112 NEIGHBORS WITH CLAWS AND HOOFS. 



does not get stung, and when after wild apricots or acorns 

 it not only balances itself with all the judgment of a rope- 

 walker, but uses its weight very cleverly so as to bring 

 other boughs within reach of its curved claws ; nor while 

 doing this does it conceal what it is about. On the con- 

 trary, when sucking at an ant-heap or grub-hole it makes 

 such a noise that on a still evening it can be heard a quar- 

 ter of a mile off, and when up a tree, and not alarmed, it 

 goes smashing about among the boughs as if bears were 

 not only the rightful lords of the manor, but as if there 

 were no such things as enemies in the world." 



9. The poet Merrick, in his desire to " point a moral 

 and adorn a tale," rather overstates the effect of the sting 

 of the bee upon the bear. The fact that it is always ready 

 to plunder a new swarm, shows that it was not greatly in- 

 jured by the old one. But here is the poem : 



THE BEARS AND THE BEES. 



10. " As two young bears in wanton mood, 

 Forth issuing from a neighboring wood, 

 Came where the industrious bees had stored 

 In artful cells their luscious hoard ; 

 O'erjoyed they seized with eager haste, 

 Luxurious on the rich repast. 

 Alarmed at this the little crew 

 About their ears vindictive flew. 

 The beasts, unable to sustain 

 The unequal combat, quit the plain : 

 Half blind with rage and mad with pain, 

 Their native shelter they regain ; 

 There sit, and, more discreeter grown, 

 Too late their rashness they bemoan. 

 And this by dear experience gain, 

 That pleasure's ever bought with pain. 



