Coming Out. 



" Because they are used as nursery combs," said 

 the drone. " Lots of young bees are born in them, 

 and each cell is used over and over again." 



"Are they never used for honey?" asked Hum. 



" Only if there's no room for it elsewhere ; they 

 always like to put honey in a nice new comb, and 

 then it's called ' Virgin honey.' But," he continued, 

 "in an old hive, every comb gets used for young 

 ones, or grubs as we call them, in time. This isn't 

 an old hive." 



"You say 'they,' " remarked Buz, rather timidly; 

 " don't you get honey yourself, then, and work like 

 the others? " 



" I should think not ! " replied the drone, with 

 great disdain. " Work, indeed ! " And he moved 

 slowly away. 



Then the two young bees went on toward the 

 entrance of the hive, and, after being well jostled, 

 and ever so much pushed about and run over, all 

 of which they didn't mind a bit, they reached the 

 board outside, and looked upon the world for the 

 first time. 



But they soon had to change their position, for 

 they were standing exactly in the stream of traffic. 



" Now then," said a bee, who was waddling in 

 with two great lumps of pollen on her thighs, and 



