Little Masterpieces of American Wit and Humor, Volume II Page 3

  THE DOG AND THE BEES

  A dog being very much annoyed by bees, ran quite accidently into anempty barrel lying on the ground, and looking out at the bung-hole,addressed his tormentors thus:

  "Had you been temperate, stinging me only one at a time, you might havegot a good deal of fun out of me. As it is, you have driven me into asecure retreat; for I can snap you up as fast as you come in throughthe bung-hole. Learn from this the folly of intemperate zeal."

  When he had concluded, he awaited a reply. There wasn't any reply; forthe bees had never gone near the bung-hole; they went in the same wayas he did, and made it very warm for him.

  The lesson of this fable is that one cannot stick to his pure reasonwhile quarreling with bees.

  AMBROSE BIERCE.