Overview
A fable about Mr. Bear who attempts to steal honey from a beehive, loses his temper when confronted, and suffers painful consequences from his anger.
The Search for Honey
- Mr. Bear discovers his cupboard is empty of honey
- He ventures into the forest to find some
- He locates a beehive in a tree and smells the honey inside
Initial Confrontation
- Mr. Bear sticks his paw into the beehive to take honey
- A bee flies out and warns him the honey is not his
- Mr. Bear dismisses the warning, claiming superiority due to his size and strength
- The bee stings him directly on the nose when he tries again
Escalation of Anger
- Mr. Bear becomes enraged and finds a large stick
- He attempts repeatedly to hit the bee but cannot catch it
- His anger intensifies as the bee evades his swings
- The bee retreats back into the beehive
Destructive Consequences
- Mr. Bear smashes the beehive to pieces with his stick
- Thousands of bees emerge from the destroyed hive
- The swarm chases him through the forest, stinging his ears, elbows, arms, legs, hands, and nose
- He runs home and slams the door shut to escape
Resolution and Lesson
- Mrs. Bear recognizes he lost his temper again
- She provides bee-sting medicine while Mr. Bear cries and counts his stings
- Mrs. Bear reveals they had honey at home all along, hidden behind the flour in the cupboard
- Moral: A hot temper always gets you into trouble