146 



SPRING STORIES AND SONGS 



HOW THE BEE 

 GOT HER STING 



A QUEEN bee once flew up 

 Mount Olympus to carry to 

 Jupiter some fresh honey from 

 her combs. 



Jupiter was so delighted with 

 the present that he promised to 

 give her in return whatever she 

 asked. 



"Give me," said the queen 

 bee, " a sting. So that if any 

 other queen tries to take my 

 people from me, I may kill her. Give me, also, 

 a sting for each of my bees. So that if a mortal 

 attempts to steal honey from my hive, they, 

 too, may die." 



