54 
UNDER THE PLANTAIN LEAF 
voice was drowned by Miss Vespa’s 
loud buzzing, so there was nothing 
to do but to allow her to hum away 
until she was tired of it. When she 
at last paused in her unchanging 
song, the ant said: 
“Yes, I agree with you, that your 
music is very beautiful, but I hope 
you do not imagine that buzzing is 
the only melody in the world. Surely 
you have heard that made by the 
birds, which you must admit is very 
delightful.” 
“Yes,” replied the wasp, stretching 
her wings proudly, “it is true that 
the noise made by the birds is not 
very bad. Indeed, I often think it 
makes a fair accompaniment to my 
song, and I do not object to it at 
