  W HILE 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,
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, 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.
Policeman waving off bees Then 'round the hive a sheetdiving bee was tied, That some were thoughtful to provide, And off on poles, as best they could, They bore the burden from the wood. running from diving bee 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; Trouble But when the Brownies lacked a road, Or climbed the fences with their load,— Then numbers of the prisoners there And managed straight enough to fly To keep excitement running high. over fence With branches broken off to suit, 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. Two cameos |
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