THE LIFE OF A BEE 



up toward the heavens in search of the one radiant 

 thing in the world. And they had all returned save 

 one immortal, who had found and won the Queen, 

 only to lose his life! Compared with the first flight, 

 this last seemed commonplace. I should have fore- 

 gone the opportunity of witnessing the thin proces- 

 sion, bound on the momentous journey of uniting two 

 lives, so that the thread of existence might not be 

 cut short for the bee. 



I groped about impatiently, awaiting news of the 

 bridal party. It was not long delayed, for soon there 

 were sounds of rejoicing throughout the hive; and 

 now the last preparations had been ended and the 

 day was at hand for the great adventure. 



Round and round the hive went the signal that on 

 the morrow the swarm should go forth to its home in 

 the woods. Quietly and with no bickerings, the tallies 

 were laid this one should go, this one should stay 

 there was in no case dispute or contest. Each bee 

 accepted the issue with all the grace of a fatalist. I 

 was one of them. 



Really, I was greatly disappointed not to have been 

 chosen to go, for I had been one of the pioneers and 

 had helped find and prepare the new home in the live- 

 oak by the clear waters of the beautiful lake. It 

 was a bitter disappointment, but I uttered no word of 

 complaint. When I came up with Crip I found he, too, 

 had been left behind. 



"Why shouldn't we have been chosen to go?" I 

 asked, somewhat downcast. 



"I am too old too useless," Crip answered. "You 

 are young and brave enough, but battles are to be 



81 



