BRAMPTON-AMONG-THE-ROSES.
 and at the close of spring, I have only to creep
 out of the hive, fly over the garden-hedge, and
 alight in the first field I come to, and there I am
 sure to find plenty of flowers that yield honey, and
 I could get a load and have a bit of a nap in the clover
 flowers, and be back so soon that she would say, Well
 done, you are a good bee, and have been so quick, we
 shall soon have our combs full of honey, if you work
 like that.' And now, when I go back, if she-speaks
 to me it is only to say, as she watches me empty it out,
 Humph, is that all, after having been out so long ? I
 mustn't lay so many eggs if you can't do better than
 that, for fear there shouldn't be honey enough for the
 young bees to eat.' And it isn't very pleasant to be
 grumbled at like that when you do your best; and if
 she keeps going on in that way, the next time a swarm
 leaves the hive I'll join it, and try to find a fresh
 Queen." Now, I don't think that Queen Bee would
 grumble at him if he went about his work with more of
 a good-will, instead of murmuring as he does, for
 she has sharp ears, and if she can't hear all he says
 some of her servants can, and they are sure to tell her,
 if it only be in the hope of getting into her favour;; and
 though she hates all tale-bearers, she is forced to
 listen to all that is going on, like other Queens.
 And so she would continue talking and letting her
 imagination run loose, that listening to her at times
 was like reading an entertaining fairy tale, which is
 often both instructive and amusing. She would fancy
 if some of the rose-trees had voices they would cry for
 help as they grow weaker every year, and say, "If I
 have not some assistance I shall soon be too weak even
 to send out a sucker as a signal that I want help. This
 couch binds up my roots underground as much as the
grass above does my lower branches; and see how