BUZ AND HUM
Maurice Noël
The time came when Buz and Hum, two young bees, were allowed to try their wings.
“Follow me,” said a friendly older bee; “I can spare time to fly a little way; and when I stop, you stop, too.”
“All right,” cried Buz, trembling with excitement.
Hum said nothing, but her wings began to move, almost in spite of herself.
Away went the bee, as straight as a line from the mouth of the hive, and away flew Buz and Hum after her; but at first starting they both found it a little difficult to keep quite straight, and Buz knocked against the board to begin with, and nearly stopped herself, as she had not learned how to rise.
The older bee did not go far, and lit on the branch of a peach tree which was growing against a wall near by. Buz came after her in a great hurry, but missed the branch and gave herself a bang against the wall. Hum saw this, and managed to stop herself in time; but she did not judge her distance very well either; and got on the peach tree in a scrambling sort of way.
“Very good,” said their friend, as they all three stood together; “you will soon be able to take care of yourself now; but just let me see you back to the hive.”
So off they flew again, and lighted on the board in a very creditable manner.