Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-07-16


but one object in view, that of secur-
ing his own personal comfort. When
he has built a domain for himself he
retires from active life and is con-
tent for the rest of his existence to
live in idlenesss and seclusion."
Second Ant-"For that matter,
then, the bee has no enterprise"
First Ant-"Here again, you are
mistaken, aunt. (Among the ants
there is but one relationship The
bee labors, also, not only for the bet
| terment of her own own condition,
but for the betterment of the entire
community in which she lives as we'll.
When she has filled her treasures
with honey, does she stop? No; she
builds other hives and treasures and
proceeds to fill these likewise. She
asserts her rights when it is neces-
sary, and she takes the aggressive
very quickly. too, when there is cause
to do so."
A queen bee that had been sitting
close by, unobserved by the ants, had
listened to the entire conversation.
Having heard the many fiattering
compliments paid her, she arose ma
jestically and flew OF, feeling puffed
up and proud beyond expression. It
seemed to her that there was no one
like herself. She felt that she was
unapproachable, and that all the eyes
of the world were centred upon her.
She was lowering over an ants
nest when discontented darning-
needle flew along.
He was "darning" everything and
everybody, and he "darned" the
queen bee as he passed her.
l. This was more than the latter's
pride could endure, and she called
after the needle to return at his peril
He no sooner heard the challenge
than he wheeled about A terrible
combat Immediately followed.
At last the grumbling darning
> needle and the proud bee came
tumbling to the ground together.
They fell wounded and faint, upo1
the ants nest. The many inhabitant.
came pouring forth and fell upon the
unfortunate combatants. The an
upon the stem of the poppy. that hat
but a short time before been so lou(
in the praises of the bee, turned tt
her companion with the remark
Even the mighty sometimes fall"
"Everything comes to him VIII,
waits" replied the second ant, refer
ring to her spider theory.
NO." said the first ant (who like,
always to have the last word):
The best things come not save too late
To those who only stand and wait.
The two then descended to tn
ground and Joined their companion
in picking the fallen bee and darning
needle to pieces.
The shadows had begun to lengthe
when the ephemeron flew away fro1
the daisy field. Finding a prett
country road he fitted along and sa,
many novel and interesting sights
there is always something new to b
seen in life. The sun sank below tn
western hills and the butterfly he7
on through the deepening twilight.
At last he could go no farther, 81
auttering to the grouN, he sought
sheltered spot beneath some withere
leaves; thence he looked aout into th
IS blackness Of the = night. He we
happy, very happy; he thought {
r the pleasant life he had, enjoyed b
< keeping to the right roads. He locke
It back upon the past with contentmel
l. and satisfaction.
r. The bats began to lit about, an
Is the discontented owls hooted fort
y their complaints from a neighborir
IS wood.
d The cheerful crickets, on IL
other hand, chirruped forth in in
Is mense choruses, and the tiny ephen
fe eron realized that "the world was n
er so very wicked, after all"
r.
le And now the butterfiy's life W;
spent. He fell back and gazed u
r. ward at the stars; they appeared
le be coming toward him and to
le twinkling all about him. (They we
le merely the butterflies which he saw
I'd Suddenly the twinkling seemed
lg him to cease and to appear as gre
n mass of flame.
Then all was dark; the tiny butte
st fly lay dead among the wither
a leaves.