THE MICROSCOPE AND ITS LESSONS. 



life; and, that night, I was specially devoting an hour 

 upon the structure of my little friend, the honey-bee. I 

 had one or two diagrams to make all plain, and, when it 

 was over, I said to the men, that if any wished for 

 further information I should be pleased to give it, or to 

 chat with them upon the subject; and I particularly 

 addressed myself to one man, saying, "Well, how did you 

 like my story ? " 



" Oh," he said, " I liked it very well ; but how about 

 that bee's leg ?" 



" Well," I replied, " what about that bee's leg ? You 

 don't believe it, I suppose ? " 



" No, sir," he answered, " I shouldn't like to say 

 that." 



" Why not ? " I rejoined. " I never expect everybody 

 to believe all I say. But, come now, next week, all well, 

 I shall be here again, and then if you don't 

 believe when I show you, with the aid of 

 the microscope, the real leg of a bee with 

 the pocket open and the spring in its 

 place to keep the pollen from falling out 

 I won't say what I think of you ! " 



Next week came, and, remembering 

 that one should never know the meaning 

 of " trouble " when good has to be done, 

 I took my microscope, and again met 

 the workmen, and, at the close, I showed 

 my friend the bee's leg. He had said 

 something to justify his incredulity on 

 the previous occasion about the story 

 being very "queer: 11 now, it was my turn ; 

 so, watching him closely as he looked 

 upon the object, I quietly said, "Very 

 pretty, isn't it?" But the man made no answer; he 



Hind leg of the 

 honey-bee, with 

 the bread-pocket 

 open. 



