"Oh, I know where there is nectar Fit for Jupiter or Hector; 'Tis a sweet no bee has ever tried to put into his comb. 'Tis a sweet I say of which, sir, In the mansions of the rich, sir, Or the poorest is the sweetest of the sweets of any home. "Tis the nectar of the kisses Of the babies--learn what bliss is!-- Gather that and put it into all the honey that you can, And you'll find e'en the Immortals Thronging daily at your portals With rich jewels for the product that will follow from my plan." [Illustration] There was a long silence when the Trade Secretary had finished reading the poet's suggestion. The Queen wiped her eyes. She was manifestly touched by the sentiment of the poet's little verse. Finally the Lord High Treasurer spoke. "I'm not much of a judge of poetry," he said, "so I won't say much about the verse, except that I don't think he ought to have lugged Hector in just for the sake of a rhyme; but I do think it is a beautiful idea. I kissed a baby once in a country garden, and it was so fearfully sweet that all the flowers tasted like lemons for months afterwards." "I have had the same experience," said the Queen, softly. "Me too!" said the Trade Secretary. "The plan is a fine one." "But is it finer than the other one?" asked the Queen. "I, as a mother, think it is." "I, as a business bee, think not," said the Lord High Treasurer. "Well, I, as a business bee and a father, can't make up my mind," sighed the Trade Secretary. "It's very unfortunate. One ought to be better than the other, but I can't decide which is the one." "They can't both have my eldest daughter's hand," sighed the Queen. "No," said the Lord High Treasurer, with a dubious shake of his head. "True," ejaculated the Trade Secretary; and then he gave a loud buzz of triumph. "Why didn't we think of it before?" he cried. "Of what?" asked the Queen, eagerly. "Your eldest daughter is twins," cried the Trade Secretary. "One can have one twin and the other the other." "So they are!" said the Queen, joyously. "I had forgotten that. Their hands shall be awarded as you suggest." And so it was decided; and on Christmas morning the announcement was made. To one bee one daughter was affianced, and to the other the other, and all were satisfied; and on New-Year's day, a week later, they were all four married, and lived happily ever after. The little bee stopped here and looked at me. "That's a very nice little tale," said I, smiling upon my friend the bee. "Thank you," said he. "If you like it you can have it all for your own." "It is very good of you," I replied. "But can't you use it?"