Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-07-09
WORKING FOR FUN.


But it needs something. think it is
bees.
For bees are so picturesque And
then the hivesi-the hives are as
picturesque as the bees themselves.
Apple-trees without bee-hives under
chem are 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 10 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 it.
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 pansies2"
1--WE are not looking for witness, or
blueness, or interestingness," the bees
explained. I'VE are looking for honey;
and the honey is better in the clover
field that is only mile away"
oh. if that is all, F." l exclaimed, glad
ly, pray don't have the honey on your
minds"
1--WE don't" they said. 1--WE carry it
In little bags
II 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
buzEing made me fear that perhaps
had hurt their feelings, ~ like you, you
know, for yourselves alone, not for
what you can give me. Tue 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 win 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 IL
brary windows could see them prac-
ticing their lowering, and they really
lowered extremely well. Satisfied that
my garden was at last complete, I 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
rupted by bee
He had flown in at the window.
Perching himself on the lid of the ink
stand, ne waited awhile; then at last he
asked quietly
> why are you not ont Of doors this
beautiful morning? The garden is
lovely; can not see and he glanced
critically at the vases about the room
''I can not see that these lilies here are
any whittier, or the violets any bluer, or
the pansies any more interesting than
those out there And we miss you. 4
garden really ought to have people
walking about in it. That is what
gardens are for | don't see why we
must be out there To be seen, when
there is nobody to see us. p"
But, dear bee. am not looking for
flowers this morning; l am writing"
And what are you writing?'
"A sonnet
Are there no sonnets to be had at the
stores?"
"0h, yes! Shakespeare's and Milton $
and Worlsworth's, of course"
And are your sonnets better than
Shakespeare
why, of course not"
Then let your sonnet go. Come ont
in the garden with us, and on the way
home IN buy you a sonnet at the store;
a Shakespeare sonnet--the very best in
the market.
But, you see want to try making a
sonnet of my own
VERY well: let me see you try"
took up the pen again, and was soon
absorbed in my rhymes and rhythm
Indeed, | had quite forgotten that the
bee was there, till he stirred uneasily
and finally sighed
Are you not happy in the garden2'
asked.
Not very"
But why not? Haven't you all the
liberty you want?'
NO; we have every liberty eXcep
the liberty we want.
And that is -
''The liberty to work We find tina
it isn't lilies; it isn't clover; il ism
honey; it's making the honey that W.
like IL isn't even making the honel
for you, that we care 50 much about
because, you see, you don't like honey
it's just making it. :
Il don't understand | can't see hoy
anybody can really like TO work
But we DO. Suppose You finish you
sonnet, while ] try TO think over fey
arguments to present to you later"
So again l took up the pen, and agar
was soon happily absorbed, and ha
entirely forgotten the poor bee, till
heard him say YEARLY:
1T doesn't seem to be very easy I
write a sonnet