The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-07-11
WORKING FOR FUN.

1t is really lovely garden. Never
were there whittier lilies, nor bluer vio-
let's. nor more interesting pansies.
But it needs something. ] think it is
bees.
For bees are so picturesque! And
then the hives!-the hives are as
picturesque as the bees themselves.
Apple-trees without bee-hives under
them arc as forlorn as lilies without
bees over them.
So we bought some beautiful hives,
and placed them in the orchard, just on
the edge of the garden. Soon they be-
gan to be filed with delicious honey in
dear little white cells; but the bees
were nowhere to be seen. Every morn
ing they disappeared, flying far out of
sight, and the lilies and roses were as
forlorn as ever. We had the credit of
having bees, for everyone could see the
hives and taste the honey, but we did
not have the bees
So one morning went out and talked
to them about il.
Dear bees" said, "what is it that
YOU miss in the garden? Every morning
you fly away; but where can you find
whittier lilies or bluer violets or more
interesting pansies?"
1--WE are not looking for witness, or
blueness or interestingness," the bees
explained. 1--WE are looking for honey;
and the honey is better in the clover
field that is only a mile away"
ooh! if that is all" | exclaimed, glad
ly, 'pray don't have the honey on your
minds"
I'VE don't" they said. eve carry it
in little bags"
81 mean, don't mind about the
honey"
Certainly not; how could we, when
we haven't any minds?'
But please don't feel obliged to hunt
| for honey. don't care at all for honey;
that is" l added, hastily, as a slight
buzzing made me fear that perhaps l
had hurt their feelings, 81 like you, you
know, for yourselves alone, not for
what you can give me. The honey is
| delicious. but we can buy it very nice
at the grocer's. If you like honey for
yourselves ! will buy some, and fill the
hives for you, so that you needn't work
at all, if You will only stay in the gar
den and hover over the lilies, and-and
be picturesque"
They promised to try. And they did
! try. Whenever looked from my Ii
blarv windows, l could see them prac-
ticiug their lowering and they really
hovered extremely well. Satisfied that
my garden was at last complete, gave
up watching it and devoted myself to
literary work Every morning | seated
myself at the desk and wrote rapidly
till noon. But one day ] was inter
zupted by bee.
lie had flown in ut the window.
perching himself on the lid of the ink
stand, he waited awhile; then at last he
asked quietly:
"Why are you not out of doors this
beautiful morning? The garden is
lovely | can not see" and he glanced
critically at the vases about the room
81 can not see that these lilies here are
any winter, or the violets any bluer, on
the pansies any more interesting than
those out there. And we miss YOU A
garden really ought to have people
walking about in it. That is what
gardens are for. ! don't see why we
there is nobody to see us.
But, dear bee, | am not looking fol
flowers this morning; | am writing
And what are You writing?'
"A sonnet"
"Are there no sonncts to be had at tht
stores?'
"Oh, yes! Shakcspeare's and Milton's
and Wordsworth's, of course
And are your sonnets better than
Shakespeare
why, of course not"
"Then let your sonnet go. Come on
in the garden with us, and on the way
home I'll buy you a sonnet at the store
Shakespeare sonnct-the very best il
Lhe market"
But, you see want to try making
sonnet of my own
Very WE'LL let me see you try"
took up the pen again, and was sool
absorbed in my rhymes and rhythm
Indeed, | had quite forgotten that tn
bee was there, till he stirred uneasil,
and finally sighed
Are you not happy in the garden?"
asked.
"Not very
But why not? Haven't you all th'
liberty you want?'
NO; we have every liberty eXccp
the liberty we want"
''And that is -
"The liberty to work. We find tina
it isn't lilies; it isn't clover; it ism
honey; it's making the honey that w,
like. 1t isn't even making the honey
for you, that we care so much about
because, you see, you don't like honey
it's just making it."
II don't understand. can't see how
nybody can really like to work
But we do. Suppose you finish you
sonnet while try to think over a few
arguments to present to You later"
So again took up the pen, and again
l was soon happily absorbed, and ha'
entirely forgotten the poor bee, till
heard him say wearily:
ut doesn't seem to be very easy t,
write sonnet"
, mo" | exclaimed, enthusiastically
lit isn't at all easy. That is the charm
of it. Anybody can write some kind O
verse, but very few people can writ
sonncts There are great many rule
for making a sonnet; You can only hav
just SO many lines, and just so few
rhymes, and the sentiment must chang
in just such a place, and very few pee
pie have the patience for it, Eve
Shnltspeare did not Keen IN the Spyaras