208 Language Through Nature 



that kings of distant lands came to his country or 

 sent their great men to learn of him. 



The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame 

 and decided to visit him and test for herself his 

 great wisdom. She had her most skillful workmen 

 make a bunch of artificial flowers, and so perfect 

 were they that the keenest eye could not tell them 

 from the flowers that grow in the field. When she 

 came before the king, these make-believe flowers 

 and a bunch of real flowers were brought in and the 

 king was asked to tell which were the real flowers. 



The king was puzzled, for, look as carefully as 

 he might, his eye could not tell which flowers were 

 real. Just then he caught sight of a bee outside the 

 window and told a servant to throw wide the sash. 

 The bee flew into the room and soon made its way 

 to the heart of the real flowers. Then the king said, 

 "The answer to your question is plain, O Queen; 

 the strong and wise may learn from the smallest 

 creature if he will but watch for its teaching." 



The queen answered, "I have come far to learn 

 the secret of your wisdom, O King, and my journey 

 is not in vain. I begin to see that you are truly 

 wise." 



Write the story of King Solomon and the Bee. 



