the rain could not beat into the living-rooms, as Mr.
Bee explained. One end of one of the upper galleries was securely walled
up, and in another compartment lay three or four worm-like insects
almost covered with bee-bread.

"What is this room used for?" inquired Mr. Thompson.

"This is the nursery," answered Mr. Bee, proudly.

"Ah, indeed! And what are those white, ugly-looking grubs?"

Mr. Bee looked aghast for a moment, but his surprise quickly turned into
indignation, as he buzzed, angrily: "Grubs! grubs! ugly-looking grubs!
Those, sir, are my children, sir, and I flatter myself that a more
charming family does not exist. Grubs, forsooth! Out of my house, base
insulter!" And before Mr. Thompson could apologize, Mr. Bee had pushed
him out, and stung him on the end of his nose.

He fell, and as he dropped from the rail he began to grow larger, and
when he reached the ground he had assumed his natural proportions. He
found himself lying in the same place beside the fence that he had
occupied when the bee first spoke to him.

When he related the story to his friends, some one suggested that he had
dreamed the whole adventure. He gently touched his inflamed and swelled
nose, and answered, in a grieved tone, "I suppose I dreamed this too."

This argument was unanswerable, and Mr. Thompson is now engaged in
writing a lecture on the habits and customs of the bumble-bee. Among
other things he says, "Bumble-bees only consider those people sensible
who agree with them"; and again, "Bumble-bees invariably think their own
children the most beautiful and interesting creatures in existence."

Which facts, if they are true, show the great superiority of men over
bumble-bees.

THE STORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.

BY EDWARD CARY.

CHAPTER II.

After the close of the French and Indian war, Washington, then in his
twenty-seventh year, married Mrs. Martha Custis, and settled down to a
Virginia planter's life at Mount Vernon. His neighbors elected him again
and again to the House of Burgesses of the colony--a body much like one
of our State Legislatures. Here he did not talk much, but he kept close
watch of matters, and knew, as nearly as he could, all the facts that
were needed to make up his mind, so that he had a good deal of weight
with other members, and yet was very modest. When he first took his seat
in the House, the Speaker was directed to thank him, in the name of the
people, for his great services as an offi