The closet delighted him extremely , and he buzzed in the most joyful manner when he got among the provisions , -- for we kept house together . Such revels as he had in the sugar-bowl ; such feasts of gingerbread and grapes ; such long sips of milk , and sly peeps into every uncovered box and dish ! Once I 'm afraid he took too much cider , for I found him lying on his back , kicking and humming like a crazy top , and he was very queer all the rest of that day ; so I kept the bottle corked after that . But his favorite nook was among the ferns in the vase which a Parian dancing-girl carried . She stood just over the stove on one little toe , rattling some castanets , which made no sound , and never getting a step farther for all her prancing . This was a warm and pretty retreat for Buzz , and there he spent much of his time , swinging on the ferns , sleeping snugly in the vase , or warming his feet in the hot air that blew up , like a south wind , from the stove . I do n't believe there was a happier fly in Boston than my friend Buzz , and I grew fonder and fonder of him every day ; for he never got into mischief , but sung his cheery song , no matter what the weather was , and made himself agreeable . Then he was so interested in all I did , it was delightful to have him round . When I wrote he came and walked about over my paper to see that it was right , peeped into my ink-stand , and ran after my pen . He never made silly or sharp criticisms on my stories , but appeared to admire them very much ; so I am sure he was a good judge . When I sewed , he sat in my basket , or played hide-and-seek in the folds of my work , talking away all the while in the most sociable manner . He often flew up all of a sudden , and danced about in the air , as if he was in such a jolly mood he could n't keep still , and wanted me to come and play with him . But , alas ! I had no wings , and could only sit stupidly still , and laugh at his pranks . That was his exercise , for he never went out , and only took a sniff of air now and then when I opened the windows . Well , little Buzz and I lived together many weeks , and never got tired of one another , which is saying a good deal . At Christmas I went home for a week and left my room to take care of itself . I put the hyacinths into the closet to be warm , and dropped the curtain , so the frost should not nip my ivy ; but I forgot Buzz . I really would have taken him with me , or carried him down to a neighbour 's room to be taken care of while I was away , but I never thought of him in the hurry of getting my presents and myself ready . Off I went without even saying ` good-bye , ' and never thought of my little friend till Freddy , my small nephew , said to me one evening at dusk , -- ` Aunt Jo , tell me a story . '
So I began to tell him about XXXXX , and all of a sudden I cried out , -- ` Mercy on me !
Buzz Freddy evening gingerbread hide-and-seek ink-stand nook right sips week