Chapter 1 of A Hive of Busy Bees This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand, August 2018. A Hive of Busy Bees by Evie Mae Hincey-Williams Chapter 1 How It Happened 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 is too, for that matter, granting 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.   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 fire and stay with you as we did last year and the year before last, and every year since we can remember. Joyce looked rather 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.  I see, he said. In 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? 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 crossily. 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 goodbye. 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, worked on dancing about the room while Joyce answered quietly.  Very well, said Mother, tomorrow we must go shopping for you will need some new clothes. Good, dark coloured clothes to work and play in so Grandma won't have to be washing all summer. The machine hummed for many hours every day, and at last she got out the little trunk and began to carefully pack away the neatly folded gingham dresses, the blue shirts and overalls, a few toys and other things she knew the children would need. A letter had already been written to Grandma telling her when to meet them at the station, and she had written back, promising to be there at the very minute. When the great day came, the children were so excited they could hardly eat any breakfast, Mother wisely remembered that when she packed their lunchbox. The last minute they ran across the street to tell their playmates goodbye.  Mother was already waiting on the car. It was getting near train time so Daddy quickly drove off to the station. He bought the children's tickets, had the trunk checked and then he gave Joyce some money to put into the new red purse Mother had given her as a parting gift. He slipped a few coins into Don's pocket too and the little boy rattled and jingled them how growing up he felt. The children were very brave until the train was odd and they knew they must say goodbye. Joyce could not keep the tears back as she threw her arms around her Mother's neck, but she brushed them away and smiled. Joyce dear, Mother was saying, I am expecting you to be very good brave little daughter. Take care of Don, remember to pray every day and be sure to write to Mother. Joyce promised and then almost before the children knew what was happening they were aboard the train, the engine was popping, the wheels were grinding on the rails and they were speeding along through the green countryside. Joyce was trying very hard to be brave for Don's sake, but her lump would keep coming in her throat when she thought of Mother standing beside the train and waving her handkerchief as it moved away.  She must try to help him forget his loneliness. Soon they were looking out the window and what interest in sight were willing past. Joyce steals a big flock of chickens, then some calves and a meadow running away from the train in a great frat.  By and by in her most grown up way Joyce looked at the watch on her wrist. It was just noon so she opened the lunchbox and 80 sandwiches and fruits soon disappeared. But they saved two big slices of Mother's good cake to take to Grandma and Grandpa. After lunch the train seemed to creep along rather slowly but at last it stopped at the station where Grandma had promised to meet them and sure enough this did Grandpa with his snowy hair and his big broad smile. Grandma was waiting nearby in the car. It was late afternoon when they reached the old farmhouse and Grandma soon had supper ready. After supper Joyce helped to clear away the dishes and then the little trunk was unpacked. Grandma was watching keenly to see if the children were lonely. Now she said briskly it's milking time. Run down the lane children and let the bars down for the cows to come through the lot and we'll give them a good drink of water. Away scampered Joyce and Don and soon the cows were standing at the trough and Grandpa was pumping water for them. Let us pump cried Joyce. Fine said Grandpa that will be your job every evening to water the cows. After that they watched the foaming mocks stream into the shiny peyles and then the house together. It was almost dark now. Two sleepy children said their prayers and Grandma soon had them tucked snugly in bed. End of Chapter 1 Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand August 2018 Chapter 2 of A Hive of Busy Bees This is a LibraVox Recording All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand, September 2018 A Hive of Busy Bees by Ify Mae Hensie Williams Chapter 2, The Sting of the Bee Cock-a-doodle-doo called Don on a shrill voice dancing into his sister's room. Joyce opened her eyes and looked about to her. The bright morning sunlight was streaming in through the little pink and white curtains. W-where am I? she asked leapily seeing Don standing there. Where are you? cried Don merrily. Why on the farm of course!  There he is. He added pulling aside the curtain. He is stretching himself and standing on his tiptoes. Grandpa says he's saying welcome to the farm Don and Joyce. Do hurry and get up. We must go out and help Grandpa do the marking. Half an hour later Grandma called the two hungry children into breakfast. After that they were busy and happy all the morning long. Joyce helped Grandma to wash the dishes and tidy the house and Don followed close at Grandpa's heels as he did his morning's work about the farm. He felt very grown up indeed when a neighbor came by and Grandpa told him he had a new hand. After dinner Grandma settled down for her afternoon nap. Grandpa went to help a neighbor with some work and so the children were left alone. They began to run races in the wide grassy space in front of the old farmhouse. But they made so much noise that soon Joyce said I'm afraid we will wake Grandma Don we'd better be quiet. Let's go to the orchard said Don. We can be as noisy as we like there can't even hear us. So away they scampered to play in the shade of the old apple trees. But Grandma's nap was not to last long for soon she was awakened by a scream from the orchard. Hurrying up she found Joyce dancing up and down with her hand pressed tightly over one eye. Don stood watching her with round frightened eyes. He could not imagine what had happened to make his sister act like that. But Grandma knew away back in the orchard Grandpa had several hives of bees. Joyce had gone to near one of the hives she had done the rest. Grandma did not say much. Quietly she took the little girl's hand and led her back to the house. Soon Joyce was lying on the couch and Grandma was running cold water out of a cloth and gently placing it on her eye. Before long the pain was gone but the eye began to swell and soon she was not able to see out of it at all. It's all my fault that we went to the orchard said Don looking sober. No it's mine said Joyce. I was afraid we would wake Grandma. Well I guess it was mine because I forgot to tell you about the bees. When it was time to get ready for bed that night Grandma bathed the swollen eye again. I wished there were no bees Grandma said the little girl suddenly. Why you like honey don't you dear? asked Grandma. Yes I like honey but I don't like bees. They sting so. Bees are very interesting and hard working little creatures said Grandma and if they are let alone they will not harm anyone. I didn't mean to bother them said Joyce but once done me. That's so said Grandma but they have certain rules and you must have broken one of them. A bee sting is the only thing she can use to protect the hive against intruders and the bee that stings you always dies. That's the price she has to pay to do her duty. Oh said Joyce. I'm sorry I went too near but please Grandma tell me some more about bees. There are lots to learn about them said Grandma.  They have a queen and if she is stolen or dies they will not go on working without her. Only one queen can live in each house and when a new queen is about to come out of herself the old queen gathers her followers and they swarm. The queen bee lays the eggs and when the eggs hatch the hive is so full of bees that it cannot hold them all as soon as they find another queen some of them must move out. When the bees are swarming they always take good care of their queen. Sometimes they settle on a lump of a tree and while they are there they keep their queen covered so no one can find her. They send out scouts to find a new home and as soon as it is found they all move there. Sometimes Grandpa finds the queen and puts her in the hive. Then she makes a sort of drumming noise and the other bees follow her inside. Was it the queen bee that stung me? Asked Joyce. No the queen never uses her stint except when in battle with another queen bee but the other bees take care of her and must die for her sake. There are different kinds of bees in the hive drone bees cannot sting and they will not work they are lazy fellows. In the fall they are all culled so that during the long winter months they cannot eat the honey which the workers have gathered. Bees are busy all the time on sunny days they gather honey and on cloudy days they make little wet cells in which to store the honey. That's why they say busy as a bee Joyce it means busy all the time I didn't know there was so much to learn about bees. I have been thinking about another kind of bee said grandma. Do they sting like the bees in the orchard asked Joyce with a little shiver? These stings are much sharper answered grandma and the pain lasts much longer there is a hive full of these bees and they are always very busy but it is bee time now wait till tomorrow night and perhaps I shall tell you about one of them. 10 minutes later Don fell asleep wondering what the strange thought a bee was like and hoping it wouldn't even sting him as the cost bee had stung Joyce. End of chapter 2 Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland New Zealand September 2018 Chapter 3 are the Hive of Busy Bees This is a lip of box recording All lip of box recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit lipofox.org Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland New Zealand September 2018 A hive of Busy Bees but if you may hence see Williams they are obedient. I have something to show you said Grandma after breakfast the next morning come with me. Oh a little car but sprained on a moment later isn't he cute cry Joyce see how wobbly his legs are what's his name Grandma Grandpa says he's not going to bother naming him when he has two bright grand children here on the farm answered Grandma smiling Does he mean that we can name him asked Joyce Yes replied Grandma Oh Don cried Joyce what shall we call him I think Bruno was a nice name said Don so do I we'll call him Bruno agreed Joyce I wonder if he would let me pet him said Don gently touching the calf on his small white nose The little fellow tossed his head and wobbled over to the other side of his mother The children laughed merrily and they were so interested in watching the little creature that Grandma had to leave him and go back to her work The hour passed by very quickly and very happily there were so many new things to do Of course Joyce had to write a long letter to mother telling her about the sting of the bee, the new little calf and many other interesting things Late in the afternoon the children remembered about the cows and they thought they would pump the trough full of water ahead of time It was such fun that they kept on pumping until the trough overflowed and the ground around it was all muddy After supper they let down the bars for the cows to come through The cows had just finished drinking when Don slipped into the mud and fell backward right into the trough He kicked and splashed about trying to get out and Joyce got a good drench when she tried to help him Grandpa had to come to the rescue and fish him out and then they all had a good laugh even Don The children could not watch the milking that night because they had to go to the house and put on dry thumbs Later in the evening they reminded Grandma that she had promised to tell them a story They drew their chairs close to hers and she began Well this bee has a sharp sting and it goes very deep I hope it will never sting me then said Joyce I hope not to Grandma The boy and girl in my story were stung severely but it was all their own fault as you shall see Anna and her brother lived near upon and when the cold weather came it was great fun to skate on the ice Often times they would slide across it on their way to school One morning as their mother battled their coat she said don't go across the ice this morning children it has began to thaw and it is dangerous No we won't they promised When they reached upon Willy said See Anna how hard and thick the ice looks Come on let's slide across it Instantly the bee began to buzz about Anna's ears Don't do it said the bee It's dangerous you promised mother We'd better not Willy said Anna quickly We promised mother you know But mother won't even know said Willy But you promised the bee again Mother thought the ice was thawing She won't care when she knows it isn't You may do as you like Anna but I'm going to slide across it right now When Anna saw her brother starting across the pond she followed in spite of the bee But they had gone only a little way when the ice began to crack and then to give way under them Anna turned and hurried back to the bank but Willy had gone too far She saw him go down in the icy water and she ran to the road screaming at the top of her voice Then Anna was passing by at that moment He picked up a ball and ran to the pond as fast as he could and he reached it just in time to say little Willy Dragging the lad up onto the bank he called Laudie for someone to come and help him Two or three men came running and they worked over Willy until at last he opened his blue eyes and asked faintly Where am I? Then they took him home to his mother She thanked God for saving the life of her disobedient boy but the danger was not yet passed For many weeks Willy was a very sick little boy When at last they carried him downstairs he lay on the sofa day after day pale and quiet, sadly changed from the merry rump and Willy of other days The springtime came but it was a long time before he could go into the woods with Anna to help for wildcows or sail his toy boats on the pond There was no more school for Willy that year as Anna trudged off alone day after day as they seemed to hear again and again the buzzing of the bee about her ears Bzz! You promised mother! I heard it so plainly she would say to herself It must have been my conscience but I wouldn't listen and I almost lost my brother The old farmhouse kitchen was very quiet for a moment after Grandma had finished her story Nothing was heard but the tickle of the old fashioned clock I'm so glad it didn't happen Quite, said Joyce at last What was the bee's name, Grandma? The obedient, answered Grandma that he sometimes stung boys and girls so deeply that the hurt has never been healed That, said Grandma truly this bee will neither bother you if you listen to us first little buzz We will, Grandma! We will! cried the children as they drifted off to the land of dreams End of Chapter 3 Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand September 2019 Chapter 4 of A Hive of Busy Bees This is a Libravox Recording All Libravox recordings are on the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Libravox.org Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand November 2019 A Hive of Busy Bees But if you may hence the Williams Chapter 4, Be Honest It seemed to Don that he had just fallen asleep when he heard Grandma's cheery voice calling Breakfast! He dressed as quickly as he could but when he got downstairs all the others were waiting for him After breakfast, Joyce dried the dishes for Grandma and then she helped with the sweeping and dusting of how to grease the wagon and wear some harness and he handed staples to Grandpa while he mended some broken places in the fence The children were kept busy until dinner time but in the afternoon they were free to do anything they liked Today, they decided to play house on the orchard so they got out some of the things that Mother had packed on the little trunk to fix up their house But Don soon grew tired of that sort of play Let's play hard and seek, he said All right, Aunt said, Joyce I'll run and hide while you count to 100 Away she ran and Don began to count Just as he said 95 she ran to the chicken door, all standing open so she stepped inside Now there was something in the chicken house that Joyce did not expect to find One of Grandpa's pigs was there rooting around on the loose drawer The pig was not looking for company and he was so frightened that he ran toward the door pal-mal Joyce standing just inside was in his way and as he ran against her she was lifted off her feet and thrown on his back and dashed wildly out of the chicken house Just outside the door was a large shallow pan full of water which Grandma kept there for the chickens Joyce fell off the pigs back into the pan of water and then she rolled over in the dirt Don stopped counting when he heard her screams and Grandma came hurrying out Poor Joyce, what a sight she was and she was so frightened that it took Grandma quite a while to quiet her sobs but a bath and a change of clothes made the little girl feel quite like herself again That evening when Grandma came up from the milking she found the children on the porch waiting for another story Very well said Grandma I shall tell you a story tonight about Be Honest Many years ago there lived three little boys Joe, Henry and Charles They all started school at the same time for a long while they kept together in their classes and they were very good friends But when they were about 14 two of the boys, Joe and Henry began to go out nights Charles always late when they got home Charles stayed at home in the evening and studied his lessons for the next day as he had always done Of course the difference soon showed up in their schoolwork Charles always knew his lessons while Joe and Henry fell far behind When examination time came the boys begged Charles to help them No said Charles for me I will never do anything like that My mother says that father wanted me to be honest and I mean to be Oh said Henry It's a long time and your mother will never know I say there's no harm in giving a fellow a lift in his examinations grumble Joe It would be cheating said Charles quietly or helping you to and that would be just as bad and with that he turned to his own work and began to write diligently Of course Charles passed all his examinations with honours and of course Joe and Henry failed After that the boys tormented Charles in every way they could They called him mother's honest little darling and when they saw him coming they yelled Go home and hang on to your mother's apron string Mother knew by Charles' sober face that something had gone wrong What is it son she asked and Charles told her what had happened She told him how glad she was that he would not do wrong and how proud his father would be of such a son I shall never be ashamed of you as long as you are perfectly honest sometimes you will find it rather hard but just wait a few years and you will see that it pays Charles had been almost discouraged but mother's words made him feel quite strong and brave again The next time he saw the boys his honest little eyes looked straight into their faces unashamed and unafraid They dropped their eyes and hurried away as quickly as they could They did not bother Charles again or the principal had heard of their actions and had punished them severely When school was out the boys began to think about doing something to win a little money Henry was passing the drugstore one day when he noticed a sign on the window Boy wanted a blind person He went into the store at once and asked for the job The druggist took him to a little room back of the store Here he said as a chest of nails and bolts You may sort them The boy worked for a while and then he said to himself What a queer job this is He went back into the store and said to the druggist If that is all you have for me to do I don't believe I want the job Who else said the druggist That is all I have for you to do now The druggist went back to the little room and found bolts and nails scattered all over the floor He put them back in the chest and then he hung his sign on the window again The next day Joe passed by and saw the sign and he too went in and asked for the job The druggist took him to the little room and showed him the chest of nails and told him to sort them When the boy had worked only a little while he went back to the druggist and said Those rusty old nails are no good Why don't you let me throw them all away I don't like this kind of job anyway All right, said the druggist and he paid Joe for what he had done and let him go As he put the nails and bolts back in the chest he said to himself I'm willing to pay more than this to find a really honest boy Later Joe and Henry, sauntering down the street together saw the same sign in the window Boy wanted a blind person Guess he doesn't want a boy very bad said Joe That's no job sorting those old rusty things Did you find anything in the chest besides bolts and nails Henry? I'm not telling everything I found said Henry with a laugh Joe looked up puzzled and a little alarmed Now I wonder he began But broke off suddenly and started to talk about something else A few days later Charles passed by the drugstore and saw the sign in the window He went in and told the druggist he would like to have the job Joe and Henry, friends of yours asked the druggist looking at him sharply and tried Charles quickly We used to be good friends but something happened between us that I don't like to tell and I wouldn't have anything to do with me afterward I'm glad to hear that said the druggist I rather think you're the boy I want For two or three hours Charles worked steadily now and then whistling a snatch of two Then he went to the druggist and said I have finished the job you gave me What shall I do next? The druggist went to the little room to see how Charles had done his work The boy had found some boxes lying about the bolt and one, the nails and another and the screws and a third and see what I found at Scream Charles It was lying under those old crooked bolts on the bottom of the chest and he handed the druggist a five dollar gold piece The druggist took the money and said with a smile Now you may place the bolts and screws back in the chest just as you had them arranged in the boxes After he had done that Charles was sent on a few errands and then he was dismissed for the day A few days later He came early in the morning and opened the store and do the sweeping and dusting At the end of the first week when Charles received his pay envelope he found the five dollar gold piece along with the week's wages One morning, not long afterward when Charles was sweeping the floor he found a few pennies lying near the counter He picked them up and made them on the shaft and told the druggist about them Another day he found some pennies a dime and two nickels These two he laid on the shaft About a month later when he was sweeping one morning he found a bright shiny new dollar How he did wish he might keep it for himself The druggist wouldn't even know what whispered a tiny voice But just at that instant Be honest began to buzz around his ears Don't forget what mother told you said to be She said she would never be ashamed of you as long as you were perfectly honest Charles turned the shiny dollar over and over in his hand The bee kept on buzzing Never do anything that will make your mother ashamed of you Be honest, be honest Yes said Charles at last I will He laid the dollar up on the shaft and when the druggist came in he told him about it The druggist smiled and petted him on the shoulder You're an honest boy was all he said And at the end of the week Charles found the shiny dollar in his pay envelope beside his usual wages A few weeks later the druggist began to give Charles large sums of money to take to the bank for him I have found that I can trust you my boy Charles worked in the store all that summer and when school opened again he helped the druggist mornings and evenings His tired mother did not have to take on so many washings now Charles always gave her his money at the end of the week After he had finished school the druggist gave him a steady job in the store with good wages Charles said the druggist one day Do you remember the day he sourced bolts and nails for me Indeed I do answer Charles How glad I was to find work that day and I shall never forget how surprised I was when I found the five dollar gold piece at the bottom of the chest I put it there on purpose I wanted to find out what sort of boy you were You did exclaimed the astonished boy Yes and when you brought it to me I was pretty sure that I had found an honest boy but I wanted to be able to trust you with large sums of money so I tasted you still further I left pennies and knuckles and a dime on the floor and last of all a dollar when you picked them all up and laid them on the shelf and told me about them I knew then that I could safely trust you I should like to ask you was there a gold piece lying on the bottom of that chest when Joe and Henry sorted the nails too Yes said the druggist each of them found a gold piece there and each of them kept it for himself So you lost ten dollars exclaimed Charles Yes lost ten dollars hunting for an honest boy but I was worth it or I found one at last Is that the end of the story? asked Joyce as Grandma pause Not quite said Grandpa who had been listening Tell them what happened to Henry and Joe Oh yes I must not forget to tell you about them said Grandma Soon after Charles started working for the druggist Henry was caught stealing some things from a department store He was arrested but his father paid the fine so he was allowed to go free but his dishonest habit soon got him into trouble again He broke into a house while the family was away for some money He was sent to a reformatory for boys and he had to stay there a long time After that he could never keep a job long for he was so dishonest that no one could depend on him Joe did not get into so much trouble in his boyhood but after he became a man he forwarded a check and was sent to the penitentiary How much better it would have been said Joyce thoughtfully if Henry and Joe had only listened to the bee in the first place Yes indeed said Grandma and the bee talked to them as well as to Charles Maybe said little Dom softly they didn't have a Grandma to tell them how to be good Maybe not said Grandpa smiling as he rose to take the little fellow into bed Didn't they ever change into good men asked Joyce I'm afraid not answered Grandma that's the saddest part of the whole story they felt the sting of the bee as long as they loved End of Chapter 4 Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand Chapter 5 of A Hive of Busy Bees This is a Lippervox recording All Lippervox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Lippervox.org Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand February 2019 A Hive of Busy Bees by Ify Mae Hinsey Williams Chapter 5 Be Truthful Every day Joyce and Don went out to meet the Mayerman in the morning when he brought them a litre from Mother Mother and Daddy were having a good time at the lake and there was a picture of Daddy smiling at them as he held up a day's catch of fish What a string of fish it's claimed Grandpa when they showed it to him and what fine big ones they are I wished you Don that we could go fishing Grandpa Grandpa whispered something in his ear and the little fellow began to dance about and clap his hands What is it asked Joyce excitedly Only that we're going fishing tomorrow said Grandpa We'll start up bright and early in the morning take our lunches and spend the day at the river Joyce and Grandma were busy all morning about the house and in the afternoon they baked cookies and got the lunches nearly ready as they could for the trip Grandpa and Don went out to the garden to do the bait They soon had a can full of worms and then Don found a larger can and filled that too When Grandpa said they had enough Don covered the worms with loose dirt and set the cans out in the shed then they got out the fishing tackle Then in the afternoon Grandma called the children and asked them to catch a chicken for her so she could get it really for their picnic lunch The children asked if they might pick off the feathers they had watched Grandma do it so many times they thought it would be an easy job but when they tried it they found it was not so easy after all they turned the chicken round and round picking first in one place and then in another it took them a long time to get all the feathers off Then Grandma cut up the chicken and put it in a crop and took it to the spring house to keep it cool right in the morning she said How quickly the day passed by it was already time to do the evening chores Grandma was trying to teach the brown and white calf to drink milk from a pale Grandpa was busy in the barn so she called the children to come and help her The calf was kept in a lot near the orchard I want you to drive them to the corner of the fence for me said Grandma then I will try to coach them to drink them up but the little creature was not so easy to manage as soon as they had driven them into the corner he would back away and off he would go again across the lot after this it happened several times Don said just wait Grandma when we get him into the corner again I will hold him there so the next time he grabbed the calf about the neck and jumped on his back instantly the calf turned and galloped across the lot when he reached the father side he turned again and don rolled off on the soft grass just then Grandpa came to the rescue he drove the calf to the corner and held him there while Grandma comforted him to drink from the pale we must go to bed early tonight said Grandpa as they started for the house we want to reach the river by the time the sun comes up but you'll tell us the story first won't you Grandma asked Don yes said Grandma as she sank into her comfortable old rocking chair in the kitchen about another bee asked Joyce which one Be truthful answered Grandma boys and girls who will not listen to him often come to grief as the boy did that I shall tell you about Little Milton loved on a farm his father had a number of mules which he used to plough his fields two of the young mules were very old-tempered Malton's father was very careful to keep the little pigs and calves out of their way for fear the mules would pour them to death when Malton was almost nine a little baby brother came into his home his name was Marion Malton loved the baby dearly and never grew tired of playing with him their father bought a fence around the yard they were careful to keep the gate to the fence closed so little Marion could not wander away especially after the two old-tempered mules were put out to pasture and were not just back of the house late one afternoon Malton was helping his father in the back lot Daddy had to go and do something else so he left the boy to finish the job as soon as you have finished your daddy you may go to the house but be sure to let the backyard gate Daddy did not get home until after dark Malton he said did you let the gate when you came in this afternoon Malton knew he had forgotten but he thought to himself if I tell the truth I shall have to go out and let the gate now stay in the shade of the dark a loud he said yes Daddy I did are you sure? asked Daddy yes he did Malton again the little boy suddenly heard a bee buzzing in his ears tell the truth Malton tell the truth but he said to himself it won't matter if the gate stands open all night I will latch at the first thing in the morning and so he soon forgot all about it the next morning right after breakfast Malton's mother synced him on an errand Marion was still asleep as Marion asked Malton when he came back he woke a little while ago said Malton after I gave him his breakfast I let him go out in the yard to play it's such a bright morning instantly Malton thought of the gate and he went to look for Marion a moment later he heard his father cry out an alarm and looking toward the pasture where the two young mules were kept he saw a little Marion just inside the fence Daddy ran toward the baby as fast as he could but he was just too late one of the mules cooked Marion and he fell over in a little heap the mules seeing Daddy coming and toward the other end of the pasture Daddy picked up the limp little body and carried it to the house the baby lay so still that at first they thought he was dead Malton was terribly frightened and he cried almost all day for he knew this dreadful thing had happened because he did not latch the backyard gate and because he had told Daddy a lie about it poor little Marion was taken to the hospital his spine had been injured and it was many many months before he could sit up and never again was he able to run about like other children it was a long time before mother and Daddy found out how the baby came to be in the pasture with the mules but one day after little Marion had been brought home Malton told Daddy the whole stared story I'm very sorry said Daddy kindly when he had finished I wish you had told me the truth I wouldn't have seen you out alone in the dark son I would have gone out and next to the gate myself it was almost more than Malton could bear to help his father talk to him so sadly and yet so kindly the sting of the bee went deeper and deeper it was a power faced little brother day after day always after that he was careful to listen to the buzz of little bee truthful two very sober children said good night to grandma just as the clock struck half past eight end of chapter 5 Recording by Rose Grace, Auckland, New Zealand February 2019 Chapter 6 of A Hive with Busy Bees This is a LibraVox Recording All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org Recording by Rose Grace, Auckland, New Zealand February 2019 A Hive with Busy Bees by Evie Mae Hensie-Williams Chapter 6, Be Kind Don said grandma shaking the little sleeper It's time to wake up Don turned over rubbed his eyes and with a deep sigh set him back to sleep Here he cried grandma shaking him again Do you want us to leave you at home all alone? We're going fishing today Instantly Don was wide awake He bounced out of bed and began to dress as quickly as he could In five minutes he was in the kitchen but Joyce was there ahead of him helping grandma to pack the lunch basket Don was so excited that grandma could coach him to eat only a few bites of breakfast He was the first one in the car ready to start for the river The sun was just peeping over the hulls when they drove into a pretty shady nook on the bank of the river This is always a good place to fish, said grandpa They stopped under a tree and the great spreading branches leaned far out over the water and soon they were untying the fishing poles and baiting their hooks I'll give a nickel to the one who catches the first fish said grandpa Suddenly Don's cork began to bob up and down on the water Joyce felt a strong pull on her line too almost at the same instant each of them lifted a fish from the water Grandpa took the little perch from Don's hook and a catfish from Joyce's and with his big hearty laugh he gave him each a nickel and quickly that before the children knew it it was time for lunch but when grandma spread out the chicken and sandwiches and cookies and lemonade in the shade of the big tree they found that they were as hungry as bees After lunch grandma lay down on the shade and tried to take a nap while the others went back to their fishing but the fish did not bite so well as they had done in the morning They had already caught a great many fish so they decided to go home early Grandpa had been stringing the fish one by one as they had caught them and he had let the line hang down on the water Now when he lifted it out the children were delighted to see how many fish they had caught This is a longer string of fish than daddy has in the picture, cried Don We cannot use so many fish ourselves, said grandpa which I have to share it with the neighbours When they reached home Don helped grandpa to clean the fish Grandpa skinned the catfish and Don scraped the scales from the perch When they had finished Don had fish scales all over him but this trouble was all forgotten at suppertime when grandma set a large platter of fish on the table Grandpa said it tasted better than the fried chicken In the evening the children came to grandma for the usual story They sat down on the porch with the soft summer dusk gathering about them I shall tell you a story tonight about a bee that he recharged to listen to when I bang Its name is bee kind James and Richard lived near each other One day they were flying their kite in a vacant lot when they saw a dirty little puppy Richard began to stamp his feet and try to scare it but as he could not chase it away he threw stones at the poor little thing A stone struck the puppy on his head and hurt him very badly for he began to turn round and round whining in hell and pitifully Richard laughed as if he thought it a great joke Shame on you, cried James for treating a poor little puppy like that You're a sissy, said Richard You may call me what you please, said James but I shall never hurt a poor little dog that can't help himself Maybe he's lost With that he lifted the little creature in his arms and carried him home The puppy's head was bleeding when Richard had struck him with a stone James washed the blood away and gave the little dog something to eat talking to him kindly and petting him all the while When his father came home this evening he told James that the puppy showed marks of being a very good dog for his own James was delighted he named the dog Rex and at once began to teach him to do all sorts of tricks Rex learned to walk on his hind feet sit up straight and beg for something to eat play dead dog roll over chase his tail and run for a hoop In a few months Rex had grown to be quite a large dog By this time James had taught him how to swim and when the boy would throw stick into the water and say go get it Rex the dog would bring it back in his mouth All the boys in the neighbourhood liked Rex and he liked the moored, except Richard Whenever he came around the dog would growl and show his teeth Two years later one warm Saturday afternoon in April James called Rex and started for the pond Oftentimes fishing parties visited this pond so a number of small boats were tired among the willows fringing the shore On this particular afternoon Richard and his little brother Harry had also gone to the pond and Richard untied one of the boats to take a ride Of course he had no right to use a boat that did not belong to him but he thought that no one would even own Just as James came around a camp of willows he saw the little boat tip over and Richard and Harry fell on at the deepest place in the pond James knew they could not swim so he began to call for help as loudly as he could Rex ran back and forth whining looking first at James then at the boys in the water Suddenly a happy thought struck James pointing to the two boys he said go get them Rex Immediately the dog jumped into the water and began to swim toward the boys He soon had Harry's collar between his teeth and was swimming back to shore James helped Harry to his feet and then pointing to Richard he said go get the other one Richard had gone down the second time Rex reached him but as he came up to the surface of the water the dog caught him and began to swim back It was a hard task as Richard was heavier than Harry but at last Rex brought him safely to shore All this time James had been calling for help and now Steve Romine came running toward the pond They began working with Richard and after some time he came back to consciousness Who got me out of the water he asked as soon as he could speak Rex answered James He has rolled down Richard's face as he said brokenly Just think I almost culled him when he was a little puppy I know one thing I'll never do such a thing again Everybody pitted and praised Rex for what he had done Richard's father bought a beautiful new collar for him Before the dog had saved Richard's life he never would have anything to do with him afterward He could not beget how cruelly the boy had treated him in his puppyhood Daddy promised to get a puppy for me soon said Don I shall name him Rex after the good dog in the story And I'm quite sure that you'll always be as kind to him as James was to Rex but I know a little man that will be asleep in about five minutes Hustle him off the bed Grandpa or you'll have to carry him upstairs Good night and sure enough five minutes later he was fast asleep End of Check the Sets Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand, February 2019 Check the Seven of the High of the Busy Bees The Silver Vox Recording All Silver Vox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit www.libervox.org Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand, March 2019 A High of the Busy Bees Check the Seven of the High of the Busy Bees Check the Seven of the High of the Busy Bees When the children came down to breakfast in the morning they found that Grandpa had eaten his breakfast and had gone out to build a pig pen behind the barn Don hurried out to help him and Joyce went to the spring house to do the churning for Grandma The little girl plunged the dasher into the thick cream lifted it and plunged it again until her arms ate At last the dasher began to look clean and tiny particles of golden butter clung to it and she knew that the butter had come Then she took the butter peddler in the bowl and called them in the spring just as she had seen Grandma do She lifted the butter from the churn with the peddler and began to work it to get the milk out She had watched Grandma do this many times and it had looked very easy but she found it quite another thing when she came to dawn herself When she had worked for some time she had a solid roll of butter she salted it and worked it some more and then she called Grandma to come and see it I could not have made better butter myself said Grandma and she knew to write about it in her next letter to mother After dinner the children went to the orchard to play they found an ant heart and it was very interesting to watch the answers they worked One ant was carrying a bread crumb several times larger than herself and the children were watching eagerly The old turkey gobbler came strutting toward them but they did not notice Joyce was bending over watching the industrious little ant when suddenly the gobbler perched upon her back and began to beat her with his wings Grandma screamed Joyce It was a comical sight that Grandma saw when she came to the door feels Joyce running toward the house with the gobbler after her and Don coming behind The gobbler was right at Joyce's heels when suddenly the little girl dodged behind a train began to go round and round at keeping the tree between her and the gobbler At last Don found a stick and chased him away When Grandma had comforted Joyce she explained that it was the little girl's redress that the gobbler did not like Joyce declared that she would never wear that dress again while she was on the farm she never did and so the gobbler did not bother her anymore At bedtime the children were ready for their usual story They clambered up onto the arms of the old rocker on the porch while Grandpa sat down on the steep What did we hear about tonight asked Grandpa I believe I like to hear the stories as well as Don does All boys are alike Big and little said Grandma with a smile My story this time is about the polite Oh said Don I know a little verse about politeness I learned it at school Politeness is to do and say the kindest thing in the kindest way Then politeness means kindness Doesn't it Grandma asked Joyce Yes and more than that replied Grandma A polite person is never rude The story is about two children who were stung by bee polite just once but they never forgot it Daisy and Dan were twins When they were babies their mother took them from their home in the east to live in a far western state They could not remember their grandmother who still lived back in the old hometown All they knew about her was what their mother had told them and she often wrote long letters and sent them lovely presents One day they received a letter from Grandma saying that she was coming to spend a few weeks with them They could hardly wait for Thursday to come when she was to arrive at the station The train was due at six o'clock in the evening and mother promised the twins that they might go to meet Grandma After school she sent them to the store to buy some things for supper and she gave them ten cents to buy candy Now there were some children loving in the neighbourhood who were very rude and the twins were never allowed to play with them But today on their way to the store they met these children and they all went on together They crossed a vacant lot where there was a pile of crushed rock Near the rock pile they met an elderly woman carrying a small satchel She spoke candy to them but one of the boys answered her very rudely and then stuck out her tongue at her The lady turned to him and said My boy you need someone to teach you how to be a gentleman Oh do I said the boy roughly thrown from the rock pile he threw at her another lad did the same and still another Now the twins had been taught to be polite especially to old people Just now little people began to buzz about them but when children are in bad company it is always hard for them to hear the small voice of conscience For a moment they stood and watched the boys throw rocks at the old lady and then they began to throw them too No matter how hard she tried Daisy could not throw a stone straight but Dan had a better aim than a rock which struck the old lady's hand When the twins reached the store there were several customers ahead of them so they had to wait their turn It was nearing supper time when they came out of the store with their bundles The rude boys had waited outside for them all that time and the twins gave them some of their candy When Daisy and Dan reached home they were much surprised to find a visitor there It was the old lady whom they had treated so unkindly Mother was crying as she bathed the hand that had been hurt by Dan's rock Children she said Your dear grandmother who has come to see you She came on an earlier train than she expected and she inquired the way and walked out from the station alone Some rude children treated her very unkindly on the way You will have to be very good to her to make up for it Well well said Grandma Candy Is this Daisy and Dan I should never have taken them to be my grandchildren The twins expected her to wed so you are the naughty children who threw stones at me But she did not say it to the room as quickly as they could So the good times the children had expected to have with their grandmother were spoiled in the very beginning After that whenever they went into the room where she was they felt very uncomfortable I don't understand why the twins act so strangely said Mother one day as she and Grandma sat me and them together I'm really ashamed of them They had planned to do so many things to make you happy during your visit But they seemed to keep away from your war they can Daisy who was passing outside just under the window She said the word distinctly Her heart pounded like a hammer and she held her breath to hear what Grandma would say Grandma went on mending without saying a word Dear Grandma she won't tell on us for throwing stones at her said Daisy to herself Then I'll tell that's what I'll do she added with a sob An instant later Mother was surprised to see the little girl dash into the room with tears running down her cheeks She threw herself down by the chair and laid her head in her mother's lap She was crying so hard that for a moment Dear there little girl said Mother what has happened tell Mother all about it Then Daisy told the whole story when she had finished she threw her arms around Grandma I'm so sorry dear Grandma she cried Just then Grandma looked up and saw Dan standing there He had come in so softly that no one had noticed Grandma held out her hands to him and he burst into tears It was my fault lots more than Daisy's he sob I threw a stone before she did and besides it was my stone that hit your hand Grandma talked to the twins for a long time then in her own quiet way She told him that children who were in bad company were almost sure to do wrong themselves and that polite boys and girls usually grew up to be the best men and women I know that such a thing will never happen again she said kissing them both So now it is all forgiven and forgotten But the twins could not forget Two or three weeks later Grandma went home She still wrote letters and sent presents just as if nothing had ever happened But for many years long after Daisy and Dan had grown up Every time they thought of their dear grandmother they felt the sting of their rudeness and cruelty to her Joyce won the tease out of her eyes as she threw her arms around her grandma's neck I could never treat you like that dear grandma she cried Now that could I have said Dan soberly kissing her goodnight End of chapter 7 Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand March 2019 Chapter 8 of The Hive of Busy Bees This is a love of ox recording All love of ox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit loveofox.org Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand March 2019 A Hive of Busy Bees by Ethym A Hentsey Williams Chapter 8 The Gentile In the morning another letter came from Mother Daddy and I are getting lonesome for you she wrote We're having a better time than Mother and Daddy I laughed on If they had come with us to grandparents they would not have been so lonesome would they Joyce I should say no to answer Joyce The days go by too fast for that and besides something is always happening If it's nothing else the old turkey gobbler chases me around the tree Don and Grandma laughed heartily and Joyce joined in Grandma had promised to make some cookies this morning so with Joyce on one side of her and Don on the other she mixed up the dough and rolled it out on the large board Then she got some cutters from the pantry and cut out the cookies in all sorts of shapes There were different kinds of animals a bird for Joyce and a queer little man for Don His eyes, nose and mouth were made out of raisins also the buttons on his vest Then she put the cookies in the oven to bake When they were done and Grandma took them out Joyce's bird stuck to the pan and its tail came off and Don's man had grown so fat that he had burst one of the buttons off his vest A long time ago when the children's mother had been Grandma's little girl she had lived on this very farm and those far off days she had planted a lilac bush and a cluster of prickly pear Grandpa did not like the prickly pear but he had let it grow all these years because his little girl had planted it And since the grass nice and soft he said Don, it feels just like a velvet carpet watch me turn some salt on it With that he began to turn some salt going in the direction of the prickly pear Joyce called him to be careful but it was too late he came down right in the middle of the cactus plant the long thorns piece turned like sharp needles and although he tried to be brave he could not keep back the tears There was nothing to do but pull out the thorns one by one and it took Grandma quite a while to do that and although Don turned many some salt afterward he was always careful to keep away from the prickly pear When story time came Grandma gently rocking back and forth began I shall tell you tonight about a bee that is very necessary to have him home and it is also very much needed by those who have anything to do with animals It's name is Bee Gentile Have you ever noticed how Gentile Grandpa is with all his animals Yes I have noticed it said Joyce and the horses love him for it too Whenever he goes to the pasture they trot up to him and begin to know about his pockets He usually carries something in his pockets to give them said Grandma He has raised all his horses from little cult and he has always treated them kindly Some men think they must treat animals roughly to make them obey but that is not so Jake and Jenny were a brother and sister who loved each other dearly but they were quite different in this position The dogs about the place were afraid of Jake for he treated them roughly and sometimes beat them but they loved Jenny because she was gentle with them The dog would follow her about and the cat would curl up on her lap and put herself to sleep When she went to the pasture the horses would trot up to her and rub their noses on her shoulder She often gave them lumps of sugar or other dainties that horses like No matter how wild or shy they were with others Jenny could always catch them easily Of all the horses and her father's pasture Jenny loved best a beautiful swift-footed mare called Fanny Sometimes she would ride about the country on Fanny's back but as gentle as the mare was with Jenny, she was afraid of Jake and would not let him catch her in the pasture It would be much better Jenny would often say to her brother if you would not treat the animals so roughly See how easily I handle Fanny just because I am always gentle with her Oh, Jake would answer with a laugh That is all right for a woman, Jenny but a man you know must show his authority Very early one morning Jake's father came into his room Jake, he said, shaking the boy Wake up, son! Mother was taken very ill in the night Catch Fanny and go for the doctor as quickly as you can The hired man was sleeping in the next room and he heard what Jake's father said He also got up and dressed and hurried out to the pasture to help Jake catch the mare The two were gone quite a while At last they came back to the house and Jake said, I can't catch Fanny, father She has jumped the ditch a dozen times What shall I do? Try again, said his father He was long enough to go to the pasture and she must have helped soon Just then Jenny came in I will catch Fanny for you, father, she said and hurried out to the pasture Fanny, oh Fanny, she called and the beautiful creature turned her head and trotted toward her but an instant later to Jenny's surprise she got up the way across the field glancing behind her, Jenny saw Jake and the hired man coming up the lane She sees you coming called Jenny that's why she won't let me catch her and Jenny went further into the pasture calling Fanny, oh Fanny Instantly the mare turned and trotted toward her She came close and when Jenny gave her a lump of sugar she rubbed her nose against the little girl's shoulder Quickly she put the bridle on the mare and led her through the lane to the barn Then she harnessed her and hitched her to the buggy and called to Jake The boy hurried out looking rather pale and worried and as he stepped into the buggy Jenny stroked the mare's neck saying gently Now go along dear Fanny and do your best for mother Fanny rubbed her nose against Jenny's shoulder again as if to say I will little mustress you may depend on me Then as Jake lifted the range she trotted down the road at a rapid gate Jake found the doctor just sitting down to breakfast When he heard the boy's story he did not stop to wait He rode right back with Jake and in a short time he was at the mother's bedside She was indeed very ill If I had been a little later said the doctor in a low tone I could have done nothing for her at all When Jake heard that he went into the kitchen sank down on a chair and leaning his head on the table he sobbed like a child Jenny found him there a little later She stood there beside him gently stroking his hair Jake she said at last very softly Don't cry anymore because God was very kind to us and didn't eat it happen But just think what might have been if I hadn't been able to catch Fanny this morning Don't you think it would pay to always be kind to the animals? Jake nodded He could not trust himself to speak The sting of little bee gentle went very deep Never again was Jake cruel to animals He tried hard to make friends with Fanny but she would have nothing to do with him She remembered how roughly he had treated her in the past Being only a horse she did not understand that he never would do so again How glad Jenny must have been to Joyce that she had treated Fanny kindly because Fanny brought the doctor the doctor saved her mother's life And besides, I do grandma softly people are always glad when they know they have done right End of chapter 8 Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand March 2019 Chapter 9 of A Hive of Busy Bees This is a LibraVox recording All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand May 2019 A Hive of Busy Bees But if you may hint see Williams Chapter 9 Be Helpful What are you going to do with that row past Don as Grandpa came from the shed with a coil of rope on his arm Come with me and you will find out what's going on with Grandpa and you may call Joyce too if you wish Don ran to the house to get Joyce and soon the two came back together They fired Grandpa down the lane toward the pasture where he kept his pigs The children kept asking him what he intended to do but he would only answer wait and see Grandpa had a good many growing hogs and ten little pigs He opened the pasture gate and called to them and they all came out onto the lane grunting and squealing Then he coached them toward the pig pen He closed the gate and turned into the children said Now if you watch me you will see what I intend to do with the rope When the children were both safe on the other side of the fence Grandpa climbed into the pig pen and coiled the rope a number of times in his hands Then he cast it from him and it fell over one of the little pigs He drew it in and the pig was caught Then he lifted him and placed him in the pen How the little fellow squealed and how hard the old hogs tried to get to him Some of the larger ones started toward the fence where Don and Joyce were perched on posts Grandpa laughed to see how quickly the children's grandmother down Now said Grandpa you see why I wanted the fence between you and those hogs don't you If they could get to you they might tear you in pieces for they want to take care of the little pigs Grandpa coiled the rope again caught another of the little pigs and then another and another until all ten of them were in the pen Then he opened the gate and turned the others back into the pasture Grandpa had caught the pigs so easily only once or twice had he had to try a second time I don't see how you could catch them when they were running away from you said Don I couldn't catch them if they were standing still Perhaps not said Grandpa but I can catch you if you try to get away from me Just try it At that Don began to run as fast as he could but he had not gone far when he felt the rope slip over his shoulders and he was lifted off his feet What fun shall to Joyce now tried on me Grandpa spent quite a while catching first one and then the other Joyce was the hardest to catch for after a few times she learned how to dodge the rope Why did you put those little pigs in the pen asked Don following close at his heels They are getting in the cornfield out to Grandpa and eating too much of my corn But can't you keep them out asked Don No said Grandpa for when I mean one place in the fence the little pigs are sure to find another place big enough to squeeze through so the only way I can keep them out is to pin them up Don you may carry water for the little pigs and they will need plenty too because it is so warm That pleased Don and he began at once to follow the trough which Grandpa had placed in the pen That evening Grandpa and Grandma and the children sat on the porch listening to the chirp of the Katie did in the call of the whipperwells Grandma said Don what kind of bee will you tell us about tonight Be sleepy and go to bed said Grandpa with a wink at Grandma The children laughed No said Don I don't want to hear about that bee not yet We might have our story first but we must begin right away because it is almost bedtime The bee I am thinking about tonight comes often to us all, especially to little children Once there was a boy named Alfred who was the only child in his home he was very selfish and often he was determined to have his own way but he had his good points too Alfred lived in the country and during the Christmas holidays he visited a friend of his who lived in the city then his friend in turn visited him during the summer vacation As soon as his company came Alfred thought it was quite too much for his mother to ask him to help her He forgot how very ill she had been and how frail she still was Indeed it was hard for him to think of anything but having a good time with his friend The two boys had planned to spend a certain day at the creek fishing Of course they were eager to start as early as they could that morning After they had gathered together everything that they needed for their trip they went out to the kitchen and found Alfred's mother packing a lunch for them Alfred she said I wish you would help me a little with the work before you go I am afraid that I shall not be able to do it all alone Would you mind stopping long enough to wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen for me? Alfred began to pout but his mother continued I really wish you were not going fishing today your father will be away all day and I would rather not be left alone for I do not feel as well as usual but I will not keep you if you will wash the dishes before you go Now mother said Alfred angrily ask me to do that when you know I want to get started early If I have to wait half the day I do not care to go at all Just then the bee began to buzz about Alfred's ears Help your mother, help your mother it said but Alfred did not pay any attention Let the dishes go he cried I do not care whether they were even washed or not and picking up the lunch which his mother had packed so nicely for him he started toward the creek he did not even look back to say goodbye The boys found fishing very good that day they caught a fine string of trout ate their lunch and in the middle of the afternoon were ready to start for home Alfred was much pleased with the catch and on the way home he said over and over won't mother be glad we went fishing today when she sees our string of trout she is so fond of trout but even while he was saying it he could not forget the tired look on his mother's face or the hurt look in her eyes when he had refused to wash the dishes for her when the boys reached the house it seemed strangely quiet in the kitchen neatly swept Alfred's mother was lying on the couch and she seemed to be resting very comfortably See mother said Alfred isn't this a nice string of trout but mother did not answer Alfred spoke to her again still no answer he touched her hand then and found it icy cold then the awful truth dawned upon him his mother was dead she had died while he was fishing but she had done the work that she had asked her boy to do all his life poor Alfred what hurt him most deeply was that he would never again have a chance to help his frail little mother who had done so much for him I'm so glad said Joyce that I still have my mother and that I can do things for her when she is tired it's a sad story grandmaster little Don but I'm glad he told it to us I'm going to remember it always End of Chapter 9 Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand, May 2019 Chapter 10 This is the Libra Vox Recording All Libra Vox Recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Libra Vox.org Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand July 2019 A high number of busy bees but if you may hence your willings Chapter 10 Another morning came to the farm another day for the children to roam about the fields and enjoy themselves in God's big free outer doors How much more pleasant than having to play in their own yard in the city these hot summer days In that long ago time when the children's mother had lived on the farm Grandpa had given her a pony of her own to ride to school in the village Old Ned was still on the place Grandpa was always ready to saddle and bridle him whenever the children wished to go for a ride Today as the children wandered to the back of the orchard wishing for something to do Ned stood on the other side of the fence and knade at them that gave Don an idea Of course he cried Let's ride Ned around in the pasture Without a saddle, exclaimed Joyce Of course, answered Don and his most grown-up tone Why not? All right, said Joyce and hid happily They went out through the barn locked leaving the gate open behind them Then, netting down the barns they soon found themselves in the pasture Joyce led Old Ned to the fence holding to his mane She climbed up on the fence In his younger days Ned had been taught a number of tricks which he still remembered He would shake hands and nod his head and ride up the steps and when a rider was on his back and he gripped his knees and Ned's side the old horse would gallop away as fast as he could Always before this the children had ridden with a saddle and so they had never had to hold fast with their knees but today Joyce knew she would have to hold on tightly so she pressed her knees hard against Old Ned's side Instantly he started to gallop across the pasture He went up the lane through the open gate into the barn locked and onto the watering trough Joyce still held to his mane with all her might gripping him tightly with her knees Don bounced up and down behind her with his arms about her waist When Ned reached the watering trough he stopped Suddenly he lulled his head and both children slipped off into the trough It was about half full of water and Joyce fell on face downward Saps buttering, puffing and blowing as they scrambled out of the trough and there stood Old Ned looking at them as if to say How did you like your bath? Grandpa came hurrying up to see if they were hurt He told him that Old Ned was only doing as he had been taught when he was a colt and that they could not expect him to do otherwise if they rode him like that That evening as twilight set her down Grandpa and Grandma and the children sat on the porch and listened to the lonely call of a whipperwell from the neighbouring woods I see the big bear said Don and the little bear too What is the Milky Way Grandma? asked Joyce When men look through the telescopes they find millions of stars so close together and so far away that not one star can be seen by the naked eye The Indians used to say it was the path which all Indians must travel after they died to reach the happy hunting grounds See how bright the stars are in the dipper it's the name Don When I was just a little girl said Grandma I learned a rhyme about the Milky Way The man in the moon that sails through the sky is known as a gay old skipper but he made a mistake when he tried to take a drink of milk from the dipper and listened to the Milky Way and was just prepared to drink it when the big bear growled and the little bear growled and it scared him so that he spilled it The children liked the queer little rhyme and said it over until they knew it by heart At last Grandpa said I guess it's about time to turn in for tonight Oh no said Don not till Grandma tells us our story Alright said Grandma I shall tell you this time about a little bee called Bee Grateful It has a very sharp sting as you will see In the Italian skies there is an old old town by the name of Actree It is built on the side of a steep hill A very long time ago the king of Actree bought a great golden-toned bell and hung it in the tower at the marketplace Fastened to the bell there was a long road that reached almost to the ground We shall call it the bell of justice said the king He proclaimed a great holiday in Actree and invited everyone to come to the marketplace and see the bell It shone like gold on the bright sunlight When the king came riding down the street the people whispered to one another Perhaps he will ring the bell But he did not Instead he stopped at the foot of the tower and raised his hand All the whispering and talking stopped for the people knew that the king was about to speak My good people he said This bell belongs to you No one must ever pull the rope unless he is in trouble But if any one of you man, woman or child is ever treated unjustly come together and listen to your story and the one who has done wrong will be punished whoever he may be That is why this is called the bell of justice Year after year passed by and the great bell still hung on the tower Many people who were in trouble had rung the bell and in every case the judges had been perfectly fair and had punished the one who had done wrong The rope had hung there so long in the sun and rain and had been pulled by so many hands that it was almost worn out Some of the strands were untwisted and shorter and shorter until only the tallest man or woman could reach it We must have a new rope through the judges at last If a little child should be wrong he could not reach high enough to ring the bell that would never do At once the people of Actree set about to look for a new rope but there was none to be found in all the town of Actree They would have to send someone to a country across the mountains to get the rope but that would take quite a while and what should they do while they were waiting One man thought of a plan he ran to his vineyard and came back with a great vine Then he tied the vine to the rope There he said the smallest child will be able to reach it now and ring the bell for the vine was the sleet and little tendrils trailed on the ground The judges were pleased Yes they said that will do very well until we can get a new rope from the country beyond the mountains Near the village of Actree higher up on the hillside they lived an old soldier When he was a young man he had travelled in far distant countries and had fought in many wars and made him a knight He had had one driven faithful friend all through those hard and dangerous years It was his horse Many a time the brave steed had saved his master's life But now that the knight was an old man he no longer wished to do brave deeds he cared now for only one thing Gold Gold He was a miser One day as he passed his barn he looked in and saw his faithful horse standing in his stall The poor creature looked almost starved Why should I keep that lazy beast any longer said the miser to himself His food costs more money than he is worth I know what I will do I will turn him out on the hillside and let him find his own food If he starts to death why he'll be out of the way So the brave old horse was turned out to graze as best he could on the rocky hillside He was sickened lame and he grew thin every day For all he could find was a tiny patch of grass or a thistle now and then The village dogs barked at him and bit at his heels and faulty boys threw stones at him One hot afternoon the old horse limped into the marketplace of Etry No one was about the streets for the people were trying to keep his call as they could in the shelter of their homes As the horse went piquing about trying to find a few blades of grass suddenly he discovered the long grapevine trail on the ground at the foot of the tower The leaves were still green and tender for it had been placed there only a short time before The horse did not know that the bell would ring if he pulled the vine There was a juicy bit of dinner for him and he was hungry He nibbled at the end of the vine and suddenly, far up in the boughry the huge bough began to swing back and forth From its great throat golden music floated down over the town of Etry It seemed to be saying Someone has done me wrong Ding dong, ding dong The judges put on their robes and hurried out of their cool homes into the hot streets of the village Who was in trouble, they wondered No one was there but they saw the starving old horse nibbling at the tender grapevine Ho ho, cried one This is the miser's brave old steed He rings the bell to plead for justice And justice he shall have, cried another See how thin he is, said a lad with a kind heart By this time many people had gathered in the marketplace When they saw the old horse a murmur of astonishment swept through the crowd The miser's steed, cried one to another He has waited long but he shall have justice today I have seen the old horse wandering on the whole side day after day in search of food, said an old man And while the noble steed has no shelter, said his neighbour His master sits at home counting his gold Brill his master to ask, cried the judges certainly, and so they brought him In silence he waited to hear what the judges would say This brave steed of yours, they said Has served you faithfully for many a long year He has saved your life in times of danger He has helped you to hoard your bags of gold Therefore, hear your sentence, O miser Half your gold shall be taken from you and used to buy food and shelter for your faithful horse The miser hung his head and made him sad to lose his gold But the people laughed and shouted as the old horse was led away to a comfortable stall in the dinner fit for the steed of a king Hooray, cried Don Good for the brave old horse Grandpa, I'm so glad you weren't a miser He was thinking of old Ned with a sleek shining black coat Bedtime announced Grandma as she led the house Good night, children and happy dreams to you End of Chapter 10 Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand, July 2019 Chapter 11 of The Hive of Busy Bees This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand, July 2019 A Hive of Busy Bees A LibriVox recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand, July 2019 Chapter 11 of The Hive of Busy Bees When the children ran down to meet the mailman in the morning, he handed them another letter from Mother She and Daddy were going home next Friday, she said And they must be there Saturday to start school on the following Monday Only three more nights to be here said Joyce, taking the letter into Grandma I want to go home and see Mother and Daddy but I wish I could stay on the farm too And only three more stories about Bees added Don, we must remember them to Mother What do you want to do today children? asked Grandma After our morning work has done said Joyce with her most grown up here we must finish weeding the flower bead Grandma called Don a little later Come and see how nice it looks where we pulled the weeds yesterday Grandma stood a moment thoughtfully looking down at the half-weeded bead of flowers Children, she said suddenly If you wanted a flower this morning where would you pick it? In the part of the bead that is full of weeds that you have weeded so nicely I would pick my flower with around any weeds answered Don I would take that pretty big reed one right over there and so would I had to plead Joyce pulling up a stub on the weed But why wouldn't you take this one? said Grandma as she parted the weeds and showed another reed beauty Well answered Don, I suppose it's just as pretty but some way the weeds make it look ugly That's just what I was thinking about The weeds, they had beautiful faces but they let the weeds of disobedience selfishness, deceit and pride grow all about them until you cannot see their beauty for the ugly weeds This garden makes me think of two cousins that I knew once One was obedient, unselfish and kind to everybody and although she did not have a beautiful face she was loved by all who knew her The other girl had a beautiful face but she had such an unlovely disposition that nobody cared for her and so she was left very much to herself A beauty like this lovely flower was quite hidden by the ugly weeds growing up all around her These weeds in the flowerbed were very small in the beginning but they grow and grow until now they are taller than the flowers and the weeds in God's child gardens are small at first too To begin with, there springs up the weed of telling a story that is not quite true If it is not pulled up at once soon it grows up into a big ugly lie weed Other weeds, disobedience selfishness and unkindness spring up around it and the beautiful flower is hidden by the tall weeds and when the master of the garden wants a lovely flower child to do a kind deed for him he never thinks of choosing one that is surrounded by weeds What a nice story it's claimed Joyce but it wasn't about a bee grandma Yes it was said Don Don't be weedy But there haven't been any don't bees in the stories before said Joyce Besides, I wouldn't call that don't be weedy I'd call it bee clean That's a good name for what's it grandma Grandma lives clean from the weeds that children so often allow to grow up around them Grandma went back to the house while the children set to work weeding the rest of the flowerbed They were very careful not to pull up any of the flowers with the weeds When they had finished the flowerbed looked beautiful, clear as it was of all weeds and grasses I surely don't want any ugly weeds to grow in my garden so I should always listen to bee clean said Joyce softly as she walked slowly After dinner, yes do cry Joyce it would be such fun to fly it Well said grandpa you children hunt around and find some sticks then ask grandma for some paper and paste and string and bring them out to the wood sheath and I'll try my hand at making a kite After it was made they had to let it lie in the sun for a while to dry Then they took it out to the pasture feels the soft breeze blowing and grandpa said the kite ought to fly Don took the string and ran along with it for quite a distance and the dart had back and forth it fell on the ground This happened several times and last grandpa said it's too bad children but my kite won't fly but I'll see if I can make something else for you Then grandpa took some thin boards and whittled out darts He took a short stick and tied a string to it and then he fitted the string in a lot which he had cut on one end of the dart He threw the dart up in the year ever so high it came down just a few yards from Don, the sharp end stuck fast and there it stuck upright on the ground Don was as much pleased with us as he would have been with a kite that would fly Soon he enjoys shooting darts into the year to see whose would go the highest They had so much fun that the afternoon flew by very fast it was nearly supper time when Don gathered up the darts and took them to the house with him He carefully put them away in the little trunk saying I'll show the boys how to throw darts when they get home That evening as they sat on the porch in the quiet twilight they heard the faint tinkle of a cowbell on the distance They talked a while and then they sang some songs together That story time isn't it said Grandpa by and by and who was going to get stung tonight he asked Wiggum at Joyce I hope I don't she laugh remembering the time the bee had stung her on the first day of her visit No one shall be stung tonight said Grandma I have a very sweet little bee to tell you about and because the little girl in my story listened to its buzz it made honey for her all her life This name is bee loving and it can do things that nothing else in the world can do You know people can sometimes be loved and to do things that they could not be persuaded to do in any other way Jean was a very little girl who had been left alone in the world She had never seen her father and her mother had died when she was only two and a half Some kind people had taken care of the little girl when her mother was ill and when she died they tried to find her relatives to ask what should be done with Jean but they could not find any trace of them When Jean was three these kind people wanted to go away for a couple of weeks They asked the lady to take care of the child while they were gone The lady was very glad to do this for she loved little children and so Jean came to stay in the big mansion with the lady, her husband and grown-up daughter The lady's husband did not like children very well and it always annoyed him whenever little Jean came near him She had a sunny disposition and a very sweet smile and she tried to make friends with the man but he would not pay any attention to her He always read his paper in the morning when he came home Little Jean would pee puppet at him under the paper with her sweetest smile He would lay the paper down and walk away but soon he would come back and pick it up and begin to read again and in a moment there little Jean would be peeping up at him again with her lovely smile One day when Jean had been living in the home about a week the man was reading his paper and she was peeping under it with her usual smile Suddenly he laid the paper aside and took her in his arms and asked her to keep from loving you You just love your way right into his heart Jean threw her small arms about his neck and laid her curly head on her shoulder saying in her pretty baby way Jean was a big man That completely won his heart and when the two weeks had passed and Jean's friends came after her he did not want to give her up so he decided to keep her and bring her up as if she had been his own little girl This also pleased his wife and grown-up daughter very much for they had loved little Jean Jean is grown now but she still has the same sunny disposition and the same sweet smile which make her beloved by all who know her Nothing but love could have won for her the beautiful home she has had all these years and to this day be loving is still helping her to win her way through life The greatest victories are always those that are won through love I know someone that I love so little Don thrown his arms around grandma's neck so do I said joy as she kissed grandma goodnight End of chapter 11 Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand July 2019 Chapter 12 of A Hive of Busy Bees This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand July 2019 A Hive of Busy Bees But if you may hence see Williams Chapter 12 be content and enjoy it early the next morning it sounds as if he would burst his throat sometimes his song is loud and then again he whistles softly like a canary as they listen the bird whistles shrilly like the cardinal then he trod like the canary and chirp like the sparrow he gave a call like the hen quails and sang a song exactly like the song of the bluebird then he twitted like a number of smaller birds sang the song of the robin and came back to the whistle of the cardinal Did he ever hear such a wonderful song? cried Joyce I could listen to him all day long I like to hear him sing in the daytime too love grandma but during the night I don't enjoy it so much Last spring the mockingbirds built their nest in the same tree where that little fella was singing now and such music all night long during the time when they were nesting it was beautiful but it kept me awake many an hour when I should have been sleeping Mockingbirds usually build their nest near houses to protect themselves from robbers Robbers? What kind exclaimed Don? Sometimes larger birds and sometimes cats or snakes you can always tell when a robber is about by the fuss the old birds make Last spring I heard a great commotion in that tree and I went out to see what was the trouble I looked about for quite a while before I discovered the nest and all the time the birds were dancing here and there and giving their sharp little crowds of distress when at last I found the nest I saw a big black snake crawling toward it I got the garden rake and pulled him loose from the lump and when he fell to the ground I culled the crawl safe Joyce stepped out into the yard to get a better look at the little songster as he set swing at the top of the old epitree just then he flew across the orchard and down to the creek alighting among the willows along the bank That afternoon the children went to the creek to see if there were any water lilies in bloom As they neared the clump of willows Don said let's be quiet and see if we can find the Mockingbird so they walked softly and talked and whispered but they did not catch a glimpse of the lovely songster Suddenly Don stopped and pointed to a big green frog sitting on a lily-pad in the middle of the creek Oh it exclaimed Joyce Instantly there was a splash and the frog was gone there were splashes all around as other frogs disappeared in the water The children hid behind the willows and waited quietly for some time Soon they saw a big green fellow swim toward the lily-pad and climb up on it Others began to swim about in the water and a number of them came out along the bank Suddenly Joyce caught sight of something else which made her forget the frogs just beyond the spot where the frog sat perched on a lily-pad Oh Don she whispered Do you think we can get it? I'd rather have the frog than the lily answered Don Yes but you can't get him you know said Joyce Will you help me to get to the lily? Don nodded and came out from behind the willows where he'd been crouching Instantly there was another splash and Mr Froggy was gone and in a moment there was not a frog to be seen anywhere To get the lily the children had to cross the creek and then step out on an old log so that they knew there was no danger of drowning even if they should fall into the water so Joyce steadied the log with her hands while Don stood on it and reached for the lily It took him some time to get it for it had a tough stem which was very hard to break but Joyce was so pleased when he handed her the beautiful lily that he felt repaid for all his trouble About three o'clock the children found some empty spools and went to the corner of the orchard and sat down on the cool shade of the lilac bush Soon they were blowing many coloured bubbles and flying them in the air Tebbie, Grandma's pretty maltese cat lay curled up in the shade One of Don's bubbles lit on her back and then burst by and by another lit on her nose and burst immediately The old cat jumped to her feet and began to sneeze then she sat down and washed her face with her pour as if to say, Thank you, I'd rather wash my face without any soap That evening, as they sat on the porch Joyce did a little sadly I will not be long now before we shall hear the noisy streetcars again instead of the Katy-Duds and Whupperwells One more night after this and we shall be home Yes, added Don, only two more stories about the bees He clambered up onto the arm of Grandma's rotten chair while Joyce sat down at her feet We ready for our story, Grandma? Said Don All right, answered Grandma I shall tell you this time about a little bee called Bee Content Its buzzers often heard among children at play when things happen that no one can help Some will not listen to it and so they complain and make everyone about them miserable Willie was a poor boy who lived on a farm Although he had to work hard helping his father he always went about whistling or singing His clothes were old and patched and he did not have things to play with as other boys have but he did not mind being poor because he had parents who loved him dearly One day, when Willie was working in the field he looked up and saw a great cloud of dust A team was running away the horses were hitched to a buggy and as they came rushing toward him the thought flashed into Willie's mind that he must try his best to stop them A short distance down the road deals a bridge If the horses should run into the railing they would tear the buggy to pieces and perhaps hurt themselves The boy let go of the fence and braced himself and as the horses came near he grabbed one by the bridle and held on tightly This was a very brave thing to do for if he had must catching hold he might have been thrown under the horse's hooves and trampled to death His weight swinging on the horse's bridle soon stopped the team Soon a man came running along the highway and when he learned what Willie had done Willie smiled his friendly smile as he answered I did not stop the horses for pay, sir I thought of the railing on the bridge and I was afraid the horses would break the buggy and hurt themselves Noticing that Willie's clothes were badly worn the gentleman said Will you not let me give you some money to buy clothes? I have a better pair of shoes than these and a better suit of clothes for Sundays answered Willie and these clothes are all right to work on But you will need some new books for school this fall said the gentleman The books that were given to me replied the lad and mother glued in the loose leaves so that I can use them very well, thank you Wouldn't you like to have a ball and bat? I made a ball from some old wool that mother gave me answered Willie and I whittled out a bat which answers the purpose very well The gentleman laid his hand on Willie's shoulder same kindly My boy, I understand now why you have that smile for you have learned a secret which few people know the secret of contentment I shall have to call you the contented boy who drove away A few days later a large box came to the village addressed to Willie the express agent sent word out to the farm and Willie's father drove into the village to get it When Willie opened the box he found a large card lying on top on which were written the words to the contented boy from a grateful friend and debtor he knew then that the box had come from the man whose team he had stopped a few days before it contained a new suit of clothes some shirts, overall stockings, a warm cap and mittens a new baseball and bat When he lifted out the overcoat he fell in the pockets and discovered a five dollar bowl How pleased Willie was as he went back to his work in the field he whistled more cheerily than before But that was not all At Christmas time a wonderful bicycle came from his new friend You'll believe me when I tell you that he was the happiest boy in the country That's the best story you have told us yet said Don I think Willie was a brave boy and he deserved everything he got but he had learned the secret of being content with a very little End of chapter 12 Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand July 2019 Chapter 13 of A Hive of Busy Bees This is a LibraVox recording All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org Recording by Rosa Grace Auckland, New Zealand July 2019 A Hive of Busy Bees Chapter 13, Be Prayerful Another morning came The morning of the last day Joyce and Don were to spend on the farm They followed Grandma about the house eager to do something to help After the usual work was done and they had taken turns at the churning Grandma said she would make cookies to pack in the lunch basket the next day So she gathered together eggs, sugar, flour, milk butter, baking powder and spices Quickly she made the dough and rolled it out on the board and cut out the dough in different shapes She made quite an army of cooking men and after they were baked she covered them with icing She made the rise out of cinnamon dropped also the buttons down their vests Aren't they lovely, cried Joyce put plenty of them in our lunch basket tomorrow won't you Grandma then we can take some home to Mother and Daddy Yes said Grandma and there will be enough for your little friends too In the afternoon the children's trunk was brought out and Grandma helped them to pack There were so many things they wanted to take home with them that this was quite a task At the last moment just as Grandma was ready to close the trunk Don ran and got the cake that Grandpa had made Maybe Daddy would know how to make it fly he said but there was no room for it in the trunk so he had to take it back to the woodshed I can put it away in a safe place he said or we'll be waiting for us when we come back next summer That evening the children did all they could to help Grandpa with the chores They gathered the eggs, pumped water, fold the wood box and did many other things We found little helpers said Grandpa when they had finished When you get home at Grandma with a smile you must tell Mother and Daddy that we need you to help us on the farm We will promise the children with beaming faces When they had gathered on the porch for their last evening together Joy stole up to Grandma's chair and said softly Tonight you must tell us the very best bee story that you know It couldn't be better than the one about bee contents said Don I shall tell you about the bee Grandma thoughtfully It does wonderful things for those who listen to what's buzz that those who refuse to listen are sure to be sorry afterward It is called bee prayerful The children were eager to hear the story so Grandma began at once William Sutherland was a boy who lived in the state of Maryland When he was 13 years old he gave his heart to God and became a Christian After that he would often steal away alone and spend a few minutes talking to God When he was 14, Willie began to work as a woman boy The banker soon found that he was honest and trusted him with large sums of money One of his errands was to carry the payroll to a mill town several miles away He made this trip every two weeks and he always set out in the afternoon and returned the following morning There were no automobiles in those days and no good roads William had to ride a pony leaving the main highway and riding over a trail that had been blazed through the forest As he started out one afternoon he carried so much money over that lonely trail Oh, there was no reason to worry mother replied the lad chiefly as he swung into the saddle You know I have always made the trip safely before Yes, replied the good woman but I feel fearful today I shall be praying for you while you are on your way William waved to her as he turned his pony about and started on his journey He had placed the payroll in his saddlebags and as he looked at them he said to himself How glad I am that my master trust me I have no money He whistled and sang as he rode along but as he neared the lonely forest trail a strange feeling of fear came over him He reigned in his pony and sat still for some time wondering just what he ought to do Then B Prefal began to buzz about his ears He had heard its little voice many times before and he had learned always to listen and obey He rode on to the spot where he must leave the highway and sit out upon the forest trail and then he slept from the saddle and out down beside the bushes growing there I don't know why but I feel very much afraid Take care of me as I ride through this lonely place I believe you will because you have written in your book I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And as William knelt there alone with God all feeling of fear melted away He rose, mounted his pony and rode on with a light heart The mill men knew he was coming for they could hear his cheerful whistle before his pony came into view He gave the payroll to the foreman spent the night in the little town and the next forenoon returned safely to his home His mother met him at the door Son, she said, something peculiar happened to me yesterday while you were away I was very busy but a little boy seemed to tell me that I ought to stop my work and pray for you I felt that you were in danger and that I should ask God to keep you safe So I laid my work aside, went into my room and knelt down and stayed there until I was sure that you were quite safe Then William told her how he had felt just before he reached the lonely forest trail and how he had knelt down among the bushes and asked God to protect him After that they often talked about the strange happening and wondered what it could mean William worked in the bank for quite a long while and then he went away to college After he had graduated, he became a minister Soon after this, God called away his good mother to her home in Heaven One day, William received a letter stamped with a postmark of a town in a distant state I am very ill, said the writer and the doctor says I shall never recover I must see you as I have something very important to tell you before I am called away to meet my God Please come to me as quickly as possible There was no name written at the end of the letter or was signed a friend William turned the letter over and over in his hand He knew no one in that far away place and for a time he was very much puzzled Then he did as he had been in the habit of doing for many years He slipped away to spend a few moments alone with God and a voice in his heart kept saying Go, someone is in need and your work is to minister to every soul who asked for help But whom shall I ask for When I arrive, asked William stole perplexed and the voice answered, only go God will take care of the rest Hasterly packing a few things in his travelling bag William boarded a train and started for the town in the far distant state Arriving at the end of his journey he stepped out upon the station platform He was astonished when a gentleman came up to him and said courteously Is this Reverend Sutherland Yes, replied the minister, I am he I have been sent to meet you with a stranger, I have met you during the past week, will you come with me A few minutes later he led the minister into a darkened room where a sick man lay As they tiptoed into the room he looked up eagerly and his breath came fast, holding out his hand he asked in a fever voice, is this Reverend Sutherland It is said the minister gently clasping with thin white hand We have met you before my friend and what can I do for you now You have never met me before said the sick man and his voice sang to a whisper I saw you only once and that was many years ago but I have kept track of your whereabouts all these years I have sent for you now, sir, because I am dying The sick man sank back upon his pillows and vested a moment, then fixing his large eyes on the minister's face he went on Mr Sutherland, one afternoon many years ago you were entrusted with a large sum of money to take to the foreman of a certain mole In a wild and lonely spot you slipped from your saddle and knocked down by some bushes and asked God to protect you Do you remember it? As if it had been yesterday, said the minister But my good friend, what do you know about it? Far more than you do, said the sick man sadly I heard that prayer I was crouching among the bushes nearby with my rifle pointed at your heart I had planned to kill you, take the money and ride away in your pony but while you were praying something passed between us I did not know what it was but I believed that God had sent it to protect you and sent those bushes too weak to pull the trigger and watched you ride away perfectly helpless to do any harm to you but it has haunted me ever since the thought of what I wanted to do and what I should have done if God had not answered your prayer I could not meet God without telling you all this Can you forgive me? Again, William grasped the hand of the dying man saying in a husky voice My friend, as God has forgiven my sins I freely forgive you ask now for God's forgiveness and be at peace The minister stayed with the man for some time talking and praying with him until at last the light shone in his dark soul and God forgave his sins He died soon after that and William Sutherland was asked to preach his funeral sermon He chose as his text those words from the Book of Proverbs Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lead not unto thine own understanding In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths The children sat very still for some time after Grandma had finished her story I think be prayerful is the best of all said Joyce at last I shall remember that story as long as I love I hope you will do, you said Grandma no matter where you go, no matter how busy you are always listen to the gentle buzz of be prayerful We will, Grandma see the children sobly And now, said Grandma, it is bedtime for two little folks who will have to be up bright and early in the morning You know the train leaves at eight o'clock Good night, Cateydids and Whippewalls We shall come back to hear you sing again next summer With that two tired children crept upstairs and tumbled onto bed and very soon they were in the land of dreams End of Chapter 13 Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand July 2019 Chapter 14 of A Hive of Busy Bees This is a LibraVox recording All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand October 2019 A Hive of Busy Bees But if you may hint see Williams Chapter 14 Home Again The sunlight was streaming in at their bedroom windows when Joyce and Donna woke the next morning They dressed quickly and ran down to watch Grandma pat their lunch for the trip home At the breakfast table they talked of all the nice times they had had during the past few weeks and they promised to persuade mother and daddy to come with them to the farm next summer When everything was ready Grandpa lifted the little trunk to his shoulder and carried it out to the car and soon they were on their way When they reached the station Grandpa bought the tickets, checked the little trunk and gave the children a story book to read on the train Dear Grandpa and Grandma they always knew just what to do to make the children happy As the train whistled in the distance Don caught Grandpa's hand and held it tight Joyce threw her arms around Grandma and whispered Dear Grandma I love you The train pulled up and the conductor called All aboard! After Grandpa had helped them on to the train and had gone back to the station platform the children waved and threw kisses through the window As the train moved away they pressed their faces to the window and watched Grandpa and Grandma as long as they could But they soon were left behind the train moved faster and the little village passed out of sight Happy vacation days on the farm had come to an end For a few moments the children had to fight to keep back the tears Then Joyce opened the book that Grandpa had given them and soon their loneliness was forgotten There was a story about a little lame dog that came to a man's house one cold winter night and whined about the door He let it in, bound up its foot and gave it some food in a comfortable place to sleep The man liked the dog so well that he decided to keep it One night when everyone was asleep the house caught fire and the dog awakened the man in time to save the whole family from burning to death There were stories about cows and horses and a long long one about the interesting animals to be seen at the zoo One story was so funny that when Don read it he burst out laughing and the other passengers looked at him and smiled It was about a mischievous monkey at the zoo One day a gentleman who wore a wig came by carrying his hat in his hand The monkey reached through the bars and caught hold of the wig, pulling it off his head When it was time for lunch Joyce opened the basket that Grandma had packed for them They spread out a napkin on the seat in front of them The lunch of this table in the most grown up fashion Grandma had tucked in several surprises and how good the cookie men tasted In the middle of the afternoon they began to pass through the suburbs of the city and soon familiar sights came into view When the train backed into the station there stood Mother and Daddy waiting for them Oh Mother cried Joyce with a bear hug I've had a good time but I'm so glad to see you again Don, big boy that he was had jumped into Daddy's arms Soon the little trunk had been placed in the car and they were driving toward home What did you enjoy most of all during your vacation, Ask Mother as they were eating supper that evening Frischung replied Don quickly Joyce did not answer, she sat quite still with a far away look on her eyes And what did my little girl like best of all, Ask Mother at last Oh Mother said Joyce her eyes shining I was happy every minute even when the old turkey gobbler was chasing me around the train But what I liked best was to sit out on the porch in the evenings and listen to the casey-dids and whipper-wills and watch the stars come out one by one and then it was so nice to sit close to Grandma's old rockin' chair End of chapter 14 Recording by Rosa Grace, Auckland, New Zealand October 2019 End of A Hive of Busy Bees by Effie Mae Hentsey-Williams