had said, "Open the window."

The next moment two bees flew eagerly in. Then came another and
another. All flew to the flowers in the queen's right hand. Not one of
the bees so much as looked at those in her left hand.

"O Queen of Sheba, the bees have given you my answer," then said
Solomon.

And the queen said, "You are wise, King Solomon. You gather knowledge
from the little things which common men pass by unnoticed."

King Solomon lived three thousand years ago. He built a great temple
in Jerusalem, and was famous for his wisdom.




OUR FIRST GREAT PAINTER



A long time ago there lived, in Pennsylvania, a little boy whose name
was Benjamin West.

This boy loved pictures. Indeed, there were few things that he loved
more. But he had never seen any pictures except a few small ones in
a book. His father and mother were Quakers, and they did not think it
was right to spend money for such things. They thought that pictures
might take one's mind away from things that were better or more useful.