"
The children liked the queer little rhyme, and said it over until they
knew it by heart.
At last Grandpa said, "I guess it's about time to turn in for tonight."
"Oh, no," said Don--"not till Grandma tells us our story."
"All right," said Grandma; "I shall tell you this time about a little
bee called Bee Grateful. It has a very sharp sting, as you will see.
"Far away, under sunny Italian skies, there is an old, old town by the
name of Atri. It is built on the side of a steep hill.
"A very long time ago, the king of Atri bought a great golden-toned bell
and hung it in the tower at the market-place. Fastened to the bell, there
was a long rope that reached almost to the ground.
"'We shall call it the bell of justice,' said the king.
"He proclaimed a great holiday in Atri, and invited everyone to come to
the marketplace and see the bell. It shone like gold in the bright
sunlight. When the king came riding down the street, the people whispered
to one another, 'Perhaps he will ring the bell.'
"But he did not. Instead, he stopped at the foot of the tower and raised
his hand. All the whispering and talking stopped; for the people knew
that the king was about to speak.
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