Fytte IX. The Honey Thief.

The flowers which Christine culled at morn At eve were withered, and forlorn.

These withered flowers Dick sadly took, And placed them in his music book; Then put the book upon the table, And pressed, the best that he was able.

The pressed flowers took a wondrous shape, Which seemed the human form to ape; And in these specimens, Christine Is imaged, and her Dicky Dean.

Ten sounded from the old church tower— Before the last stroke of the hour, Close by the bee-house Richard Dean, His last new coat on, might be seen; Christine, arrayed in all her charms, Was there, and rushed into his arms.

"Hist! what's that sound?" alack! alack! A thief, with crotchet at his back— A Honey thief—ill may he thrive.

Each crept into a monster hive.

The thief peered round; "This will I take"— "This big one will my fortune make."

Then hoisted Dicky, hive and all, Upon his back so lean, so tall—

"Halt," shouted Dicky, and the head Of his strange monture bonneted;

Held him down tight, and with a stick Passed 'twixt his legs, secured him quick.

And Christine, what must she have felt While Bruin round about her smelt? Out of the hive she softly stole;

In crept the bear and through the hole At the hive's top he poked his nose; Christine her ready courage shows,

She through his nose ring passed a stick, Which from the ground she happed to pick.

Poor Bruin rolled upon his back, And grunted out alas! alack!

So after all these strange alarms, Again Dick rushed into her arms.

John Dull by chance came strolling by, His hives upset first met his eye; He saw they both were tenanted— Amazed he looked, then scratched his head;

Peered all around, espied Christine And her own true love Dicky Dean; Behind the bee house they were placed, And Dicky's arm was round her waist.

"Come here" he cried "you little chit," "I understand it not a bit"— Upon their knees they both fell down, And the whole mystery made known.

The father heard them all declare, Then gave his blessing to the pair. "Bless you my Christine: Dick I bless" "With stores of wedded happiness."

Then came the dramatis personae; The tall, the short, the fat, the bony.

Sam Dutton thought to get a shot, Now Bruin could no longer trot. But Sally interposed her mop, And to his shooting put a stop.

The night watch came, and 'twixt them bore The skewer'd thief to the prison door.

And came the bear leader as well, And took poor Bruin to his cell.

Sam with his trumpet blew a rally, And Hip, Hurrah! cried ancient Sally.

Long live both empty hives and full, Long live Dick Dean and Johnny Dull.