132 PLEASING ASSOCIATIOXS. 



farm-house and the flower-garden, and to consider 

 those industrious little animals as connected with the 

 busy haunts of man ; and I am told that the wild bee 

 is seldom to be met with at any great distance from 

 the frontier."* In the observations respecting the 

 bee-hive we can all perfectly concur, although ^^Tit- 

 ten in a country differing in so many particulars 

 from our own, and where new forms of vegetation 

 replace the heaths and roses, among which the bees 

 of these kingdoms delight to revel. 



Though the flight of the bee is at all times pleas- 

 ing, it is especially so when, at the close of a sum- 

 mer day, she directs her course homeward to the 

 hive or to the nest. At that hour, when the fresh- 

 ness of evening is in the air, and the hues of sun- set 

 in the sky, there are many who have, with the poet, 



" Welcomed the wild bee home on wearied wing. 

 Laden with sweets, the choicest of the spring." 



RoGEKs' Pleasures of Memory, Canto I. 



To all such the maiden's song, when " busy day is 

 o'er," will be fraught with pecuhar charms. 



" Hark I along the humming air 

 Home the laden bees repair." 



Milman'* Martyr of Antioch. 



I must not, however, conclude the subject of Bees, 

 Avithout mentioning a curious fact, communicated to 



* Miscellanies, by the Authorof the Sketch-Book, p. 61. 



