192 Lom Seven Vears Old.

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know, the bees themselves are rather smaller
than I am.”

A great number seemed to live together,
for they came crowding out of the little hive-
\loors, buzzing as loud as they could.

“ How busy they seem, every one of them,”
said Tom.

“Yes,” said the old gentleman; “when
[ feel lazy or idle, I always go as far from
the hives as possible, in case they should see
me. They never allow anyone to be idle
inside the hive. But I do believe they would
be too hard at work, when they got outside,
even to notice I was doing nothing.”

“T like bees,’ said Archie. ‘“ Tom likes
tadpoles and lizards, but I like bees best.”

“But you can’t take them up in your hands
like tadpoles,” said Tom. His love for tad-
poles had become deeper ever since the time
Archie and he had carried some home in his
tin can, and kept them in his bath. “ Besides,
tadpoles don’t sting.”

‘“ Bees won't sting either, unless you tease

them,” said the old gentleman.