184 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



andria, but the verse has not heen found, I beheve, in 

 the original text. It runs thus: " Go to the hee and 

 learn liow diligent she is and what a noble work she 

 produces, whose labors kings and private men use for 

 their health ; she is desired and honored by all, and 

 though weak in strength, yet since she values wisdom, 

 she prevails." I suppose some bee-loving rabbi must 

 have felt jealous of the prominence given to the ant by 

 tlie Wise King and added a comment which future gen- 

 erations felt bound to accept as good Scripture. At all 

 events, it is good sense." 



"And yet," remarked Abby, "when a man lacks 

 wisdom, is a bit hair-brained and visionary, we say that 

 he has a ' bee in his bonnet.' How is that ?" 



"It is inconsistent enough," replied the Doctor; 

 " but our Scotch friends are responsible for the proverb. 

 I suppose it is a case of giving one a character from a 

 single quality, and that by no means truly characteris- 

 tic. Certainly, I at least shall think of something more 

 tlian mere 'buzzing' when I remember the bee." 



The full moon had now risen, and its silver light 

 could be seen in the distance shimmering upon the 

 broad Delaware and the Jersey coast bejond. The 

 Doctor had declined our invitation to spend another 

 night with us, and made ready to return to Marple. 

 Followed bv cordial good-byes, the good man, with his 

 old carry-all and chestnut-bay liorse, drove away under 

 the moonlight, and the farm-house settled down to rest. 



