The Tale of Buster Bumblebee Read online

  Well, that must have been an excellent answer, for it seemed to keeppeople quiet. And it made some think that perhaps Buster Bumblebee wasnot quite so dull as he often appeared.

  Once, indeed, he had thought it would be fun to help with thehoney-making. So he stopped one of the workers when she was on her wayhome with a load of nectar.

  "Let me help you carry that home!" Buster said.

  Now, the workers were all a shrewish lot. They were terriblyshort-tempered--especially if anybody interfered with their work, whichthey loved better than anything else in the world.

  "Don't you come near me!" snapped the worker angrily. "Keep away or I'llsting you!" she threatened.

  Naturally, a happy, easy-going person like Buster Bumblebee wasn'tlooking for trouble of that sort. So he dodged clumsily out of sightbehind a milkweed; and he made up his mind then that that was the lasttime he would ever have anything to do with one of those testyhoney-makers.

  Of course it was a bit difficult to avoid them entirely in a family oftwo hundred or more, all living together in a medium-sized house. And soBuster Bumblebee decided at last that he would be far happier in someplace that was not so crowded, and where there was no work going on--andno workers.

  And so, one fine August day, Buster left the family home, never to setfoot inside it again. But he often passed that way and lingered justoutside the door, to listen to the music and the sound of dancing within.

  That was the thing that he missed most; for, like all his family, he wasfond of music. And he was forever humming to himself as he sipped nectarfrom the clover-tops or the flowers in Farmer Green's garden.

  Buster Listened to Mrs. Ladybug's Suggestion. (_Page 56_)]

  XII

  THE CARPENTER BEE

  After Buster Bumblebee left the old house in the meadow, where Mrs. FieldMouse had once lived, he had no real home. Like that quarrelsome rascal,Peter Mink, he would crawl into any good place that he happened to find.Sometimes Buster chose a hole in a fence-rail, and sometimes a crack inthe side of one of the farm-buildings. He really didn't much care wherehe spent the night, provided it was not too far from the flower garden orthe clover field.

  Not being one of the worrying kind, Buster was quite contented with hislot. And it would never have occurred to him to live in any differentstyle had it not been for a remark that little Mrs. Ladybug made to himone day.

  "I should think--" she said--"I should think that the son of a queenought to have a house of his own, instead of sleeping--like atramp--where night overtakes him."

  Now, Mrs. Ladybug's words did not offend Buster Bumblebee in the least.

  "No doubt you know best," he told her. "But how can I build a house? I'venever worked in all my life. And I don't intend to begin now."

  "Why not get some one to build a house for you?" she asked him.

  "I never thought of that!" he cried. "Whom would you suggest?"

  "I know the very person!" Mrs. Ladybug told him. "He's a Carpenter Bee;and he lives in the big poplar by the brook. Perhaps you know him.Johnnie Green calls him Whiteface," she said. "They do say he's a veryskillful workman."

  Buster Bumblebee replied that he had never met the Carpenter, but that hewould go and see him at once. So over to the big poplar he flew. And soonhe was knocking boldly at the door of the Carpenter's house.

  Pretty soon a mild-appearing person, who looked not a little like Busterhimself, stepped through the doorway. He wore a white patch across hisfront and his clothes needed brushing sadly, for they showed many marksof sawdust.

  "Are you the Carpenter?" Buster Bumblebee inquired.

  The mild stranger said he was.

  "How would you like to build a house for me?" Buster asked him.

  The Carpenter seemed greatly surprised at the suggestion. "I don't thinkI'd like it very well," he said timidly.

  "Why not?" Buster demanded.

  "Well, I'm busy building an addition to my house," the Carpenterexplained. "And besides, you're a total stranger. I've never seen youbefore; and we might quarrel if I did any work for you."

  "Oh, no!" Buster Bumblebee assured him. "You couldn't quarrel with me,because I'm the most peace-loving person in Pleasant Valley."

  "There!" the Carpenter cried. "I knew as soon as I set eyes on you thatwe were bound not to agree.... I've always claimed that there's nopeacefuller person than I am in this whole neighborhood. So here we are,quarreling already!"

  "Maybe you're right," Buster said then. "I'll agree that you like peacemore than I do. But remember! Next to you there's no one that hates afight the way I do--and hates work, too!"

  XIII

  THE CARPENTER'S PROMISE

  When Buster Bumblebee told Whiteface the Carpenter Bee, that he hated towork that honest artisan stared at his caller in astonishment.

  "You're a queer one!" he said at last "But there's something about youthat I can't help liking, though it would be hard for me to say just whatit is--so please don't ask me!"

  "Then you'll make me a house, after all?" Buster cried joyfully.

  "I will," the Carpenter promised, "just as soon as I finish the additionI'm building to my own home."

  "Good!" said Buster. And wishing the Carpenter Bee a hastygood-afternoon, he flew off to find little Mrs. Ladybug and tell her thathe was going to have a house of his own, just as she had suggested.

  After that the news spread quickly, for Mrs. Ladybug was somewhat of agossip--in a pleasant enough way. Being much interested in her neighbors,she liked to talk about their affairs. And now she told everyone thatBuster Bumblebee was going to have a fine new house, and that theCarpenter was going to build it for him.

  Naturally, Buster's friends all told him that they were glad to hear ofhis good fortune. And whenever anyone mentioned the matter, Busterpromptly invited him to come to a party that he intended to give as soonas his new home was ready to move into.

  "Mrs. Ladybug tells me that I ought to have a house-warming," Busterexplained. And though some of his neighbors didn't know what he meant bythat, they said "Of course!" and tried to look wise.

  There was only one thing about the whole affair that annoyed Buster: whenpeople asked him when his new house would be finished he was unable totell them.

  "Well, when is the Carpenter going to start building it?" they would ask.And he could only reply that as soon as the Carpenter completed theaddition to his own house he had promised to begin to build Buster's.

  Now, many people were satisfied with that answer. But there were some(they were the curious ones) that insisted on knowing exactly when thatwould be. And then there was nothing that Buster Bumblebee could doexcept to admit that he didn't know.

  "Why don't you find out about it?" asked the most curious person in allPleasant Valley--and that, of course, was old Mr. Crow. "If I were youI'd go to the Carpenter and _insist_ on his telling me."

  So Buster Bumblebee began calling at the Carpenter's house every day.Some days he even went there two or three times. It must have beenannoying for anybody as busy as the Carpenter to be interrupted sooften--and always for the same reason. But he never once thought of beingangry--though he did wish that Buster would let him work in peace.

  His answer to Buster's question was always the same: "I'm afraid my housewon't be finished to-morrow."

  XIV

  BAD NEWS

  It is not surprising that the Carpenter's answer failed to satisfy BusterBumblebee.

  "I really must know when my house will be ready!" he cried at last. "I'veinvited all my friends to a house-warming. And how can I have one unlessI have a house to warm?"

  The Carpenter slowly shook his head.

  "Don't ask me!" he said wearily. "I've enough to trouble me right here athome without answering any riddles for strangers."

  "I suppose you'll get your house finished sometime," Buster ventured.

  "I hope to," said the Carpenter, "though it certainly won't be to-morrow,on account of all the interruptions I'm having to-day."

  No
w, that honest workman meant his remark to be a hint. But the ideanever occurred to Buster that the Carpenter had _him_ in mind, when hementioned interruptions. And Buster went right on talking.

  "I'd suggest that you work nights as well as in the daytime," he said.

  "I'll think about it," the Carpenter promised. "And now," he added, "nowI must go back to my carpentering--if you'll excuse me."

  And before Buster could say another word the Carpenter slipped throughhis doorway and vanished.

  "I hope he'll do as I suggested," Buster Bumblebee said to himself, as hemoved aimlessly away from the big poplar where the Carpenter lived. "If Ishouldn't get my house until cold weather comes I don't see how I couldhave a house-warming; and then all my friends would be disappointed."

  The more he thought about the matter the more disturbed he became, untilat last (on the following day) he felt that he simply _must_ go back andspeak to the Carpenter again.

  Buster noticed, as he drew near to the Carpenter's house once more, thatthere was a crowd in the Carpenter's dooryard. Everybody looked sosorrowful that Buster was sure something dreadful had happened.

  "What's the matter?" he asked little Mrs. Ladybug, who was wiping hereyes with a lace pocket-handkerchief.

  "It's the Carpenter," she answered, as soon as she could speak. "He'sdisappeared. And now we've just heard what's become of him. Johnnie Greencaught him yesterday and has made him a prisoner!"

  That was bad news indeed--for Buster Bumblebee. He was so sorry that heswallowed hard three or four times before he could say a word. And thenhe began to groan.

  "This is terrible!" he moaned at last. And all the Carpenter's neighborsgathered around him and said what a kind-hearted young gentleman he was,but that it was no more than you might expect of a queen's son.

  "The Carpenter must have been a dear friend of yours," quavered old DaddyLonglegs, tottering up to Buster and peering into his face.

  "Oh, no!" said Buster Bumblebee. "But he promised to build a house for meas soon as he had finished working on his own. So his being a prisoner ispretty hard on me. For I've invited all my friends to a house-warming andI don't know what to do."

  XV

  THE PRISONER

  Buster Bumblebee did not stay long in the dooryard of the missingCarpenter. Saying a mournful good-by to the sad company, he flew awaytoward Farmer Green's house. It was there that the Carpenter was aprisoner. And Buster could only hope that he might find some way ofsetting the woodworker free.

  Luckily Buster Bumblebee did not have to look long for what he wasseeking. On the porch of the farmhouse he soon discovered a honey box,with glass sides. And whom should he see inside it, sitting on a littleheap of wild rose leaves and looking forlorn and unhappy--whom shouldBuster see but the Carpenter.

  Buster crowded close against the glass and began to call so loud that theCarpenter couldn't help hearing him. And then the poor fellow came andstood on the other side of the glass barrier, as near Buster as he couldget.

  "Why don't you come out?" Buster asked.

  "How can I?" said the Carpenter. "Don't you see that I'm a prisoner?"

  "Yes! But why don't you cut your way out?" Buster Bumblebee asked him.

  "Well, I've tried," the Carpenter confessed. "But this glass is so hardthat I can't even dent it."

  "But you're a woodworker--not a glass-worker!" exclaimed BusterBumblebee. "And if you're as skillful as people say you are, you ought tobe able to bore a hole through one of the wooden ends of your prison."

  At that suggestion the Carpenter looked decidedly happier.

  "That's so!" he exclaimed. "I wish I had thought of that before."

  Of course it was Buster that thought of the plan, then; but he didn't sayso to the Carpenter. Instead, Buster shouted through the glass:

  "Get to work at once! And I'll wait for you."

  So the Carpenter began to cut away at an end of the honey box. Butunluckily for him, he had hardly begun his task when Johnnie Green camedancing out upon the porch, followed by two strange boys.

  "Here he is!" cried Johnnie, kneeling beside the Carpenter's prison. "Seehim! Do you know what he is?"

  The two strange boys did not wear overalls, like Johnnie Green. But theydid not seem to mind that. They knelt right down beside him in theirspick-and-span velvet suits and stared curiously at the Carpenter.

  "He's a bumblebee!" one of them exclaimed. And the other echoedimmediately, "He's a bumblebee!" Being twins, and looking just alike,they always tried to do and say the same things.

  Johnnie Green did not tell them their mistake. With an odd smile he slidaside one of the glass doors of the Carpenter's prison and picked thefrightened captive up with his fingers.

  "Oh!" cried the two guests. "Won't he sting you?"

  "Naw!" said Johnnie Green scornfully. "He won't sting me. He knows me."

  For a few minutes the two city boys--for that is what they were--for afew minutes they watched Johnnie Green expectantly. They seemed to bewaiting for something. And they were. They were waiting for Johnnie Greento be stung.

  But nothing of the sort happened. And soon one of them said:

  "I wish I had a pet bumblebee."

  "So do I!" said the other twin.

  "Do you?" asked Johnnie Green. "Well,--I'll tell you what I'll do. I'llgive you each a honey box. And maybe you can catch some bumblebees, ifyou want to."

  Of course, the twins were delighted. And Johnnie Green appeared pleasedtoo. Perhaps he should have told his little friends that his pet was nota bumblebee at all--but a carpenter bee--and that carpenter bees neversting people.

  But Johnnie Green did not always do just exactly as he ought to havedone.

  XVI

  THE TWINS IN THE CLOVER PATCH

  The twins--Johnnie Green's guests--each with a honey box in his hand,began at once to hunt for bumblebees. And if Buster Bumblebee had beenwiser he would have flown away at once.

  But he had no idea that he would have any trouble dodging aboy--especially a city boy. So he lingered on the porch to see whathappened. As soon as Johnnie Green should put the Carpenter back in hisprison Buster intended to urge him once more to cut his way through thewood--and to freedom.

  Soon Buster had his chance. Again he crowded close to the glass door ofthe Carpenter's cage. And then Johnnie Green's sharp eyes spied him.

  "There's one!" said Johnnie Green to one of the twins. And at that theeager youngster pounced quickly on Buster, picked him up gingerly, andpopped him quickly into a prison exactly like the one that held theCarpenter.

  "He didn't sting me!" cried Buster's captor proudly, while Johnnie Greenstared at him in astonishment and--it must be confessed--with somedisappointment, too.

  Now, Johnnie knew a good many things about the field and forest folk inPleasant Valley. He knew that the Carpenter (or Whiteface, as Johnniecalled him) couldn't sting anybody. But he had always supposed that allbumblebees stung fiercely. And that was where he was mistaken. It wastrue that Buster's mother, the Queen, could sting when she wanted to. Andall those hot-tempered workers who lived with her had stings just as hotas their tempers. But Buster and his brothers (for he had brothers) werenot armed with such weapons.

  Naturally, the other twin was now more eager than ever to capture abumblebee of his own. And since Johnnie did not want to disappoint aguest he soon suggested that they go over to the clover patch.

  "There's a lot of bumblebees over there, always," said Johnnie Greenhopefully.

  So Buster had a free ride to the clover field; for his twin insisted ontaking his new pet right along with him.

  "Besides, I may want to catch some more like him," he explained.

  Looking out through the glass sides of his prison, which his captor heldtightly in one hand, Buster Bumblebee saw many of his mother's workershovering about the clover-tops, gathering nectar for the honeycomb athome.

  The twins saw the workers, too. They were delighted. And so was JohnnieGreen.

  "Take all the bumblebees you wa
nt!" said Johnnie. "My father won't care."

  Both twins grabbed at the same time. They both shrieked at the same time,too--for each of them felt a sharp pain, as if a red-hot needle had beenrun into his finger. And Buster Bumblebee felt himself falling. Thenfollowed a crash of splintering glass. And in another moment Buster washurrying away across the clover field.

  When he was stung by the worker he had seized, Buster's twin had droppedthe honey box. And it had fallen squarely upon a rock and broken.

  If Buster had not been in such haste to escape he would have heard stillanother shout. For the news spread like wildfire among the workers--thenews that an army of boys had attacked them. And a terrible-temperedrelation of Buster's known as Peppery Polly darted at Johnnie Green andburied her sting deep in the back of that young gentleman's sun-brownedneck.

  As for the Carpenter, everybody quite forgot about him. Johnnie and thetwins were too busy putting mud poultices on their wounds, to ease theiraches and pains, to think of the prisoner they had left on the farmhouseporch. It was not until the next day that Johnnie Green remembered hisnew pet. And when he went to see him then the honey box was empty. TheCarpenter had cut a tunnel through the wall of his prison.

  Later the Carpenter sent a message to Buster, by little Mrs. Ladybug.