17 
So off the bee flew; and in a few moments it saw 
hundreds of little pink and white handkerchiefs waving 
at it from the apple orchard. 
What do you suppose these were, these gay little 
handkerchiefs? They were the flower leaves of the 
apple blossoms. I call them handkerchiefs, because, 
just as boys and girls sometimes wave their handker- 
chiefs when they wish to signal other boys and girls, 
so the apple tree uses its gay flower leaves to attract 
the attention of the bee, and persuade it to visit the 
flowers. Of course, really, they are not handkerchiefs 
at all. They would hardly be large enough for any but 
fairy noses, would they? 
When the bee saw so many bright handkerchiefs 
waving it welcome, along it hurried; for it knew this 
was a signal that material for honey making was at 
hand. Another minute, and it had settled upon a 
freshly opened flower, and was eagerly stealing the 
precious sweet. 
You children know, that, when you are given per- 
mission to go to the closet for a piece of candy or cake, 
you are not apt to set about it very gently. You are in 
too much of a hurry for that. Often you come very 
near knocking everything over, in your haste to get 
hold of what you want. 
And bees are quite as greedy as any boy or girl could 
be. So our friend dived right into the pretty’ flower, 
brushing rudely against the little dust boxes. These, 
being full to overflowing with golden dust, spilled their 
contents, and powdered the bee quite yellow. 
Having made sure that nothing more was to be found 
DANA’S PLANTS. — 2 
