house together. Such revels as he had in the
sugar-bowl; such feasts of gingerbread and grapes; such long sips of
milk, and sly peeps into every uncovered box and dish! Once I'm afraid
he took too much cider, for I found him lying on his back, kicking and
humming like a crazy top, and he was very queer all the rest of that
day; so I kept the bottle corked after that. But his favorite nook was
among the ferns in the vase which a Parian dancing-girl carried. She
stood just over the stove on one little toe, rattling some castanets,
which made no sound, and never getting a step farther for all her
prancing. This was a warm and pretty retreat for Buzz, and there he
spent much of his time, swinging on the ferns, sleeping snugly in the
vase, or warming his feet in the hot air that blew up, like a south
wind, from the stove.

I don't believe there was a happier fly in Boston than my friend Buzz,
and I grew fonder and fonder of him every day; for he never got into
mischief, but sung his cheery song, no matter what the weather was, and
made himself agreeable. Then he was so interested in all I did, it was
delightful to have him round. When I wrote he came and walked about over
my paper to see that it was right, peeped into my ink-stand, and ran
after my pen. He never made silly or sharp criticisms on my stories, but
appeared to admire them very much; so I am sure he was a good judge.
When I sewed, he sat in my basket, or played hide-and-seek in the folds
of my work, talking away all the while in the most sociable manner. He
often flew up all of a sudden, and danced about in the air, as if he was
in such a jolly mood he couldn't keep still, and wanted me to come and
play with him. But, alas! I had no wings, and could only sit stupidly
still, and laugh at his pranks. That was his exercise, for he never went
out, and only took a sniff of air now and then when I opened the
windows.

Well, little Buzz and I lived together many weeks, and never got tired
of one another, which is saying a good deal. At Christmas I went home
for a week and left my room to take care of itself. I put the hyacinths
into the closet to be warm, and dropped the curtain, so the frost should
not nip my ivy; but I forgot Buzz. I really would have taken him with
me, or carried him down to a neighbour's room to be taken care of while
I was away, but I never thought of him in the hurry of getting my
presents and myself ready. Off I went without even saying 'good-b