Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-07-16
WORKING FoR FUN.


But it needs something. ! think 1t IS
bees.
For bees are so picturesque And
then the hivesl-the hives are as
picturesque as the bees themselves,
Apple-trees without bee-hiyes under
them 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 filled 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 it.
Dear bees" l said, what is it that
Won miss in the garden? Every morning
You fly away; but where can you lind
whittier lilies, or bluer violets, or more
interesting pansies?"
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, . exclaimed, glad
". pray don't have the honey on your
minds"
1--WE don't, !" they said eve carry it
in little bags"
II mean, don't mind about the
honey
certainly not; how could we, when
we haven't any minds?n
but please don't feel obliged to hunt
for honey don't care at all for honey;
that isl / added, hastily, as a slight
buzzing made me fear that perhaps
had hurt their feelings, II 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 / win 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. s.
They promised to try. And they did
try. Whenever ! looked from my h
brarv windows, / could see them prac-
ticing their lowering, and they really
hovered extremely well. Satisfied that
nv garden was at last complete, ! gave
up watching it and devoted myself 70
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.
perehing 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
II 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 a
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.
But. dear bee, ] am not looking for
flowers this morning; | am writing
.And what are you writing?"
"a sonnet"
Are there no sonnets to be had at tn,
stores?"
'.Oh. yes ShalSespeare'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 out
in the garden with us, and on the way
home I'll buy you sonnet at the store;
a Shakespeare sonnet-the very best IN
the market"
sBut, You see | want to try making a
sonnet of my own"
ssVery 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 notP Haven't you all the
liberty you want?'
mo; we have every liberty except
the liberty we want"
"And that is -
"The liberty to work. We find that
IL isn't lilies; it isn't clover; it isn't
honey; its making the honey that We
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. =
81 don't understand. can't see how
anybody can really like to work"
ssBut we do. Suppose you finish youl
sonnet, while try to think over a few
arguments to present to you later"
So again ! took up the pen, and agar
was soon happily absorbed, and hac
entirely forgotten the poor bee, till
heard him say YEARLY:
1T doesn't seem to be very easy Il
write sonnet
NO" exclaimed, enthusiastically
1t isn't at all easy. That is the charm
Of Il ANYBODY can write some kind O
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