The St. Johns herald., 1901-02-09
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I His Educated Bee
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 was there lookin' around an the bee he was trespassin' onto some O my flowers. It's hard to fool a bee on the weather, but this shower came up so almighty quick was fooled my self. First knew it was crack-crack all over my head. I put fer the house and the bee put fer his house, an a big hailstone cracked him one, as purty a wing shot as I'd want to make on a partridge. Down come MT. Bee, bizzin' right across my face an fell almost under my feet. He was sich big, fne-lookin', intelligent actin bee that I picked up care ful an took him to my house. not seein' any probability of'his gettin' to his own. The next hailstone would have finished his cay-reer.
 Tt took some little time for that bee to git used to me. fed him good on sugar an water till got him so I could handle him. Then took to lettin' him fly aroun' the room. One day I found him settin' atop of s whisky bottle that happened to be there-Td been havin' a cold that week-bizzin' his wings an seemin' mighty satisfied with the smell of the cork. That put it into my head to try him with little whisky an sugar an he took to it kindly. wouldn't give it to him regular, un- derstand, fer it ain't no part of Uncle His makeup to be corruptin' the beasts of the field with strong drink; but just a appetizer before meals.
 "He never got drunk but once. an that was excusable, fer I was on bit of celebrate myself that time, an spilled a lot of whisky on the floor. guess Bizzer must have seed spiders in his dreams that night, for he was mighty ashamed of hisself next day, an it was a week before he'd take his morning snifter. Wal, with the aid of that whisky I got him sos he'd answer to his name an come fyin' to me bizzin' his wings like locus' whenever I'd call him. I could let him out of the house without fear that he'd run away. We'd go out fer walks together an he'd chase flies or fight with darnin'needles, or go honey suckin' in the flowers. or may be stop to pass the time of day with some wild bee, but whatever the wild bees said to him they never got him to leave me.
 "Back he'd come when I called, an in the evenin' after his nightcap of whisky he'd curl up in the corner of a little box I fix for him an go to sleep. There was only one thing wrong with Bizzer. He was almighty jealous. I had pet chipmunk around the place, an Bizzer wouldn't endure that chip. He'd buzz aroun' the chips head an then he'd light on the end of chips tail till the poor little crit ter went almost loony with fear that he'd get stung. Lively as the chip was, Bizzer was sight livelier. Once the chip nearly got him while BiZZer was takin' his monday nip. After that Bizzer never let him alone, an the little feller give up the fight an went out into the cold world to grub fer nuts like an ordinary chipmunk. I was sorry to lose him, but I'd got mighty fond of Bizzer. an I wouldn't have traded him fer 50 of Bill Ever sole's yaller purps."
 ''Ef that wonderful bee had ever set foot on Sarcher," began Bill, pricked to wrath, and never got any farther. for there was a chorus of protests against the interruption. and Uncle Hi mildly preferred a request that some body tell him whether he was telling this story or Bill Eversole; also that they tell Bill. That gentleman having been squelched, the old man continued;
 Wal, it never occurred to me that Bizzer was anythin' but 6 pleasant companion. didn't fgger as how he should be made to work fer his liyin'. It was enough to just have him aroun' fer comp'ny. But one day late in June after Bizzer an me had got mighty we'll acquainted feller come spookin' arcNn' my honeysuckle vines with big net. He was harmless crit ter an pleasant spoken. an he had bottle in his pocket that was somethin' extry. He said he was collectin' but terflies, an if hadn't no objections he'd like to hunt few in my gardin. I hadn't none, 90 he hunted. After he'd ketched some he come aroun' to me settin' on my doorstep an I ast him what luck.
 'Pritty good" says he. T didn't git one species, though he says. They fy too high says he. They don't come 1own much this time O year. I'd give 3 quarter apiece fer them fellers,' he says.
 'Then he pulled out his bottle again and passed it over.
 "'Mind ef I give sip to my frieH?' [ asked.
 Certainly not says he. very polite. put he looked a little huffed when I poured bit on the doorstep.
 "I buzzed with my lips an Bizzer come a-hustlin' an settled down in the whisky.
 "'Shoo!' says the stranger There's ! bee in the whisky he says. First zee ever saw drink liquor,' he says Wonder if it'll make him drunk?'
 It will not says. He never gets } drunk
 'Whew!' says the stranger. They Irink right along then, do they? This must be hot township he says, where even the insects hit the bottle.' "'That's my bee, stranger, says. les got enlightened tastes. Come up, ,izzer. you've had enough
 "Bizzer gave me a reproachful look. CT he appreciated that whisky. It was etter than what he was used to, bein' od Hnnlz