A Hive of Busy Bees

A Hive of Busy Bees

The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Hive of Busy Bees, by Effie M.
Williams Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to
check the copyright laws for your country before downloading or
redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project
Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the
header without written permission.
Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the
eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is
important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how
the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a
donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since
1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of
Volunteers!*****
Title: A Hive of Busy Bees
Author: Effie M. Williams
Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7027] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on February 24,
2003]

Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HIVE OF
BUSY BEES ***

This eBook was produced by Joel Erickson, Charles Franks, Juliet
Sutherland

A HIVE of BUSY BEES
Effie M. Williams

TABLE OF CONTENTS
How It Happened
The Sting of the Bee
Bee Obedient
Bee Honest
Bee Truthful
Bee Kind
Bee Polite
Bee Gentle
Bee Helpful

Bee Grateful
Bee Loving
Bee Content
Bee Prayerful
Home Again

How It Happened
[Illustration: Children looking out a window.]
"The sun's gone under a cloud," called Grandpa cheerily over his
shoulder, as he came into the dining room.
Grandma, following close behind, answered laughingly, "Why, my dear,
this is the brightest day we've had for two weeks!"
"But look at Don's face," said Grandpa soberly, "and Joyce's too, for
that matter"--glancing from one to the other.
"Children, children," said Grandma kindly, "do tell us what is wrong."
No answer.
"Only," said Daddy at last, "that they are thinking about next summer."
Grandpa threw back his white head, then, and laughed his loud, hearty
laugh. "You little trouble-borrowers," he cried, "worrying about next
summer! Why, only day before yesterday was Christmas; and by the
looks of the dolls, and trains, and picture-books lying all over the
house--"
"But, Grandpa," said Don in a small voice, trying not to cry, "summer
will be here before we know it--you said so this morning yourself; and
Daddy says he's going north on a fishing trip--"

"--And so," added Joyce sorrowfully, "Don and I can't go to the farm
and stay with you as we did last year, and the year before last, and
every year since we can remember."
Joyce looked anxiously from one face to another. Daddy's eyes were
twinkling. Mother looked rather sorry, and so did Grandma. But she
knew at once, by the look on Grandpa's face that he understood. He
only nodded his white head wisely. "I see," he said. And some way,
after that, Joyce felt that it would come out all right.
It did.
On the last morning that Grandpa and Grandma were there, Daddy said
at the breakfast table--quite suddenly, as if he had just thought of it--
"Mother, suppose we let the children choose for themselves. You and I
will go to the lake next summer, and catch the big fish; but if they
would be happier on the old farm, why--"
"Oo-oo-ooh!" cried Joyce delightedly. "Don, you and I may go to
Grandpa's house next summer, if we like!"
"How do you know?" said Don rather crossly. "Daddy hasn't said that
we could."
"Why, he said it just now--didn't you, Daddy?"
"Not exactly; but that's what I was going to say," said Daddy, smiling
into Joyce's shining eyes.
After that, it wasn't a bit hard to tell Grandpa and Grandma good-by.
"Only until next summer," whispered Joyce when she kissed Grandma
for the last time.
Long months followed, but June came at last. One happy day the
children came home and threw their books down on the table; and Don
raced through the house singing the last song he had learned at school:
"School is done! school is done! Toss up caps and have a run!"

"And now," said Mother that night, "we must begin to get ready for our
trips. Are you sure, children, that you still want to go to Grandma's?"
"Sure!" whooped Don, dancing about the room; while Joyce answered
quietly, "You know, Mother, that nothing could ever change my mind."
"Very well," said Mother. "Tomorrow we must go shopping, for you
will need some new clothes--good, dark colored