were four stands of bees. The hives that held 
them rested on little wooden platforms raised 
about a foot from the ground. All day long 
the bees came out of the hives, and, rising in the 
air, flew away to various hunting grounds they 
knew. At the same time others were con- 
stantly coming back, either with a load of 
honey, or with their back legs all covered 
with yellow pollen. The owner was very proud 
of his bees, and sometimes boasted that they 
made more honey than all the other bees in 
Montclair. 
One day he saw a kingbird fly out from its 
perch and snap up one of them as it flew by. This 
made old John very angry. He said things that 
I would not like to repeat, and at once stalked 
into the house and brought out his gun. Edith 
saw what he was about to do and her anxiety 
for the safety of the birds overcame her fear 
of her grandfather. She sprang forward and, 
catching the gun, begged him not to shoot them. 
At the same time she told him that her teacher 
had said kingbirds were very useful in keeping 
hawks away from the chickens, and in eating 
39 
