Elizabeth Sandham

“ Oh! it turns me sick to think of it; had I flown one inch farther I might have been thus impaled, and you also; no doubt you would not have escaped his observation, and for the sake of your sting, or examining what you carry your honey in, you would have been quickly dispatched; various are the instruments he has got about him, and numberless insects does he daily destroy."
"These are detestable creatures indeed," answered the Bee; "what can't they be satisfied with viewing our forms as we pass along, but must they pull us to pieces, by way of admiration? ”

“ It was from one of these resting places, in which the Bee was delightfully employed extracting sweets from an "extended field of blossomed beans," that the Butterfly stretched his wings to a neighbouring garden; here such various beauties met his eyes that he could not help returning to call his friend to enjoy them with him. "Such a bed of tulips, I have met with," said he, "whose splendid colours can only be equalled by my wings; pray come, and see what lovely flowers."
[Pg 39]
"Have you not yet learnt that there is something more valuable in a flower than its colour?" ”

“ To be handsome is as much as some people desire, thought the Butterfly, on observing her face resume a smile, "no wonder that we Butterflies should wish it." After some more conversation equally foolish, she also arrived at the place of her destination, and the gentleman, not at all regarding his other companions, again deplored the melancholy situation he should be left in. ”

“ Struck with shame that these should be on the wing before him, he at that moment forgot all the kind admonitions of his mother, and the punishment that awaited him if he disobeyed them; and mounting in the air, his loud humming testified his joy at being again at liberty. But alas! ”

“ The Butterfly was now alarmed for his friend from another cause, and feared the want of air would be too much for him.
"Cruel monsters," said he to himself, as he observed the gentlemen draw their chairs closer to the table, and filling their glasses appeared determined to suffer no other interruption to their cheerfulness; "do they call themselves humane, who can leave a poor creature in that situation, and after they have cut and slashed at him in such a manner, that if their dexterity had been equal to their will, they would not have left a whole bone in his skin. ”

“ You very well know it is in our power to live without their assistance; what is it which they procure us but just an empty shell [Pg 131] for our habitation? for this they expect our stock of honey, and to obtain it scruple not to take our lives! We have already seen, in the destruction of one or two of our neighbouring hives, the fate which awaits us; but could I persuade all of my species to wing their flight beyond their reach, they might be taught a little more humanity, and would perhaps spare our lives, if we were again in their power. ”

“ This resolution of the young Bee was not long a secret in the community; he buzzed it about among all his acquaintances; nor was it hid from the queen, who, acting in the two-fold character, first warned him of the danger, and then, on pain of their not being re-admitted, absolutely forbade any one's going out of the hive without her leave. But what can deter the obstinacy of a conceited youngster? Nothing. If experience obliges him to confess that in one thing he is wrong, he still continues as firmly bent upon another ”

“ The Butterfly testified his thanks by a fluttering of his wings; "but I do not particularly relish that food," said he, "and you would perhaps wonder what it is we do eat, for it is no uncommon opinion that we live upon air; however, in our reptile state, we make up for our little eating now; were you to [Pg 31] see the devastation we make in the vegetable world, you would be surprised; three or four dozen of us will destroy a bed of cabbages in an hour or two, and we often strip a shrub of all its leaves in the course of a morning." ”

“ I fancy when they have taken the most accurate survey, they could not make [Pg 119] either a Bee, or a Butterfly; it is a pity therefore that they should destroy that life which they can never give. I declare the more I see of these human beings, and think of their cruelty, as well as absurdities, it makes me almost determine to quit the haunts of men, and if it ever should be my lot again to seek another habitation, I would use all my influence with my fellow Bees in order to remove to some wild wood where they might never find us. ”

“ I have passed one of these monuments of their ungrateful cruelty, and seen the mangled remains of your fellow-creatures till my wings have quite trembled again, and yet you never do them harm; they form your habitation, and encourage you to build in them by pretending to shelter you from all evil, yet after all this fancied kindness, if they think you are too old to labour for them any longer, as a reward for all you have done, they set fire to your houses, and destroy thousands of you in the flames! ”

“ So saying, he followed the Butterfly, who was immediately on the wing; and soon arrived at a very large house, one end of which formed the conservatory. The fragrancy of the flowers it contained, the great variety of them, and those of the most delicate nature, made the Bee clap his wings for joy.
"Why, my dear friend," said he, "you have brought me to a treasure-house indeed; a store of sweets, I can [Pg 80] hardly forbear returning to call all my companions to share it with me; I am sure there would be work enough for the whole hive were they here." ”

“ Bee puts the Ladies to flight—His confinement—The Butterfly's anxiety—His Friend regains his Liberty and returns late to the Hive—The Butterfly detects flattery in a Gentleman to a Lady, and is alarmed by a hint from his Friend as they separate for the Night. ”

“ Our time is our own, and we enjoy it as we like," added he, clapping his wings, and flying off in pursuit of some companion as thoughtless as himself. The next morning he returned very early to the hive [Pg 103] in hopes of seeing his old friend, though he did not suppose he would allow him his company for more than a minute.
"We can converse together as we fly," said the Bee, who advanced to meet him, "but I must fetch some honey for her majesty's breakfast; won't you accompany me? we still go on building very fast, and wax is brought in great abundance for that purpose." ”

“ He frisked about [Pg 96] among the flowers, yet still contrived to keep the hive in view; till at length he saw a Bee advance, whom, from her majestic appearance, he concluded was the queen; a number of attendants immediately followed her; and, among the rest, his friend. She turned as if to take a last look at the home she was about to leave for ever, and on seeing multitudes of its inhabitants flocking out, as fast as the narrow entrance would allow, appeared to glory in the exulting throng; till raising her wings she led the way to seek some other habitation. ”

“ This acknowledgement was sufficient for the Butterfly, who fluttered about in grateful joy, and in the course of the day made many excursions, from all of which he returned with good humour and kind enquiries; while the Bee continued to fly from flower to flower, and though [Pg 25] he was sometimes ready to regret that he had not a hive, to which he could carry the produce of his labours, and receive the commendations of his mother for so doing, he felt that he was yet too weak to work to much advantage, and therefore tried to be content with what was necessary for himself. ”

“ All were earnest in their endeavours to get near her, and to the eye of [Pg 97] the Butterfly, who followed at an humble distance, they appeared a formidable phalanx; eager not only to prevent the approach of danger, but that even the eye of a stranger should be fixt upon her. Presently a crowd of people, from the neighbouring houses, came running towards them, with pot-lids in their hands, with which, as the whole body were slowly hovering round the trunk of an old tree, they endeavoured to drown their humming noise with a much louder one of their own ”

“ The endearments of his mother returned to his mind with double force, nor could he fear being well received by her, and if by her, all the rest he knew dared not use him differently; "I will acknowledge my disobedience to her commands," said he, "and when she knows what I have gone through she will forgive me; I shall again receive her commendations, and repose myself under her mild and equitable government." ”

“ The Butterfly was evidently disappointed; "I know," said he, "that our natures are different; I am not held in such high estimation as yourself, nor am I half so useful, or my life so long as your's; 'the creatures but of a day,' is what we are generally called, yet that day it is my wish to spend well, and as far as is in my power to be of benefit to another; if it was to one meaner than myself it would be gratifying, but when I consider that it is to a Bee that my services are useful, it is doubly so ”

“ I thought I would just take a sip or two, and perhaps bring home a little of it to the hive."
On hearing this one of the oldest of the throng thus addressed him: "Know, my brother, that what we make ourselves is only welcome there, and that [Pg 123] food for which we labour hardest, is the sweetest to the palate of every industrious Bee; idle drones and wandering wasps may sip the honey which others have prepared, but let the danger you have escaped to-day teach you to use the powers nature has given you, and taste the sweets of your own procuring rather than that of others." ”

“ A young Bee, deceived by fine weather, leaves the Hive too early, and contrary to the advice and commands of his Mother—His sufferings and close confinement, the result of his disobedience: excites the compassion of a Butterfly—a friendship formed between them in consequence of it. ”

“ During that winter they were suffered to remain unmolested, and as the ensuing summer approached, (according to the plan he had formed so long ago,) he proposed their taking a farther flight, and seeking a refuge in some solitary wood; "I have seen more of mankind than you have, my friends," said he, "and have observed both their customs and manners; believe me, they are inconsistent fickle creatures; their conduct towards one another shows that they are not to be trusted; much more, then, have we reason to be afraid of them. ”

“ As soon as the sun was sufficiently above the earth, the inhabitants of the hive hastened forth, eager to pursue their daily task—
"Around, athwart,
"Thro' the soft air the busy nations fly."
And among the first came our young adventurer, whom the Butterfly immediately prepared to accompany; though [Pg 60] till he saw him a little separated from the others, he did not presume to approach. "How do you do, my friend?" said the Bee, as soon as he drew near; "are you inclined for a long flight to-day? ”

“ The Butterfly's alarm, and account of a Naturalist—Wasps ensnared in a Bottle—A Bee drowning in a Pot of Honey, is extricated by his Friend—Flies—The Bee's remarks upon them, nearly offends his Friend by comparing them with him—The Butterfly foretells the approach of Winter, and notwithstanding the kind [Pg viii] endeavours of his Friend, dies—The Bee's Regret—He performs the last Office for him, and returns to the Hive, where, after remaining the Winter, he persuades the whole Community to remove their Quarters—They forsake their Hive and retire beyond the reach of Men. ”

“ The Bee was still stiff, and felt too much of the ill effects of his last visit to wish to accompany him on another, at present, therefore he remained but just without the hive, and left the Butterfly to make 'the voyage of observation' by himself. In the evening, as they again met, he enquired into the result of his rambles.
"I am more and more astonished at the weakness of mortals," returned the Butterfly, "and am convinced that a [Pg 91] fine lady will believe any thing, and will be pleased with the greatest nonsense, if said to her by way of compliment ”

“ Meanwhile, the Butterfly waited without the hive, till his friend returned, and they renewed their flight.
Nothing particular met their eye till they passed some flies, who were round [Pg 124] a piece of horse-flesh, the smell of which discovered where it lay, and its half devoured state shewed the avidity with which these buzzing insects fed upon it. "See," said the Bee, "what opposite natures are within the circle of creation. These devouring flies find as much pleasure in eating from this stinking carrion, as from the choicest honey ”

“ It is to open this lesson to them that the following pages are written, and with the hope that if Folly does not blind their eyes, and Prejudice (who, whichever way she turns, chooses to see things only through her own medium,) has not yet erected her throne in their breasts, they may receive even from the limited remarks of a Bee and a Butterfly a gentle hint or two of what they may expect to meet with in their [Pg xii] future walks through life ”

“ The Bee out early in search of his former abode, accompanies the Butterfly to a bed of Tulips—Farther discovery of vanity in the latter—Children in pursuit of him—The Bee appears in his defence and commits a great outrage—He sees his Hive at a distance—His Joy on beholding it—His Return and Re-admission there—The consequence of a Bee in danger. ”

“ Content to share with us what our labours have produced, they might then leave us to die when our exhausted nature fails, and for their own sakes also would not cut us off in the prime of life, and while we have health and strength to add to the stock, which would be as much for their benefit as our own. ”