“I wish I had nothing to do like you,” said George to the bee.
“Nothing to do!” said the bee. “You don’t know what you are talking about. I am at work all day looking for honey. I have to fill my hive so that you and your mother can have plenty for the winter, and then I must fill it over again for myself. I do not have a single minute. No, sir! I lead a dog’s life—I do.” And the bee flew on to get another load of honey.
Pretty soon the boy came to a squirrel. “Why you are having a good time,” said he. “I wish I had nothing to do like you.”
“Nothing to do!” said the squirrel. “I am far behind in my store of nuts for the winter. They are very scarce, and I am very much afraid I cannot find enough for my family. I must hurry from sunrise to dark. No, sir! I work like a horse—I do.”
George found the horse busy pulling the plow; the cow giving milk, the tree making acorns, the fields making corn, the flowers making seed, the ants storing food—and they were all so happy about it and nobody complaining at all.
When he reached his uncle’s house he got the wool and said:
“I must hurry on home now, for I am very busy; I have my work to do.” And he whistled all the way home, and the tired little mother kissed his happy face and said:
“Thank you, George, you can be a great help to me.”