92 THE BLESSED BEES. 



Hymettus ; the distant markets of the world send- 

 ing to me the returns which would bring ease 

 and comfort for my mother's old age, and cul- 

 ture for my sister, my brother, and myself. The 

 whole world of literature, travel, art, was to come 

 from the blessed bees that worked with such cease- 

 less industry under the direction of my skill. It 

 was a happy dream. A dream that well might give 

 quicker beat to my eager heart, and nerve to a hand 

 as young as mine. A dream which the harvest 

 from maples and apple blossoms assured me had 

 foundations in solid reality. 



