WHO CUT HOLES IN THE ROSE-LEAVES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 6, 6 February 1892, Page 143

WHO CUT HOLES IN THE ROSE-LEAVES.

Grandmamma heard a great commotion, and, I am sorry to say, something that sounded a little like quarrelling, out on the verandah.

‘ It’s them children, I do believe 1’ said the dear old lady, in dismay, dropping her knitting and trotting to the door. ‘Jack’s cutting holes all in the pretty rose-leaves, grandmamma !’ cried little Cary, angrily, as soon as grandmamma's face appeared in the doorway. ‘ Preserve my patience !’ exclaimed grandmamma. ‘ I wouldn’t have believed it of you, Jack ! Those sweet roses, that Aunt Kitty was going to take to town to-morrow to the little sick children in the hospital !’ and grandmamma looked both grieved and astonished. • But I didn’t, grandmamma !’ protested Jack, as soon as he could get in a word.

‘ You are sure you have not been nourishing your new whip, with the long snapper on it, too near ’em ?’ questioned grandmamma. ‘ Why-y, I did switch it a little— ’ ‘ And you tried to see how neatly you could cut out a piece, Jack Brown ! You can’t see anything pretty without wanting to ’stroy it, so there ?’ and tears of vexation stood in Cary’s eyes at the remembrance of how Jack had snapped in an eye of her best dolly that morning with the same pretty new whip. * Well, well, don’t dispute, children,’ said grandmamma mildly. ‘lf you did do this, Jack, I’m sure you didn’t mean to. I can’t believe you would be such a heartless boy. ’ Jack went off to the garden, kicking his toes sullenly into the clover tufts, and beheading some tall scarlet poppies with the offending whip, for he felt ill-used. He flung himself down in oue corner by the patch of giant rhubarb, and began to chew a stalk. Jack resorted to rhubarb when he felt particularly cross. Pretty soon a bee hummed close by his ear with something red in its * mouth.’ Jack dodged, and the bee alighted in the corner by the garden fence near him, and before Jack could hop up it had popped out of sight into a little round hole at one side of a sod.

In a minute or two Mrs Bee (so Jack called it) came out and Hew away. Jack did not move and not long after the hurried little worker returned with another load. This time she dropped it. It fluttered down to the edge of the hole. Jack jumped to look. Then he rolled under the rhubaib, and laughed and shouted till an old Pee-wee, wagging his tail on the fence, flew off in alarm. Jack rushed up to the house. ‘ Grandmamma ! Cary ! Cary ! Come out ! I've found the rose-leaf snapper !’ * Bless my heart ! Well, well, I’m glad it isn’t my Jack !’ and grandmamma rumpled his hair lovingly. * Where is he?’ cried Cary, looking about a little puzzled. ‘ Wait a minute and you’ll see !’ said Jack, chuckling. Just then along hummed Mrs Bee again, and alighted softly on a fine red rose. Snip.' Snip! Snip! went her little scissors rapidly, and in a moment a tiny disc of the leaf about as large as a silver threepence was cut out, and away she Hew with it. At that moment Aunt Kitty came up the walk. ‘ Ah, yes,’ said Aunt Kitty, laughing. ‘ ’Tis the little upholsterer bee, as some call it. She’s got a nest in that hole, Jack. But we won’t disturb her if she did come near getting you into trouble. ‘ She lines and pads it with rose-leaves, and in this sweet bed she lays her eggs and places her bee-bread for the little bees to eat when they are hatched. Then she adds more leaves, tramping them with her little feet till the hole is filled to the top. She is a dainty mother, but I think we must humour her. There are enough roses for her and the children, too.’