nce on a time a Bumblebee Addressed a Sunflower. Said he: “Dear Sunflower, tell me is it true What everybody says of you?” Replied the Sunflower: “Tell me, pray, How should I know what people say? Why should I even care? No doubt ’T is some ill-natured tale without A word of truth; but tell me, Bee, What is it people say of me?” “Oh, no!” the Bee made haste to add; “’T is really not so very bad. I got it from the Ant. She said She’d heard the Sun had turned your head, nce on a time a Bumblebee Addressed a Sunflower. Said he: “Dear Sunflower, tell me is it true What everybody says of you?” Replied the Sunflower: “Tell me, pray, How should I know what people say? Why should I even care? No doubt ’T is some ill-natured tale without A word of truth; but tell me, Bee, What is it people say of me?” “Oh, no!” the Bee made haste to add; “’T is really not so very bad. I got it from the Ant. She said She’d heard the Sun had turned your head, And that whene’er he walks the skies You follow him with all your eyes From morn till eve—” “Oh, what a shame!” Exclaimed the Sunflower, aflame, “To say such things of me! They know The very opposite is so. “They know full well that it is he— The Sun—who always follows me. I turn away my head until I fear my stalk will break; and still He tags along from morn till night, Starting as soon as it is light, And never takes his eyes off me Until it is too dark to see! They really ought to be ashamed. Soon they’ll be saying I was named For him, when well they know ’t was he Who took the name of Sun from me.” The Sunflower paused, with anger dumb. The Bee said naught, but murmured, “H’m!” ’T was very evident that he Was much impressed—this Bumblebee. He spread his wings at once and flew To tell some other bees he knew, Who, being also much impressed, Said, “H’m!” and flew to tell the rest. And now if you should chance to see, In field or grove, a Bumblebee, And hear him murmur, “H’m!” then you Will know what he’s alluding to. A LOVE STORY. He was a Wizard’s son, She an Enchanter’s daughter; He dabbled in Spells for fun, Her father some magic had taught her. |
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