GENIUS 



127 



a little pain. We risk our lives in at- 

 tacking you." 



"But why do you sting so?" I 

 asked. 



"Short-sighted creature!" the Queen 

 exclaimed. "You do not appreciate our 

 mercy. First we warn you by a war- 

 song. Then we let you know where you 

 are attacked. Then we leave a reminder 

 so that you may apply the needed reme- 

 dies. And yet you complain ! Would 

 it please you better if we stole your 

 life-blood secretly?" 



"No; I can't say it would be an im- 

 provement," I was forced to admit. 



"Now," the Queen went on triumph- 

 antly, "I don't see what there is left for 

 you to say. We larger mosquitoes, in 

 our mercy for your race, leave you in 

 peace to our smaller sisters. We do not 

 care to slay you. In your clumsy way, 

 we are willing you should remain on 

 earth, trying to preserve your existence 

 against cold and hunger, and enemies. 

 But I have held this conversation with 



you so that you might understand how 

 we regard you. 



"We are tired of hearing ourselves re- 

 ferred to as useless pests — as merely 

 enemies to mankind. Why, — except at 

 meal-times, we never think of men." 



"But you attack us at all hours," I 

 objected. 



"Well," she answered, smiling, "it is 

 always meal-time for some of us. 



"And so, — farewell. But, when you 

 return to your fellows, let them know 

 how affairs seem to our race. You men 

 are too much wrapped up in your own 

 affairs. Once more — farewell !" 



So saying, the Queen and her attend- 

 ants took to -flight, leaving me alone up- 

 on the mountain-top. It was so late, 

 that I was compelled to spend the night 

 there. But I was not molested by mos- 

 quitoes during the night, and in the 

 morning I returned to camp. 



In accordance with the Queen's re- 

 quest, I have recorded my interview 

 with her. 



GENIUS 



By CLARENCE H. URNER 



The sunlit river narrowing, crushed between 

 Dark walls of granite, longs for valleys green; 

 So Genius feels harsh laws of Custom bind, 

 And yearns for freedom to express the mind. 



