, weaving feelers (which, by the way,
wise people call antenn@), and golden spots
all over his wings.
III / could ever grow like that beautiful
: butterfly. l should be perfectly happy" said
Yellowbelt.
"Oh,nonsenser' said the mother be. Leave
off all this foolishness, and 90 to work gath
ering honey, like all the rest of our rela-
tions."
81 don't like to work." said Yellowbelt
"Ants work, and moles, and beetles, and
such ugly people The butterfly and 1
don't work"
"Nor l." said Humdrum. (And, to be
sure. everybody who knew him could bear
witness to this). "Its great deal too hot
weather to be tapping around getting into
perspiration. Yellowbelt and / can get out
threesquare meals day out ofthe buckwheat
field and little Miss Patty's fower-borders,
and that's all we care about"
''But what do you suppose is to become of
you in winter? when the buckwheat is all
gathered into the barn. and Miss Patty's
flower-borders are covered with snow.
ggIU.DNor ,,r,nto,.tN ivonafionf1x- tod
the bees. 1--WE don't know anything about
winter. Let winter take care of ITSELF
So the mother-bee went home quite low
spirited and discouraged.
Il can't have any more of this nonsense"
said the queen bee, when she heard of it all.
Those that won't work mustn't eat. lfever
those idle and conceited creatures come near
my hive again, III have their wings clipped"
Humdrum and Yellowbelt only laughed
at this awful threat
'Who cares for her old hive?" said Hum
drum.
"There are plenty of beautiful burdock
leaves to sleep under" said Yellowbelt that
are far more airy and commodious than her
musty-smelling hole, crammed full of honey
comb, with a swarm of vulgar working fell
lows crowding against you every time you
stretch your legs little"
So Humdrum slept and summed himself,
and Yellowbelt kept on copying all the pref
ty movements of the beautiful spotted but
terhy, until the season wore on, and one
night sharp frost came on.
Humdrum couldn't tell at first what he
was suffering from, whether his natural lazi-
ness 9ittle heightened, or a severe attack
of rheumatism, but when he saw the beauti-
full buckwheat field all yellowed and droop-
ing, and the silver tracery of the frost on
Leaf and bough, he began to comprehend.
"Ain't this frost?" said he.
"You bet it is" said bright-eyed little
Squirrel, who had come out of his hole to see
if there were any glossy brown chesnuts
shaken out of their burrs by the midnight
gusts, "And it'll be snow before long, what's
more"
Yellowbelt was shivering violently, and
trying to warm himself in the pale sunshine.
''Dear, dear; what is going to become of
us?' said he, "And there's my beautiful
butterfly dead Now, 1 didn't suppose when
took him for pattern and an example,
that he was going to die. don't want to die.
"Then," said the squirrel II should advise
you to get home to your..hive as fast as you
can"
Humdrum and Yellowbelt looked sheepish-
ly at each other.
1--WE don't dare TO-" said they. Queen
Zulema would have our wings clipped in the
twinkling of an eye"
sOhl" said the squirrel, 'that wouldn't be
pleasant"
mo, indeed, it wouldn't" said Yellow
belt,
81 should rather think not" added Hum
drum 40 dear, I'm so hungryp
Haven't you any honey saved up?" asked
the squirrel.
The two bees sorrowfully shook their
heads.
"Then, begging your pardon, you must be
a shiftless pair of fellows, said the squirrel,
making a dive at a brown and beautiful nut
which had just then ratified down from the
top of the tree. "Why, Ive got whole
hollow tree full Of goodies, for all it isn't
November yet. Pray, what do you expect
to live on during the cold weather."
ave don't know" whimpered Humbrum.
1--WE never thought" said poor Yellow
belt.
! "Wsll, can't stay fOoling here" said the