[CHAPTER XX]
The Story of the Honey Bee
“NOW,” began her strange little friend, “I shall tell you about the honey bees.
There are two thousand different kinds of bees known at the present time, but the most useful and best understood are the honey bees. The homes (usually wooden boxes) furnished by man for bees are called hives, but the wild bees live ordinarily in hollow trees or caves. The prettiest and gentlest family of the honey bees are the Italian Bees.
Perhaps you think you lead a busy life. If you worked from earliest morning to dark you could not be busier than good Mrs. Honey Bee, for she never trifles nor wastes a minute.
Perhaps you think she goes leisurely from flower to flower, sipping the sweet nectar, and has a very delightful time simply enjoying herself.
You are mistaken, then, for the worker honey bee is not thinking of herself at all, except to eat just enough to keep her well.
She is working for the good of the whole Bee family, and especially for the little Baby Bees.