The Life of the Bee 



leading the horses, at that other who 



throws up the sheaves on his fork, at the 



ivomen bending over the corn, and the 



children at play. . . . They have not 



displaced a stone, or removed a spadefiil 



of earth, to add to the beauty of the 



scenery ; nor do they take one step, plant 



a tree or a flower, that is not necessary. 



All that we see is merely the involuntary 



result of the effort that man puts forth to 



subsist for a moment in nature ; and yet 



those among us whose desire is only to 



create or imagine spectacles of peace, 



deep thoughtfulness, or beatitude, have 



been able to find no scene more perfect 



than this, which indeed they paint or 



describe whenever they seek to present 



us with a picture of beauty or happiness. 



Here we have the first semblance, which 



some will call the truth." 



332 



