Season 2-Part 2: "The Adventures Of Buster Bumblebee" Story

This is a happy audiobook story for children! [You can find all of Season 1's & 2 stories in the list of my recordings.] This is for the kids who wanted more Buster Bumblebee. We've now come to the end of the series about the naughty, lazy, lovable little Bumble Bee prince. There’s a bit of mischief going on & Buster goes to the Farmer’s party, but he’s got things a bit wrong. Let's enjoy the final adventures of Buster Bumble Bee & his friends. The recording ends with a short bit of theme music.

Transcript

Hi, This is Stefania and here is the very last part of Buster Bumblebee. When we last visited Buster Bumblebee, The twins and Johnny were going to collect some bumblebees. They were going to look for them. The story continues from there. The twins and the clover patch. The twins, Johnny Green's guests, Each with a honey box in his hand, Began at once to hunt for bumblebees. And if Buster Bumblebee had been wiser, He would have flown away at once. But he had no idea that he would have any trouble dodging a boy, Especially a city boy. So he lingered on the porch to see what happened. As soon as Johnny Green should put the carpenter back in his prison, Buster intended to urge him once more to cut his way through the wood and to freedom. You may remember the carpenter bee was going to build a house for Buster Bumblebee. But he got caught by Johnny Green, And Buster has been quite busy trying to figure out how he could free that carpenter bee so he could get back to work on his house. Anyway, Soon Buster had his chance. Again, He crowded close to the glass door of the carpenter's cage, And then Johnny Green's sharp eyes spotted him. There's one! Said Johnny Green to one of the twins, And at that the eager youngster pounced quickly on Buster, Picking him up gingerly and popped him quickly into a prison, Exactly like the one that held the carpenter. He didn't sting me! Cried Buster's capitor proudly, While Johnny Green stared at him in surprise, And it must be confessed with some disappointment, Too. Now, Johnny knew a good many things about the field and forest folk in Pleasant Valley. He knew that the carpenter, Or white face as Johnny called him, Couldn't sting anybody, But he had always supposed that all bumblebees stung fiercely, And that was where he was mistaken. It was true that Buster's mother, The Queen, Could sting when she wanted to, And all those hot-tempered workers who lived with her had stings just as hot as their tempers. But Buster and his brothers—he did have some brothers—were not armed with such weapons. Naturally, The other twin was now more eager than ever to catch a bumblebee of his own, And since Johnny did not want to disappoint a guest, He soon suggested that they go over to the clover patch. There's a lot of bumblebees over there, Always! Said Johnny Green, Hopefully. Now Buster had a free ride to the clover field, For his twin, Who had captured him, Insisted on taking his new pet right along with him. Besides, I may want to catch some more like him, He explained. Looking out through the glass sides of his prison, Which his captor held tightly in one hand, Buster Bumblebee saw many of his mother's workers hovering about the clover tops, Gathering nectar for the honeycomb at home. The twins saw the workers, Too. They were delighted, And so was Johnny Green. "'Take all the bumblebees you want, ' said Johnny. "'My father won't care! ' Both twins grabbed at the same time. They both shrieked at the same time, Too, For each of them felt a sharp pain, As if a red-hot needle had been run into his finger. And Buster Bumblebee, In the jar, Felt himself falling. This was followed by a crash of splintering glass, And in another moment Buster was hurrying away across the clover field. He was free! When he was stung by the worker bee he had seized, Buster's twin, Who had captured him, Had dropped the honey-box, And it had fallen right upon a rock, And luckily broken. If Buster had not been in such haste to escape he would have heard still another shout. For the news spread like wildfire among the workers, The news that an army of boys had attacked them. And a terrible temperate relation of Buster's, Known as peppery-poly, Darted at Johnny Green and buried her stinger deep in the back of the young gentleman's sun-brown neck. As for the carpenter, Everybody quite forgot about him. Johnny and the twins were too busy trying to stop the aching where they had been stung to think of the prisoner they had left on the farmhouse porch. It was not until the next day that Johnny Green remembered his new pet, And when he went to see him the honey-box was empty. The carpenter had cut a tunnel through the wall of his prison and escaped. Later, The carpenter sent a message to Buster by little Mrs. Ladybug. The carpenter has lost so much time, She told Buster, That he thinks he will never be able to finish the addition to his house. So he says you'll have to get somebody else to build your new home for you. At first Buster was disappointed, But soon he recovered his good spirits. After all, It's just as well, He remarked cheerfully, I know where there's a fine new house right in the clover patch, And I'll move into it at once. Of course, He meant the honey-box which the boy had dropped upon the rock and forgotten. So Buster had his new home without the help of the carpenter B, And all his friends agreed that the housewarming party he gave was the most successful that ever was known in those parts. It took place on the hottest day of the summer. Buster learns of the Raising Bee. The Raising Bee, Just so we know, Is a kind of party to help people raise or build a barn. They all get together and have a party. The men and women all work to build the barn, And then they celebrate. And that's a Raising Bee. So now you know something that Buster doesn't know. Buster learns of the Raising Bee. Yes, Said Jimmy Rabbit, I hear that there is going to be a party, A Raising Bee, At Farmer Green's place tomorrow, And if I were you, I should certainly want to be there. Being very good-natured, Jimmy Rabbit was always ready to talk to anybody he happened to meet, No matter how small the other person might be. And now, While he was nibbling at Farmer Green's lettuce, He chanced to glance up and spy Buster Bumblebee, Who was buzzing about the tall hollyhocks, Which made a sort of hedge where the flower and the vegetable garden met. A Raising Bee? Buster Bumblebee exclaimed when he heard Jimmy Rabbit's bit of news. I've never in my life seen that kind of bee, Nor heard of it either. It must be a great curiosity. Yes, Said Jimmy Rabbit, And you ought not to miss seeing this one. I'd like to go over to the farmhouse tomorrow myself, If I had time. Well I'm going anyhow, Buster declared, And when next I see you, I'll tell you all about this strange bee. For all we know, It may be nothing but a honeybee that has changed its name to Raising Bee. Jimmy Rabbit only smiled at his small friend. He said nothing at all, Though he looked uncommonly wise. What time tomorrow can I get a peep at this Raising Bee, As he calls himself? Buster Bumblebee inquired. You had better plan to reach the farmyard at nine o'clock sharp. Jimmy Rabbit advised him. How shall I know where to look? Buster asked him. Oh, You have no trouble finding the Raising Bee, Jimmy replied. Just follow the crowd. All of Farmer Green's friends from miles around will be there. Is that so? Said Buster, What are they coming for? Why they've heard about the Raising Bee too, Jimmy told him. Farmer Green has invited everybody to come to his house, And there'll be plenty to eat for everyone. No doubt they'll have a dance too, In the afternoon, Just before milking time. Of course, They'll all have to go home in time to milk the cows, Jimmy answered. I suppose so, Buster remarked, And I must say, I'm glad that I have no cows, For it has always seemed to me that they are only a nuisance. Jimmy Rabbit agreed heartily in that opinion. Yes, Buster B. Continued, Farmer Green has many strange ways. Now what's the sense in having a vegetable garden? And yet, I understand that he always plants one over there where you're sitting. Jimmy Rabbit shook his head. I can't quite agree with you, He said quickly, Though I've always claimed that a flower garden is just a waste of time. What a strange thought, Cried Buster Bumblebee. To my way of thinking, This flower garden is the best thing Farmer Green has, Unless it's the clover patch. Now some people would have flown into a temper at once on being disputed like that, But Jimmy Rabbit was never known to be angry. Billy Woodchuck would agree with you about the clover, He said with a chuckle. You know, He's very fond of clover tops. He's a sensible chap, Buster Bumblebee declared, And speaking of clover makes me so hungry for some that I'm going to the clover patch this very minute. So Buster darted away, Calling out as he went that he would meet Jimmy at the Holly Hawk Hedge on the next morning. I'll tell you all about the Raising Bee, He promised once more, And Jimmy Rabbit laughed so heartily that he almost choked over a piece of lettuce leaf. He knew what a raising bee was, And it wasn't a bee. Following the crowd. Well, The next day Buster Bumblebee arrived at Farmer Green's place just as the clock in the kitchen was striking nine, And he knew at once that Jimmy Rabbit must have told him the truth about the Raising Bee, For the farmyard was crowded with wagons. There were people everywhere, So many that Buster thought all the world must be there, And he began to look about him carefully. But nowhere could he find what he had come to see, So he asked a wasp where the raising bee was. But the wasp, Who was hurrying by, Merely glanced at Buster and said with a frown, Follow the crowd. Buster remembered then that that was exactly what Jimmy Rabbit had told him to do. And now, As he looked all around, He noticed that Farmer Green was already leading the way to a pile of lumber near the old cow barn. Everybody was following him, And the good many small boys began to shout to nobody in particular, Ray, She's going up! Buster bumblebee hastened to overtake the crowd. They must mean the Raising Bee, He said to himself, And from what those boys are saying, I gather that it's a lady, Raising Bee, And she's going to fly for the company. In his eagerness to see everything that was happening, Buster buzzed very close to a good many people. And though most of them paid little attention to him, There was one boy who slapped at him with his hat and all but hit him, Too. After that, Buster was more careful. He flew higher, And at last he found a fine seat on a tall sunflower from which he could view every move that was made. Farmer Green's guests, That is, The men, For the women had not left the house, The guests all took off their coats and began to arrange themselves around some huge pieces of wood that lay upon the ground. And a great shouting arose. Everybody seemed to be talking at once, And the small boys were everywhere, Chasing one another about and getting in everyone's way. Then all was quiet for a few moments while Farmer Green said something to the men. And as soon as he had stopped talking, Some of the men began to lift a sort of framework of wood into the air. When they had raised it exactly as Farmer Green wanted it, Other men began to pound about the foot of it with hammers. The Buster bumblebee, Though he watched everything very closely, Hadn't the slightest idea what they were doing. Hi there, He called to Old Dog Spot. Where's the raising bee? Old Dog Spot promptly looked confused. Oh, I don't know what you're talking about, He replied. I don't know anything about any bee, And I wish you wouldn't trouble me with your silly questions. These men are helping us to build our new barn, And I'm too busy to talk to anyone. Buster bumblebee was certainly disappointed, And he soon decided that Jimmy Rabbit must have been mistaken. It wasn't the raising bee, After all, That had brought all the neighbors together here. They had come to help Farmer Green with his new barn. Old Dog Spot has said so, And he ought to know if anybody did. The Feast at Farmer Green's In spite of his disappointment at not seeing the raising bee, That new kind of bee that Jimmy Rabbit had told him about, Buster bumblebee decided that he would stay at Farmer Green's place and watch the men put up the frame of the new barn. He remembered that Jimmy had said there would be things to eat afterwards, And maybe a dance besides. Although the barn was a big one, There were so many people to help that it was hardly later than midday when the great timbers, Pieces of wood, Were all in place. And then the men picked up their coats and strolled back to the yard. The small boys had all hurried ahead of them as soon as they noticed that the women and girls were already setting generous dishes of goodies upon long pebbles beneath the shade of the maple trees in front of the farmhouse. And when he saw what was going on, Buster bumblebee hastened to the maple grove, Too. He intended to taste every kind of food that was there in the hope of finding something delicious that he would like. So for some time, He busied himself bussing up and down the long table, Alighting on heaps of donuts and cookies, Pies, Cakes, Bread and butter, Baked beans, And ever so many other good things. But Buster bumblebee did not find anything that really pleased him until he paused at a fat sugar bowl. Since the sugar was sweet, He couldn't help liking that, Though it did seem somewhat tasteless to him after his feasts among the clover tops. "'This is the only food here that's worth eating, ' he remarked to himself, Though perhaps the cake would not be bad once a person has learned to like it. " Luckily, Buster had time to make a hearty meal off the sugar before a red-cheeked girl shooed him away, And then Farmer Green and all his friends sat down at the long tables. How they did eat! They began with pie, And Buster bumblebee, Flying lazily above their heads, Noticed with amazement that enormous pieces were disappearing into the mouths of men, Women, And children. One mouthful such as they took would have fed him at least a month, And there was one boy called Bill, Who stowed away enough each time his fork traveled to his mouth to nourish Buster bumblebee a whole summer. "'That boy is making a pig of himself, ' Buster bumblebee exclaimed right out loud, But since nobody understood what he said, No one paid any attention to his remark. "'You'll be ill if you're not careful, ' Buster buzzed right into the greedy boy's ear. But the youngster, Known as Bill, Only moved his head slightly, And to Buster's alarm, He continued to shove huge mouthfuls of everything into his mouth. It was really a terrible sight. Buster bumblebee was so fascinated, Though. He sat right down on a low-hanging maple branch and kept his eyes fixed on that marvelous boy. Before the feast came to an end, The boy Bill's face underwent an odd, Strange change. In the beginning, It had worn a wide smile. But at last Buster saw a look of pain still over Bill's somewhat besmeared, Messy features. And beneath his coating of tan, He seemed to have grown pale. Before long, Buster was sure he heard a groan, Though no one of the merrymakers paid the slightest heed to it. No one paid attention. Everybody was too busy eating and talking to their neighbors to notice Bill's distress. Then came another groan, And another, And another, And another, Until finally, Greedy Bill clapped both of his hands across the front of his jacket and let out a terrific roar. "'Ah, ' said Buster bumblebee, "'you have a stomach ache, Young man, And it's no wonder. '" Buster and the Fiddlers There was a great rattling of knives and forks dropped suddenly upon plates, And a clatter of cups set hastily upon saucers. For when the boy with the stomachache screamed loud in his agony, All of Farmer Green's guests turned toward him to see what was the matter. Buster bumblebee saw a large woman dressed in bright red rush up to the boy Bill and lead him away towards the farmhouse, Quite doubled up with pain. "'That's his mother, ' Buster decided, And it's lucky for him that she's here. ' Everyone else seemed to think otherwise, And no one appeared very worried. At least all the company fell upon the feast once more, Eating again, And in a surprisingly short time everything but the dishes had vanished. Well the people lingered there and talked, Or the grownups did anyhow. Of course boys and girls didn't want to sit at a table after the good things had all been eaten. And Buster Bee had just made up his mind that the whole affair was really dull. Yeah, He had begun to wish he had not wasted his time at Farmer Green's party when suddenly he heard something that sent a tingle all through him. It was the most delightful sound, And noticing that the people were leaving the scene of the banquet, Buster again remembered Jimmy Rabbit's advice to follow the crowd. So he found himself shortly in the house. And one side of the great square room sat three men, Each holding a strange wooden object upon which he sawed back and forth, Busily, Without appearing to cut anything. And Buster soon learned that the bewitching sound came from the sawing. How do you like the music? Said a voice in Buster's ear. He turned quickly, And he saw then that old dog Spot had followed the crowd too, And was sitting in the doorway where everyone had to walk around him. He seemed to be enjoying himself, And he kept thumping the floor with his tail as if he were trying to keep time with the music. The music is beautiful, Buster Bumblebee said in reply to Spot's question. But there's something I don't quite understand. I've seen men sawing wood before, But they never made no sounds such as this. Old dog Spot couldn't help smiling the least bit. Why, These men aren't sawing wood, They're fiddling, He exclaimed, Three fiddlers fiddling upon fiddles. There's going to be a dance, You know? Old dog Spot continued, And of course, Nobody cares to dance without music. Oh, Certainly not, Buster Bumblebee agreed, And he began to be glad he had come to the farmyard after all. You see, He was fond of music and dancing, And he thought the music played by the three fiddlers was too wonderful for words. Soon the floor was crowded with merry people who bowed to one another and danced, While Buster Bumblebee flitted gaily about just above their bobbing heads, Trying his best to keep time to the music and wishing he had brought some of his friends along with him to Farmer Green's party. As for the raising bee, Buster had completely forgotten it. He was having so much fun at the dance that the real reason for his coming to Farmer Green's place had quite slipped out of his mind. The Bumblebee in the Pumpkin Of course, The dancers at Farmer Green's party had to stop now and then to catch their breath, And the fiddlers, Too, Had to pause in order to rest. That is, Two of them found it necessary to lay their fiddles aside once in a while, And it was no wonder, For they had each eaten a whole custard pie. But the third fiddler, He was different. He was a man after Buster Bumblebee's own heart. He seemed to love to make music and never tired of coaxing the jolliest tunes out of his old fiddle that anyone could hope to hear. He only laughed when his fellow fiddlers laid back in their chairs and mopped their red faces. And just to keep the company and good spirits, And because he couldn't help it, This frolicsome fiddler would start right ahead and play something that was sure to set someone's feet going and make him feel so happy that he would want to shout right out loud. Whenever this merry musician played all alone, Like that, Buster Bumblebee stayed close to him in order to hear better. And so it was that Buster at last met with a surprise. He was bobbing about with a great deal of pleasure to the strains of the lively tune when he heard something that made him settle quickly upon a beam above the jolly fisher's head. He wanted to sit still and listen. Somehow he always had to buzz more or less when he was flying. But he wanted to listen closely because he was almost certain that he heard the buzzing of a strange bee, And the sound seemed to come right out of the fiddle. From his seat on the beam, Buster Bumblebee looked down at the fiddle, Upon which the fiddler was sawing away at a great rate of speed. And he noticed then that there were two openings in it through which a bee might crawl with the greatest of ease. That's it! Buster Bumblebee shouted right out loud. The bee's inside the fiddle! I don't believe the fiddler knows it! He chuckled. And then another idea came into Buster's head. He wondered if that bee were not the racing bee, Which he had gone to so much trouble to see and which he had almost given up finding. Then, Happening to glance about him, Buster noticed that many of the people in the place were smiling at one another and nodding their head wisely as if to say, There's the bee! Do you hear him, Buzz? An old dog-spot, Who still sat in the doorway, Seemed to be smiling too. Anyhow, His jaws were open so wide that his tongue was hanging out of his mouth. Feeling very wise himself, Buster Bumblebee bustled over to the doorway and said to Old Spot, Do you hear that bee? He's inside the fiddle! Then Old Spot actually laughed out loud. You, You're mistaken, He replied. That's the Bumblebee in the pumpkin! Bumblebee? Buster cried. Pardon me, But you are mistaken yourself. There is no Bumblebee. No member of my family has ever bust like that. It must be a racing bee. Perhaps you know best, Said Old Spot, But the people here all say it's a Bumblebee in a pumpkin. What pumpkin? Buster wanted to know. Well, That one, I suppose, Old Dog-Spot told him, Lifting his eyebrow and turning his ear towards a big yellow pumpkin which someone had set on a wide shelf on the wall. Buster Bumblebee looked at the pumpkin and he darted straight to it. If there was a bee of any kind inside it, Making that strange buzzing, He intended to have a good look at him. Buster's mistake. Though he landed right on top of the pumpkin, Which stood on the wide shelf in Farmer Green's house, Buster Bumblebee thought that the strange buzzing sound had grown fainter. He was sure that he had heard it more plainly when he was nearer the merry fiddler. There was a cut in the side of the fat pumpkin, Into which he looked carefully. He even crawled inside the small hole himself, But there was nothing there. And he decided, After thinking deeply for some time, That there could not possibly be a bee inside the pumpkin. As soon as he had made up his mind on that point, Buster Bumblebee hurried back to Old Dog Spot once more. You're certainly wrong, He exclaimed. There's no Bumblebee, Nor any other sort of bee, Anywhere near the pumpkin. There was one there only a moment ago. Old Dog Spot replied, With a sly smile. I didn't see him, Said Buster Bumblebee, Looking much puzzled. Well, I did, Old Spot replied, And that proves I'm right. Buster Bumblebee could think of no good answer to make at that moment. And since the odd buzzing had stopped, And all three fiddlers were turning up for more dance music, In his excitement, Buster forgot all about the raising bee again, The Bumblebee and the pumpkin, And even his dispute with Old Dog Spot. So the dance went on, And at last, Late in the afternoon, The people suddenly remembered that they had to go home to milk the cows. Then the fiddlers put away their fiddles for the dance to come to an end, And Buster Bumblebee was extremely sorry that it was so. Now Jimmy Rabbit had agreed to meet Buster at the hedge between the flower and the vegetable garden on the morning following the great gathering of Farmer Green's friends. At least that was what Buster Bumblebee thought. Unfortunately, However, The matter had slipped entirely from Jimmy Rabbit's mind, And although Buster went to the meeting place each morning, He failed to find his long-eared friend there. Luckily, It was a pleasant spot in which to wait. So each day Buster breakfasted upon the flowers, And if it hadn't been for just one thing, He wouldn't have cared much whether Jimmy Rabbit ever came back to meet him or not. But Buster did want to tell Jimmy Rabbit that he had been mistaken about the raising bee. Jimmy Rabbit knew so much, He was always explaining things to people with such a knowing air that Buster Bumblebee thought it would do Jimmy a world of good to understand that for once he was wrong. If Buster had only visited the garden earlier in the morning, He would have found Jimmy Rabbit easily enough, But Buster did not like to go abroad much until the sun had had a chance to dry the dew, For it was hard for him to fly when his wings were wet. On the other hand, Jimmy Rabbit usually went to the garden at dawn because he had an idea that the lettuce was crisper and tasted better while the cool dew still clung to it. But at last, There came a morning when Jimmy was so late and Buster was so early in reaching the garden that their breakfast hours came at the same time. Making fun of Old Dog Spot Where have you been keeping yourself? Buster Bumblebee cried the moment he caught sight of Jimmy Rabbit's ears sticking up from behind a head of Farmer Green's lettuce. It's quite plain that you forgot to meet me, So I might tell you about the Raising Bee. At that, Jimmy Rabbit promptly replied that he had come there every morning. Anyhow, He said, You promised to meet me, And since you haven't met me until now, It must be your fault, For you haven't done as you agreed. Buster Bumblebee looked puzzled. He was sure the fault had not been his, But his wits were not so nimble as Jimmy Rabbit's, And he could think of no answer at all. Well, What do you know about the Raising Bee? Jimmy asked him with an encouraging smile. You were mistaken about that. Buster told him eagerly, There wasn't any Raising Bee. Farmer Green's neighbors from miles around came to help him put up the frame of his new barn, And afterwards they enjoyed a feast under the trees and a dance. Jimmy Rabbit began to shake in a very strange manner. He cried in a jolly voice. You, You are the one that's mistaken, And not I. You saw a Raising Bee and didn't know it. Farmer Green's friends raised the timbers and wood for the barn. They put it up. They lifted it up. And that's why it's called a Raising Bee. Any helpful, Friendly gathering like that is known as a bee. Though you may not be aware of that fact. Buster Bumblebee stared open-mouthed. He had never suspected such a thing, But Jimmy Rabbit said it was so, And there was nothing to do but believe him. So, They had something to eat and a dance too, Eh? Said Jimmy Rabbit pleasantly. Yes, Said Buster, And there was a Bumblebee in a pumpkin, Though I couldn't see him. But Old Dog Spot said he did, And I suppose I was mistaken, For I thought he was inside a fiddle. And now Jimmy Rabbit was laughing again, Holding his sides and shaking so hard that it seemed as if his ears would fall off if he didn't stop soon. No. You were not mistaken at all, He cried as soon as he could speak. That's an old, Old tune. Old song. My grandfather has hummed it to me many a time. He used to say that there was never another tune just like it. What tune? Buster Bumblebee asked him. I must say, I don't know what you're talking about. Why? The Bumblebee in the Pumpkin, Jimmy Rabbit told him. That's the name of the song. The Bumblebee in the Pumpkin. Every good fiddler knows it, And since the buzzing sound comes out of the fiddle, The Bumblebee must be inside it, Of course. For a moment Buster looked almost angy and confused. He had intended to take Jimmy Rabbit down a peg by telling him he had been mistaken. And to hear was Jimmy Rabbit explaining every strange thing, Just like he always did. It was annoying, So Buster thought, But all at once an idea popped into his head. Old dog Spot was wrong, Wasn't he? Buster cried. He certainly was, Jimmy Rabbit replied. Laughed Buster Bumblebee. Isn't it odd how stupid some people are? It certainly is, Said Jimmy Rabbit, And for some unknown reason he laughed harder than ever before. But Buster Bumblebee did not mind that in the least. He thought that Jimmy Rabbit was talking about old dog Spot, And certainly not about himself. Silly Bumblebee. And that's the end of the story of Buster Bumblebee. He was indeed a rather silly bee, Wasn't he? He's very sweet, But very silly. We'll be back again soon with another story. Bye for now.

Reviews

This story almost put me to sleep...only if it was longer I still give it 5 stars 🌟