1895. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



333 



head, and it will be easier and cheap- 

 er for the bee-keeper than Dr. Miller's 

 ' ' bag of sand. " Yours truly, 



S. M. Keeler. 

 Chenango Bridge, N. Y., 



Nov. 23, 1895. 



(From L. A. W. Bulletin.) 



THE DISSATISFIED BEE. 



NIXON WATERMAN. 



'Twas on a happy summer morn when all 



the world was glad and gay, 

 A busy, honey-seeking bee set out on her 



accustomed way 

 To gather all the hidden sweets distiled by 



blossoms fresh and fair 

 That, fragrant from their bath of dew, were 



waiting for her everywhere. 

 The morn was sleepy with content, and as 



she crooned about her task 

 She fell to musing, " It would be a pleasure 



could I rest and bask 

 Among the flowers all the day as does the 



golden butterfly. 

 And watch the fleecy clouds that sail like 



phantom ships across the sky." 



" 'Twould be a joy," thought she, "to 



dream amid the roses and the phlox. 

 Or let the breezes swing me in a hammock, 



made of hollyhocks ; 

 And for my dainty feast to mix the rich red 



poppy's drowsy wine 

 With perfume from the mignonette and 



honey from the eglantine." 

 " The grass-hopper never toils, nor does the 



butterfly," said she, 

 "And shall I have no pleasure-time? Is 



there no rest for weary bee ? 

 Enough of duty ! Long iiave I performed 



my task day after day, 

 As patient bees have ever done, but now the 



time has come for play." 



And so, as bee ne'er did before, she laid 



aside her simple task 

 That happy morn that she might learn how 



pleasant it would be to bask 

 Among the flowers all the day as did the 



golden butterfly. 

 And watch the fleecy clouds that sailed like 



phantom ships across the sky. 



And like a queen she lay and dreamed 



among the roses and the phlox ; 

 She let the breezes swing her in a hammock 



made of hollyhocks. 

 And for her dainty feast she mixed the 



flame-red poppy's drowsy wine 

 With perfume from the mingnonette and 



honey from the eglantine. 



Her dissipation soon produced a season of 

 profound repose. 



And while she deeply slumbered on the vel- 

 vet bosom of a rose 



The dark came down, and when she woke 

 her little heart was wild with fright ; 



She wept, and when she cried aloud her 

 cries were echoed by the night. 



With much regret she thought upon her 



folly and declared that she, 

 If saved from harm, would evermore do as 



becomes a prudent bee. 

 And while the night wind chilled her heart 



and dews were falling cold and damp, 

 A night-policeman fire-fly came and held 



aloft his shining] lamp. 



In deep contrition she confessed the foolish 



things which she had done, 

 And how it came she was not home, as bees 



should be, at set of sun ; 

 When the policeman saw her tears he sought 



her sorrow to allay, 

 " Come follow me," he said, " and with my 



lamp I'll light the way." 



She gladly followed him until she came in 

 safety to the hive ; 



It filled her heart with joy to know that she 

 had reached her friends alive. 



And from that day to this they say no bee 

 has ever dared to roam 



So late that she has had to have the night- 

 policeman take her home. 



