The Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful Tales eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 200 pages of information about The Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful Tales.

The Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful Tales eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 200 pages of information about The Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful Tales.

“Oh, yes,” said the jailer, “we brought provisions.”

“Well, then, I gladly take you under my protection.  Let us have supper.  I have had nothing to eat since morning, and the weight of sixteen extra suits of clothes does not help to refresh one.”

The Jolly-cum-pop and his companions slept that night under some trees, and started off early the next morning.  “If I could only get myself turned in the proper direction,” said he, “I believe we should soon reach my house.”

The Prince, his courtiers, the boys and girls, the course-marker, and the map-maker worked industriously for several days at the foundation of their city.  They dug the ground, they carried stones, they cut down trees.  This work was very hard for all of them, for they were not used to it.  After a few days’ labor, the Prince said to the man with the red beard, who was reading his book:  “I think we have now formed a nucleus.  Any one can see that this is intended to be a city.”

“No,” said the man with the red beard, “nothing is truly a nucleus until something is gathered around it.  Proceed with your work, while I continue my studies upon civil government.”

Toward the close of that day the red-bearded man raised his eyes from his book and beheld the Jolly-cum-pop and his party approaching.  “Hurrah!” he cried, “we are already attracting settlers!” And he went forth to meet them.

When the prince and the courtiers saw the Jolly-cum-pop in his bright and variegated dress, they did not know him; but the boys and girls soon recognized his jovial face, and, tired as they were, they set up a hearty laugh, in which they were loudly joined by their merry friend.  While the Jolly-cum-pop was listening to the adventures of the Prince and his companions, and telling what had happened to himself, the man with the red beard was talking to the jailer and his party, and urging them to gather around the nucleus which had been here formed, and help to build a city.

“Nothing will suit us better,” exclaimed the jailer, “and the sooner we build a town wall so as to keep off the Potentate, if he should come this way, the better shall we be satisfied.”

The next morning, the Prince said to the red-bearded man:  “Others have gathered around us.  We have formed a nucleus, and thus have done all that we promised to do.  We shall now depart.”

The man objected strongly to this, but the Prince paid no attention to his words.  “What troubles me most,” he said to the Jolly-cum-pop, “is the disgraceful condition of our clothes.  They have been so torn and soiled during our unaccustomed work that they are not fit to be seen.”

“As for that,” said the Jolly-cum-pop, “I have sixteen suits with me, in which you can all dress, if you like.  They are of unusual patterns, but they are new and clean.”

“It is better,” said the Prince, “for persons in my station to appear inordinately gay than to be seen in rags and dirt.  We will accept your clothes.”

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The Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful Tales from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.