72 
THE HONEY-MAKERS. 
food in Bible times, and was the emblem of wealth 
tuid prosperity. We read of lands “flowing with 
milk and honey,” meaning countries abundant in 
the good tilings of life ; and the well-known rich- 
ness and sweetness of honey furnish many of the 
most forcible illustrations of the Scriptures. 
Ihe bee stores up the honey for use in the long, 
cold winter when the flowers are gone, and the 
ground is white with snow. How like the pru- 
dence of the farmer, who, before the winter months 
have come, fills his garner with grain and fruit 
from his fields. Who teaches the bee thus to 
provide for coming wants ? Even the same kind 
God that teaches the little ant, “ which, having 
no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat 
in the summer and gathereth her food in the har- 
vest.” 
The bee seems readily to distinguish the poison- 
ous from the harmless plants. She carefully avoids 
the oleander, so injurious to flies, and the white 
and showy blossom of the crown imperial ; while 
she delights in the clover-blossom, the rose, the 
fragrant lilac, the sweet-smelling sage, and similar 
plants, from which is collected the most delicate 
