There was once a painter whose name was Zeuxis. [Footnote: Zeuxis (_pro_. zuke'sis).] He could paint pictures so life-like that they were mistaken for the real things which they represented. At one time he painted the picture of some fruit which was so real that the birds flew down and pecked at it. This made him very proud of his skill. "I am the only man in the world who can paint a picture so true to life," he said. There was another famous artist whose name was Parrhasius. [Footnote: Parrhasius (_pro_. pa ra'shl us).] When he heard of the boast which Zeuxis had made, he said to himself, "I will see what I can do." So he painted a beautiful picture which seemed to be covered with a curtain. Then he invited Zeuxis to come and see it. Zeuxis looked at it closely. "Draw the curtain aside and show us the picture," he said. Parrhasius laughed and answered, "The curtain is the picture." "Well," said Zeuxis, "you have beaten me this time, and I shall boast no more. I deceived only the birds, but you have deceived me, a painter." Some time after this, Zeuxis painted another wonderful picture. It was that of a boy carrying a basket of ripe red cherries. When he hung this painting outside of his door, some birds flew down and tried to carry the cherries away. "Ah! this picture is a failure," he said. "For if the boy had been as well painted as the cherries, the birds would have been afraid to come near him." THE KING AND THE BEES One day King Solomon was sitting on his throne, and his great men were standing around him. Suddenly the door was thrown open and the Queen of Sheba came in. "O King," she said, "in my own country, far, far away, I have heard much about your power and glory, but much more about your wisdom. Men have told me that there is no riddle so cunning that you can not solve it. Is this true?" [Illustration] "It is as you say, O Queen," answered Solomon. "Well, I have here a puzzle which I think will test your wisdom. Shall I show it to you?" "Most certainly, O Queen." Then she held up in each hand a beautiful wreath of flowers. The wreaths were so nearly alike that none of those who were with the king could point out any difference. "One of these wreaths." said the queen, "is made of flowers plucked from your garden. The other is made of artificial flowers, shaped and colored by a skillful artist. Now, tell me, O King, which is the true, and which is the false?" The king, for once, was puzzled. He stroked his chin. He looked at the wreaths from every side. He frowned. He bit his lips. "Which is the true?" the queen again asked. Still the king did not answer. "I have heard that you are the wisest man in the world," she said, "and surely this simple thing ought not to puzzle you." The king moved uneasily on his golden throne. His officers and great men shook their heads. Some would have smiled, if they had dared. "Look at the flowers carefully," said the queen, "and let us have your answer."