Brownies: Their Book — The Brownies and the Bees

[Illustration] WHILE Brownies once were rambling through A forest where tall timber grew, The hum of bees above their head To much remark and wonder led.

They gazed at branches in the air And listened at the roots with care, And soon a pine of giant size Was found to hold the hidden prize.

Said one: "Some wild bees here have made Their home within the forest shade, Where neither fox nor prying bear Can steal the treasure gathered there."

Another spoke: "You're quick and bright, And as a rule judge matters right;

But here, my friend, you're all astray, And like the blind mole grope your way.

I chance well to remember still, How months ago, when up the hill, A farmer near, with bell and horn, Pursued a swarm one sunny morn.

The fearful din the town awoke, The clapper from his bell he broke;

But still their queen's directing cry [Illustration] The bees heard o'er the clamor high;

And held their bearing for this pine As straight as runs the county line.

With taxes here, and failures there, The man can ill such losses bear.

In view of this, our duty's clear: To-morrow night we'll muster here, And when we give this tree a fall, In proper shape we'll hive them all, And take the queen and working throng And lazy drones where they belong."

Next evening, at the time they'd set, Around the pine the Brownies met With tools collected, as they sped From mill and shop and farmer's shed;

While some, to all their wants alive, With ready hands procured a hive.

Ere work began, said one: "I fear But little sport awaits us here.

Be sure a trying task we'll find;

The bee is fuss and fire combined.

Let's take him in his drowsy hour, Or when palavering to the flower.

For bees, however wild or tame, In all lands are about the same;

And those will rue it who neglect To treat the buzzer with respect."

[Illustration] Ere long, by steady grasp and blow, The towering tree was leveled low;

And then the hive was made to rest In proper style above the nest, Until the queen and all her train Did full and fair possession gain.

[Illustration] [Illustration] Then 'round the hive a sheet was tied, That some were thoughtful to provide, And off on poles, as best they could, They bore the burden from the wood.

[Illustration] But trouble, as one may divine, Occurred at points along the line.

'Twas bad enough on level ground, Where, now and then, _one_ exit found;

[Illustration] But when the Brownies lacked a road, Or climbed the fences with their load,-- Then numbers of the prisoners there Came trooping out to take the air, And managed straight enough to fly To keep excitement running high.

[Illustration] With branches broken off to suit, And grass uplifted by the root, In vain some daring Brownies tried To brush the buzzing plagues aside.

Said one, whose features proved to all That bees had paid his face a call: "I'd rather dare the raging main Than meddle with such things again."

"The noble voice," another cried, "Of duty still must rule and guide,-- Or in the ditch the sun would see The tumbled hive for all of me."

And when at last the fence they found That girt the farmer's orchard 'round, And laid the hive upon the stand, There hardly was, in all the band, A single Brownie who was free From some reminders of the bee.

But thoughts of what a great surprise Ere long would light the farmer's eyes Soon drove away from every brain The slightest thought of toil or pain.

[Illustration] [Illustration] THE BROWNIES ON ROLLER SKATES.

[Illustration] THE Brownies planned at close of day To reach a town some miles away, Where roller skating, so 'twas said, Of all amusements kept ahead.

Said one: "When deeper shadows fall, We'll cross the river, find the hall, [Illustration]