The Tale of Buster Bumblebee Read online

  Buster Bumblebee was quite discouraged. And since he didn't know what todo, he asked Mr. Crow what he would suggest.

  "Why don't you set back the hands of the family clock?" the old gentlemanasked. "If you make the clock three or four hours slow the trumpeterwon't trumpet until six or seven or eight o'clock. And I'm sure that'slate enough for anybody to get up."

  Buster shook his head mournfully.

  "We haven't any clock at our house," he explained.

  "Then----" said old Mr. Crow, "then, if you want more sleep why don't yougo to bed earlier? If you went to bed three or four hours before sunsetyou wouldn't mind getting up at dawn."

  "Hurrah!" Buster shouted. "That's just what I'll do! And I'm certainlymuch obliged to you, Mr. Crow, for helping me."

  "Don't mention it," said the old gentleman, looking greatly pleased withhimself.

  "I won't tell anybody," Buster promised.

  "Oh, I didn't mean that, exactly," Mr. Crow told him hastily. "If youwant to inform your friends how clever I am, I have no objection, ofcourse."

  Then Buster went off, thinking what a kind person old Mr. Crow was. Andthat very afternoon, long before sunset, he curled himself up in anout-of-the-way corner of the house and went to sleep. Everybody was sobusy hurrying in and out in order to finish the day's work that no onenoticed or disturbed him. And when the trumpeter sounded the rising callthe next morning Buster Bumblebee was actually the first one in the houseto open his eyes and jump up and hasten out to get his breakfast.

  All of which only went to prove that old Mr. Crow knew a thing ortwo--and maybe even more.

  VI

  JOHNNIE GREEN IS STUNG

  There had been so much rain early in the summer that even by the middleof August Farmer Green had not been able to finish his haying. His sonJohnnie was sorry, too--because he had to work in the hot hayfield almostevery day, when he would far rather have gone swimming in the mill-pond,under the shade of the great willow.

  Sometimes Johnnie rode on the hayrake. And since he liked to drive theold horse Ebenezer, he didn't object to that part of his duties so much.What he hated most was pitching hay with a pitchfork. And next to that,he disliked going to the spring for a jugful of water.

  But those unpleasant tasks were nothing at all compared with whathappened to him one day when he stepped squarely upon the doorway of theBumblebee family's house.

  Johnnie's carelessness made the workers angry at once. And several ofthem rushed out and stung Johnnie Green severely.

  Then _he_ was angry. And he declared he would "fix them"--as soon as hecould think of a good way to do it.

  And that very afternoon, while he was bringing the heavy jug from thespring, Johnnie Green thought of a fine plan for punishing the Bumblebeefamily. He liked his plan so well that he could hardly wait to try it;and he went back to the hayfield almost at a run, whereas he usuallysauntered along so slowly that his father often had to speak to himsomewhat sharply.

  But this time Farmer Green could not complain. Johnnie even brought thejug--and the tin cup too--to the knoll in the meadow where his father andthe hired man were working. And then Farmer Green said:

  "How are your stings now?"

  "Awful!" Johnnie informed him hopefully.

  "Maybe you'd like to stop work for the rest of the day and go swimming,"said Farmer Green, with a wink at the hired man, "unless you're feelingtoo miserable," he added.

  "Oh, yes! Oh, no!" cried Johnnie. "My stings aren't too bad for that!"And he started off at once across the field, taking the jug with him.

  "I'll leave the jug among the brakes in the fence-corner," he called, ashe trotted away.

  Now, Johnnie Green took the jug with him because he needed it. It waspart of his plan for punishing the Bumblebee family. And instead of goingstraight to the fence-corner, Johnnie made at once for the Bumblebeefamily's front door. As soon as he reached it he poured some of the waterout of the jug--but not all of it. Then he put his ear to the jug's mouthand listened. And he smiled happily--in spite of his stings--as he heardthe roar from inside it.

  Buster Bumblebee, hurrying home to go to bed--for he was still followingMr. Crow's plan--Buster noticed Johnnie and wondered what he was doing.But as soon as he went inside the house he forgot all about JohnnieGreen. And when, a few moments later, there was a terrible sound ofscraping and scratching in the long hall that led to the innermost partof the house, Buster Bumblebee never once thought to mention to anyonethat he had seen Johnnie in the dooryard.

  VII

  A JUGFUL OF BUMBLEBEES

  When the workers--as well as Buster Bumblebee--heard the raking, scrapingsound in the hall of their house they all stopped what they were doingand shrilled "An enemy!" And with one accord they rushed for the frontdoor. They were terribly angry.

  Not wishing to miss anything that was going to happen, Buster joined themob and went sailing out into the open meadow. And there, quite close tothe door, stood the queer object that Buster had noticed together withJohnnie Green only a minute before. He wondered now what that strangething was; for Buster Bumblebee did not know a jug when he saw one. Andneither did the workers, nor any other member of the Bumblebee family.

  "That's the enemy!" cried Buster suddenly, pointing to the jug. "It wastalking out of its mouth right into Johnnie Green's ear when I camehome."

  Sounding a dreadful battle cry, all the workers turned upon the jug andbuzzed so near it that they couldn't help hearing the same roaring frominside it to which Johnnie Green had listened with so much pleasure.

  "Buster's almost right!" several of the workers shouted. "The enemy hashidden inside this thing. And we'll have to go in and sting him."

  At that the workers began to pop into the jug, which Johnnie Green hadthoughtfully left uncorked. And Buster Bumblebee, still eager to seeeverything, hastened to plunge inside the dim jug along with the rest.

  It was soon not a dim but a dark jug. For the moment the last angryBumblebee had disappeared inside it Johnnie Green stole quickly up frombehind a haycock and slipped the cork into the mouth of the jug.

  Johnnie's face wore a grin of joy. Perhaps he did not stop to realizethat he was breaking up a happy home.

  "I've got 'em!" he shouted aloud. And then he shook the jug vigorously,listening with delight to the sound of the splashing water within. Soonhe set the jug behind the sheltering haycock and sat down beside it tomake further plans. It was Johnnie's intention then to drown everythingon the farm that carried a sting--wasps, hornets, honey bees. He was notquite sure about mosquitoes, for he thought they might be hard to capturein great numbers.

  Since he was intending to go swimming, he did not care to waste much moreof the afternoon by staying in the meadow. So he proceeded to empty thejug.

  It certainly _looked_ as if the Bumblebee family had met with illfortune. Several dozen workers--and Buster, too--lay limp andwater-soaked upon the ground, when Johnnie Green hurried away to thespring to get more water for his father and the hired man, before he wentto the mill-pond.

  But it was not long before the half-drowned Buster and his companionsbegan to stir slightly. Gradually the sun dried their wings and warmedtheir chilled bodies. And one by one they picked themselves up andscurried into their house.

  They never knew exactly what had happened. But the workers agreed uponone point. They decided that somehow the whole trouble had been Buster'sfault--though they couldn't explain in just what way.

  Anyhow, after that the workers looked on Buster with more disfavor thanever. They were forever remarking how lazy and stupid he was. And eventhe trumpeter was heard to declare that she was ashamed of him--though he_was_ her own brother.

  VIII

  BUSTER THE BOASTER

  As far back as Buster Bumblebee could remember, he had heard about theRobber Fly. Even the fiercest fighters among the workers spoke his namewith great awe. And from everything Buster could learn, his family hadgood reason to fear that dreadful enemy.

  When Buster first left the ho
use to make excursions to the flower gardenand the clover field he had felt quite uneasy. He half-expected that theRobber Fly would pop out from behind a blossom at any moment and pounceupon him. For the Robber Fly was a bold, bad villain. And those that wereso unfortunate as to find themselves caught by him and held fast in hislong, spiny feet had only a very slight chance of getting away from him.

  No one of the Bumblebee family knew where the Robber Fly lived. But itwas said that he often lurked on the ground, watching for victims. Andwhen he spied one he would fly quickly up with a loud buzz and dart uponthe unfortunate.

  He had big, keen eyes which enabled him to see very clearly. And he hadlong, narrow wings which bore him through the air with great swiftness.And he had--worst of all--a sharp, piercing beak which was most frightfulto gaze upon.

  Now, in spite of his name the Robber Fly looked like no fly that was everseen in Pleasant Valley. Strange as it may seem, in spite of his cruelbeak, his long wings, and his spiny feet, he looked not a little as if hemight have been a near relation of Buster Bumblebee. Of course, anymember of the Bumblebee family would have known at a glance that he wasnot one of them. But probably Johnnie Green--if he had noticed him--wouldhave thought the Robber Fly some sort of bumblebee.

  Since this monster was known to appear now and then in the neighborhood,one can easily understand why Buster Bumblebee was a bit timid when hefirst began to venture abroad alone. But as time passed, his dread ofmeeting the Robber Fly gradually faded. Not only had nobody seen theRobber for a long while, but some began to say that they thought he musthave met with an accident, or perhaps he had moved to other parts, andthey didn't believe he would ever be heard of again. And Buster himselfbegan to boast that he wasn't afraid of the Robber Fly and said that hewas sorry that the Robber had gone away before he had had a chance to seehim.

  Buster's mother, the Queen, happened to hear her son make that remark oneday. And she promptly told him that he was a stupid, silly boaster.

  "If you knew what happened to your poor father last fall you would neverwant even to hear the Robber Fly's name mentioned again," the Queendeclared, as a shiver--or a shudder--or both--passed up and down herroyal back.

  But Buster Bumblebee, being very young and somewhat stupid as well, said"Oh, nonsense!" under his breath, so low that his mother, the Queen,could not hear him.

  IX

  THE ROBBER FLY AT LAST

  Though Buster's mother, the Queen, did not hear him when he said "Oh,nonsense!" under his breath, there were others standing near him thatcaught the words. And they were quite indignant that anybody should scoffat the Queen like that.

  They were workers--those that overheard Buster Bumblebee's remark whenhis mother as much as told him that he had better beware of the wickedRobber Fly. They were workers; and they did not approve of the lazyBuster.

  "Let's teach that young loafer a lesson!" they said to one another (therewere three of them). And straightway they began to scheme and plan howthey should give Buster Bumblebee a thorough fright, in the hope ofmaking him more respectful to his mother, the Queen.

  At least, that is what the workers said. But, as a matter of fact, eachof them had reasons of her own for wanting to scare Buster. Indeed, therewasn't a worker in the house that was not disgusted with his laziness.And if he hadn't been the son of the Queen they would certainly havedriven him out into the wide world long before.

  Of course, Buster had no idea of what was afoot. He continued to telleverybody how sorry he was that he had never met the Robber Fly, until afew began to believe that he must be very brave indeed. But they werethose that didn't know him well. As for the workers, there wasn't one inthe Bumblebee household that was deceived by Buster's bold talk. They allknew him for the coward he was.

  Well, the very next day after Buster's impertinence to his mother aworker called Peevish Peggy stopped and spoke to him as he sat on aclover-head.

  "If I were you I wouldn't come near the clover patch," she said. "Youknow the Robber Fly often prowls about on the ground. And it would beeasy for him to catch you on a clover-top, you're so fat and clumsy....Why don't you dine on the hollyhocks in the flower garden? They are high,and much safer."

  Buster Bumblebee seemed greatly amused.

  "Ho, ho!" he laughed--as well as "Ha, ha!" And then he said: "It seems tome that you are the one that ought to buzz around the hollyhocks, sinceyou are so nervous about the Robber Fly."

  The worker, Peevish Peggy, at once flew into a temper.

  "You'd better look out!" she warned Buster. "Once the Robber Fly pounceson you you'll be so frightened you can't even squirm."

  "Oh, nonsense!" said Buster.

  The quick-tempered worker, Peevish Peggy, looked slyly over her shoulderand nodded slightly.

  Buster did not see the form that crept nearer and nearer to him, a littlelater. And he was still chuckling to himself when he heard a terriblehumming. Then all at once he felt himself seized and held in a grip likeiron.

  He was sure that the Robber Fly had him at last. And he was toofrightened for anything.

  X

  BUSTER MAKES A SPEECH

  At first, when he found himself in the grip of what he was sure must bethe Robber Fly, Buster Bumblebee was so alarmed that he could not evenscream. But in a moment or two he found his voice. And he shrieked "Help!Help!" in a most frantic tone, hoping that some one would come and savehim.

  But nobody came. And Buster expected every instant to feel the cruel beakof the Robber Fly, when there was a sudden commotion behind his back.Somebody else cried out now. And Buster knew the voice, too. Yes! Busterwas sure that Peevish Peggy had come to help him. But there was one thingthat puzzled him. Peevish Peggy seemed to be fully as frightened asBuster himself. At least, her cries sounded as if she were in greatterror.

  Probably she's afraid the Robber Fly has hurt me, Buster thought. And hereflected that in spite of her sharp tongue Peevish Peggy was morekind-hearted than he had ever dreamed.

  The next instant Buster felt himself suddenly released. At the same timesomething swept him off the clover-top; and he barely managed to savehimself from a bad fall.

  Somewhere he could hear a loud buzz, as of several angry voices. But hedid not care to show himself enough to find out what was happening. Forthe time being he was content to stay snugly hidden among the thickclover leaves.

  Buster Shouted For Everybody to Keep Quiet. (_Page 48_)]

  After a while the uproar ceased. But even then Buster Bumblebee was in nohurry to leave his shelter.

  When he did at last reach home he found the whole family much upset.Everybody was talking at once. And in a household of more than twohundred that meant that the noise was almost deafening.

  Naturally, Buster Bumblebee wanted to know what was the matter. It was along time, however, before anyone would--or could--listen to him. But atlast he succeeded in getting the ear of the trumpeter.

  "Haven't you heard the news?" she asked. "The Robber Fly came to theclover patch to-day. And Peevish Peggy had a very narrow escape. If ithadn't been for several other workers who happened to be gathering clovernectar nearby, there's no telling where she would be now."

  "Where is she?" Buster inquired.

  "Resting in bed," the trumpeter explained. (Even Buster wondered how shecould rest with all that racket in the house!) "She's had a bad fright,poor thing!" the trumpeter added.

  Buster Bumblebee suddenly grew much excited. And he climbed up on a tableand shouted for everybody to be quiet.

  "I don't believe you know about me!" he cried, as soon as the house wasstill. "The Robber Fly attacked me. But _I_ don't need to go to bed. I'mnot the least bit nervous."

  Several of the family near him began to titter.

  And the Queen herself stepped forward and commanded Buster to hop downfrom the table at once.

  He obeyed promptly. But he was quite puzzled. No one seemed to believewhat he said. And it was a long time before he learned what had actuallyhappened. At last a spiteful worker i
nformed him that he had never beenin the clutches of the Robber Fly at all. Peevish Peggy and some of hercompanions had played a trick on Buster--because of his boasting. She hadseized him when he wasn't looking. And he had screamed so loud that theRobber Fly--who happened to be near--had heard him.

  Then the Robber Fly had rushed up and seized Peevish Peggy, who hadpromptly let go of Buster Bumblebee.

  The worker who told these things to Buster Bumblebee actually laughed inhis face. And Buster was so surprised--and so crestfallen--that hecouldn't say a word for a long time.

  And never again did Buster mention the Robber Fly's name.

  XI

  THE DRONE

  Yes! Buster Bumblebee was a drone. He never gathered any nectar from theflowers and brought it home to help swell the family store of honey. Helet the workers of the household do that. And since they nevercomplained, but seemed to enjoy their drudgery, Buster saw no reason whyhe should interfere with the honey-making in any way.

  He was content to live a life of ease and pleasure. And never having tobestir himself--never having to hurry or worry--he quickly grew into asomewhat clumsy and blundering young gentleman. And what was still worse,this handsome young idler soon gained the name of being none tookeen-witted. _Good-natured, but a bit stupid_--that was what the fieldand forest folk called Buster Bumblebee.

  But bless you! _He_ never bothered his head with what people said. Whenanybody called him a drone he would only laugh. And when some busybodyasked him for pity's sake why didn't he go to work, he would merely grinand reply that he was a queen's son and that queens' sons never didanything except eat a plenty and have a good time.