Puck of Pook's Hill Read online

  THE BEE BOY'S SONG

  Bees! Bees! Hark to the Bees! 'Hide from your neighbours as much as you please, But all that has happened to _us_ you must tell! Or else we will give you no honey to sell.'

  _A maiden in her glory,_ _Upon her wedding-day,_ _Must tell her Bees the story,_ _Or else they'll fly away._ _Fly away--die away--_ _Dwindle down and leave you!_ _But if you don't deceive your Bees,_ _Your Bees will not deceive you!--_

  _Marriage, birth or buryin',_ _News across the seas,_ _All you're sad or merry in,_ _You must tell the Bees._ _Tell 'em coming in an' out,_ _Where the Fanners fan,_ _'Cause the Bees are justabout_ _As curious as a man!_

  _Don't you wait where trees are,_ _When the lightnings play;_ _Nor don't you hate where Bees are,_ _Or else they'll pine away._ _Pine away--dwine away--_ _Anything to leave you!_ _But if you never grieve your Bees,_ _Your Bees'll never grieve you._