32 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. Februar , 



Warm at the fragrant work, in bands Then work their woven lodgings 



they drive their hives. 



The drone, a lazy robber, from their And labor honey and sustam thei 



hive. lives. 



, Here their delicious task the ferve 



Tell me. ye studious, who pretend to ^^^^ 



^^^ . , In swarming millions tend; arour d 



Far into nature s bosom, whence the athwart 



t»e^ , n- , . Through the soft air the busy natio 



Was first inform d her vent rous flight ^^^ 



to steer. Cling to the bud, and with insert 



Through trackless paths, and an abyss ^^^^ 



of air? S^,(,l^ its pure essence its ether 



Whence she avoids the slimy marsh, ^^^^j • i 



and knows ^^^j ^f^^ ^jj-^ bolder wing, they so; 



The fertile hills, where sweeter herb- ^^^ ^^j.^ 



age grows, . -pi^e purple heath, or where the w 



And honey-making flowers their thyme grows, 



opening buds disclose; f^^^^ yellow load' them with the i 



How from the thicken d mist, and set- cious spoil. 



ting sun, 



Finds she the labor of her day is ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^.^ ^^^^^^ ^^ 



done? r , 



Who taught her against winds and J^^ ^.^. ^^^^-^ ^and'ring v 



rains to strive, , i-„u^. 



To bring her burden to the certain ^^ '^'re in clusfring swarms 4 



And throngl, the liquid fields again to ""f uncITtalJ' through the v 



pass, 1 . 



Duteous, and heark'ning to the sound- o-^^^ y^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ 



me brass? i- -j <- 



* liquid sweet. 



But" all their cares and industry : 



The careful insect, 'midst his works I get, 



view. Then, if at length, the tinkling bi 



Now from the flower exhaust the fra- they hear, 



grant dew. With swift amaze their flight t 



With golden treasure load his little soon forbear; 



thighs, Sudden their flow'ry labor they 



And steer his distant journey through new, 



the skies; Hang on the thyme and sip the ba 



Some against hostile drones the hive dew. 



defend; Meantime, secure on Hybla's frag) 



Others with sweets the waxen-cells plain, 



distend: With joy exults the happy shepr 



Each in the toil his destined office swain; 



bears. Proud that his art had thus prese 



\nd in the little bulk a mighty soul his store, 



appears. He scorns to think his homely cott 

 poor. 



W lien golden suns appear ^^ . , , ,■ • j u n 



An.l under earth have driv'ii the win- Hark! the bee winds her small, 



tor vear- mellow horn 



TlM winged' nations wander through Blithe to salute the sunny smile 



tlic sky morn, 



^\nd ocr the plains and shady forests O'er thymy downs she bends her t 



fl^, . course, 



Thcr: -looping on the meads and And many a stream allures her tc 



leaflv bowers source. 



Tlnv '^ifm the floods, and sip the pur- 'Tis noon, 'tis night: -that eye so: 



pic fl,.wers; ly wrought 



