Joyce stole up to Grandma's chair and said softly, "Tonight you must
tell us the very best bee story that you know."
"It couldn't be better than the one about Bee Content," said Don.
"I shall tell you about the bee that is perhaps the most important of
all," said Grandma thoughtfully. "It does wonderful things for those who
listen to its buzz; but those who refuse to listen are sure to be sorry
afterward. It is called Bee Prayerful." The children were eager to hear
the story, so Grandma began at once:
"William Sutherland was a boy who lived in the state of Maryland. When
he was thirteen years old, he gave his heart to God and became a Christian.
After that he would often steal away alone and spend a few minutes talking
to God.
"When he was fourteen, Willie began to work in the bank as an errand
boy. The banker soon found that he was honest, and trusted him with large
sums of money. One of his errands was to carry the payroll to a mill
town several miles away. He made this trip every two weeks; and he always
set out in the afternoon, and returned the following morning.
"There were no automobiles in those days, and no good roads. William had
to ride a pony, leaving the main highway and riding over a trail that
had been blazed through the forest.
"As he started out one afternoon, his mother said to him, 'Son, I'm
afraid to have you carry so much money over that lonely trail.'
"'Oh, there is no reason to worry, Mother,' replied the lad cheerfully,
as he swung into the saddle. 'You know I have always made the trip safely
before.'
"'Yes,' replied the good woman, 'but I feel fearful today. I shall be
praying for you while you are on your way.'
"William waved to her, as he turned his pony about and started on his
journey. He had placed the payroll in his saddle bags; and as he looked
at them he said to himself, 'How glad I am that my master trusts me with
so much money.'
"He whistled and sang, as he rode along; but as he neared the lonely
forest trail, a strange feeling of fear came over him. He reined in his
pony and sat still for some time, wondering just what he ought to do.
Then Bee Prayerful began to buzz about his ears. He had heard its little
voice many times before, and he had learned always to listen and obey.
He rode on to the spot where he must leave the highway and set out upon
the forest trail; and then he slipped from the saddle and knelt down
beside the bushes growing there.
"'Dear God,' he said aloud, 'I don't know why, but I feel very much
afraid. Take care of me, as I ride through this lonely place. I believe
You will, because You have written in Your Book, "I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee."'
"And as William knelt there, alone with God, all feeling of fear melted
away. He arose, mounted his pony, and rode on with a light heart.
"The mill men knew he was coming, for they could hear his cheerful whistle
before his pony came into view. He gave the payroll to the foreman, spent
the night in the little town, and the next forenoon returned safely to
his home.
"His mother met him at the door. 'Son,' she said, 'something peculiar
happened to me yesterday while you were away. I was very busy, but a
little voice seemed to tell me that I ought to stop my work and pray for
you. I felt that you were in danger, and that I should ask God to keep
you safe. So I laid my work aside, went into my room and knelt down, and
stayed there until I was sure that you were quite safe.'
"Then William told her how he had felt just before he reached the lonely
forest trail, and how he had knelt down among the bushes and asked God
to protect him. After that, they often talked about this strange happening,
and wondered what it could mean.
"William worked in the bank for quite a long while, and then he went
away to college. After he had graduated, he became a minister. Soon after
this, God called away his good mother to her home in Heaven.
"One day William received a letter stamped with the postmark of a town
in a distant state. 'I am very ill,' said the writer, 'and the doctor
says I shall never recover. I must see you, as I have something very
important to tell you before I am called away to meet my God. Please
come to me as quickly as possible.' There was no name written at the end
of the letter. It was signed, 'A friend.'
"William turned the letter over and over in his hand. He knew no one in
that faraway place, and for a time he was very much puzzled. Then he did
as he had been in the habit of doing for many years--he slipped away to
spend a few moments alone with God. And a voice in his heart kept saying,
'Go; someone is in need, and your work is to minister to every soul who
asks for help.'
"'But whom shall I ask for, when I arrive?' asked William, still perplexed.
And the voice answered, 'Only go; God will take care of the rest.'
"Hastily packing a few things in his traveling bag, William boarded a
train and started for the town in the far-distant state. Arriving at the
end of his journey, he stepped out upon the station platform. He was
astonished when a gentleman came up to him and said courteously, 'Is
this Reverend Sutherland?'
"'Yes,' replied the minister, 'I am he.'
"'I have been sent to meet you, sir,' said the stranger. 'I have met
every train during the past week. Will you come with me?'
"A few minutes later, he led the minister into a darkened room where a
sick man lay. As they tiptoed into the room, he looked up eagerly, and
his breath came fast. Holding out his hand, he asked in a feeble voice,
'Is this Reverend Sutherland?'
"'It is,' said the minister gently, clasping the thin white hand. 'Where
have I met you before, my friend--and what can I do for you now?'
"'You have never met me before,' said the sick man, and his voice sank
to a whisper. 'I saw you only once and that was many years ago. But I
have kept track of your whereabouts all these years. I have sent for you
now, sir, because--I am dying.'
"The sick man sank back upon his pillows and rested a moment; then,
fixing his large eyes on the minister's face, he went on:
"'Mr. Sutherland, one afternoon many years ago you were entrusted with
a large sum of money to take to the foreman of a certain mill. In a wild
and lonely spot, you slipped from your saddle and knelt down by some
bushes and asked God to protect you. Do you remember it?'
"'As if it had been yesterday,' said the minister. 'But, my good
friend-what do you know about it?'
"'Far more than you do,' said the sick man sadly. _I heard that prayer_.
I was crouching among the bushes nearby, with my rifle pointed at your
heart. I had planned to kill you, take the money, and ride away on your
pony. But while you were praying something passed between us; I did not
know what it was, but I believed that God had sent it to protect you. I
sat in those bushes, too weak to pull the trigger, and watched you ride
away--perfectly helpless to do any harm to you. But it has haunted me
ever since--the thought of what I wanted to do, and what I should have
done if God had not answered your prayer. I could not meet God without
telling you all this. Can you forgive me?'
"Again William grasped the hand of the dying man, saying in a husky
voice, 'My friend, as God has forgiven my sins, I freely forgive you.
Ask now for God's forgiveness, and be at peace.'
"The minister stayed with the man for some time, talking and praying
with him; until at last the light shone in his dark soul, and God forgave
his sins.
"He died soon after that, and William Sutherland was asked to preach his
funeral sermon. He chose as his text those words from the book of Proverbs:
'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths.'"
The children sat very still for some time, after Grandma had finished
her story. "I think Bee Prayerful is the best of all," said Joyce at
last. "I shall remember that story as long as I live."
"I hope you will, dear," said Grandma. "No matter where you go--no
matter how busy you are--always listen to the gentle buzz of Bee
Prayerful."
"We will, Grandma," said the children soberly.
"And now," said Grandma, "it is bedtime for two little folks who will
have to be up bright and early in the morning. You know the train leaves
at eight o'clock."
"Good-night, katydids and whippoorwills," murmured Don a little drowsily.
"We shall come back to hear you sing again next summer."
With that, two tired children crept upstairs and tumbled into bed; and
very soon they were in the Land of Dreams.
Home Again
[Illustration: Home Again]
The sunlight was streaming in at their bedroom windows, when Joyce and
Don awoke the next morning. They dressed quickly, and ran down to watch
Grandma pack their lunch for the trip home. At the breakfast table, they
talked of all the nice times they had had during the past few weeks; and
they promised to persuade Mother and Daddy to come with them to the farm
next summer.
When everything was ready, Grandpa lifted the little trunk to his shoulder
and carried it out to the car; and soon they were on their way. When
they reached the station Grandpa bought the tickets, checked the little
trunk, and gave the children a story book to read on the train. Dear
Grandpa and Grandma! They always knew just what to do to make the children
happy.
As the train whistled in the distance, Don caught Grandpa's hand and
held it tight. Joyce threw her arms around Grandma and whispered, "Dear
Grandma, I love you! And I've had such a happy time!"
The train pulled up, and the conductor called, "All aboard!" After Grandpa
had helped them on to the train, and had gone back to the station platform,
the children waved and threw kisses through the window. As the train moved
away, they pressed their faces to the window and watched Grandpa and
Grandma as long as they could. But they soon were left behind, the train
moved faster, and the little village passed out of sight. Happy vacation
days on the farm had come to an end.
For a few moments the children had to fight to keep back the tears. Then
Joyce opened the book that Grandpa had given them, and soon their
loneliness was forgotten.
There was a story about a little lame dog that came to a man's house one
cold winter night and whined about the door. He let it in, bound up its
foot, and gave it some food and a comfortable place to sleep.
The man liked the dog so well that he decided to keep it. One night,
when everyone was asleep, the house caught fire; and the dog awakened
the man in time to save the whole family from burning to death.
There were stories about cows and horses; and a long, long one about the
interesting animals to be seen at the zoo.
One story was so funny that when Don read it, he burst out laughing; and
the other passengers looked at him and smiled. It was about a mischievous
monkey at the zoo. One day a gentleman who wore a wig came by, carrying
his hat in his hand. The monkey reached through the bars and caught hold
of the wig, pulling it off his head.
When it was time for lunch, Joyce opened the basket that Grandma had
packed for them. They spread out a napkin on the seat in front of them,
and ate their lunch off this "table" in the most grown-up fashion. Grandma
had tucked in several surprises; and how good the cookie-men tasted!
In the middle of the afternoon they began to pass through the suburbs
of the city, and soon familiar sights came into view. When the train
backed into the station, there stood Mother and Daddy waiting for them.
"O Mother," cried Joyce with a bear hug, "I've had a good time, but I'm
so glad to see you again!" Don, big boy that he was, had jumped into
Daddy's arms. Soon the little trunk had been placed in the car, and they
were driving toward home.
"What did you enjoy most of all, during your vacation?" asked Mother,
as they were eating supper that evening.
"Fishing," replied Don quickly.
Joyce did not answer; she sat quite still, with a far-away look in her
eyes.
"And what did my little girl like best of all?" asked Mother at last.
"O Mother," said Joyce, her eyes shining, "I was happy every minute--
even when the old turkey gobbler was chasing me around the tree. But
what I liked best was to sit out on the porch in the evenings, and listen
to the katydids and whippoorwills, and watch the stars come out one by
one. And then it was so nice to sit close to Grandma's old rocking-chair
and listen to her stories about the Hive of Busy Bees."