Bees! Bees! Hark to the Bees! 'Hide from your neighbours as much as you please, But all that has happened to _us_ you must tell! Or else we will give you no honey to sell.'
_A maiden in her glory,_ _Upon her wedding-day,_ _Must tell her Bees the story,_ _Or else they'll fly away._ _Fly away--die away--_ _Dwindle down and leave you!_ _But if you don't deceive your Bees,_ _Your Bees will not deceive you!--_
_Marriage, birth or buryin',_ _News across the seas,_ _All you're sad or merry in,_ _You must tell the Bees._ _Tell 'em coming in an' out,_ _Where the Fanners fan,_ _'Cause the Bees are justabout_ _As curious as a man!_
_Don't you wait where trees are,_ _When the lightnings play;_ _Nor don't you hate where Bees are,_ _Or else they'll pine away._ _Pine away--dwine away--_ _Anything to leave you!_ _But if you never grieve your Bees,_ _Your Bees'll never grieve you._