"But grubs my friend! your bees are sure to breed," "Swarms come from grubs, as corn crops come from seed." "Grubs you must have; and when your swarming's done," "Two hives you'll find, where erst you had but one." "Bother the grubs; I know a better way," "My patent monster hives, they are the things to pay." [Illustration] Fytte VI. The Bear. [Illustration] Eugene would often take his lunch, Of dry black bread a monstrous hunch, Into a wood--ere he got through it He wished he'd some nice honey to it-- When all at once it chanced a bee He saw creep up a hollow tree; Another came, then two, and three. "Hurrah! there's honey here for me," Eugene exclaimed, "No more I'll eat This nasty bread, but have a treat."-- [Illustration] "Honey for ever!" up he clomb To the trees fork--the honey comb He saw below him in the beech Hollowed by age, beyond his reach-- [Illustration] His hold he missed and sad to tell Down midst the honey combs he fell; [Illustration] Into the cakes his boots went crush, As though it were mere muddy slush. [Illustration] Honey he found but every school-boy knows He cannot eat his sweetmeats with his clothes. [Illustration] Another Bee Hunter that way One Mister Bruin chanced to stray; A dancing Bear by trade was he, But fond of honey--certainly! [Illustration] "If I smell right here's honey comb"; He said, or thought; then upwards clomb. [Illustration] Eugene below, half dead with fear, Saw the bears hinder's drawing near, [Illustration] With both hands gripped him tight and had a [Illustration] Mount upwards by this living ladder; Sure never little lad was gladder. [Illustration] Meanwhile John Dull, a spying round, The self same honey tree had found; [Illustration] Up to the fork himself he reared When Bruin's ugly mug appeared. Augh, back he fell through utter fright; Close to his tail did Braun alight; And by Braun's heels Braun's parasite. [Illustration] Braun seized John Dull with either claw, Just as himself was seized before; [Illustration] John pulling out his hunting knife Cut off his tail to save his life; [Illustration] Sam Dutton here did interveen, "To shoot that grizzly bear I mean"! But Braun was nowhere to be seen. [Illustration] Early next morn came sawyers two, And sawed the Honey tree right through; [Illustration] There stuck the boots of young Eugene; [Illustration] He drew them out, and licked them clean; Such blacking ne'er before was seen! While John Dull, from the luscious store, Filled twenty honey pots or more. Fytte VII. The Frog. [Illustration] "The appetite with eating grows"-- This truth my little story shows. For many a day the rogue Eugene To John Dull's bee-hives creeps unseen; Smokes them,--Puff!--Puff!--then boldly takes The much desired honey cakes. [Illustration]