In a lovely flower garden, the sun was shining bright, and a cheerful little bee named Bella was anxiously chatting with her friends.
“Will you come to the big flowers with me?” she buzzed sweetly.
“No, no, Bella,” said her friend. “There are humans out there; it is too dangerous!”
But Bella felt in her heart that she wanted to go to the big flowers, and her friends did not dare to come with her.
So she sat on the side of the hive, crying sadly, “Will no one come with me?”
Just then, old Queen-bee came by.
“What is the matter, my children?” she asked.
And the rest of the bees told her how Bella wanted to go to the big flowers, but no one dared to go with her.
“Get your hat and fly away to the big flowers,” said Queen-bee to Bella. “It is wrong to stay here, wanting to do things that you are afraid to try. You do not need to fear the humans; they will not hurt you. Be brave, and go gather nectar from the big flowers.”
Bella took heart and, humming a tune, flew away to the big flowers. When she reached them, she saw yellow pollen on the petals and wide-open tubes of sweet nectar.
“I will go all around the flower,” said she, “and it will be a sweet treat.”
So she did, and the big flower swayed in the light wind, bending its head toward her as if to thank her for coming. Then Bella flew off to the flowers in the orchard. Here there were a great many blossoms, and they were very different from the bouquet of flowers she had left.
“Oh, how brilliant they are!” buzzed Bella. “I never saw any quite like them, even at home.”
She flew up to the highest blossoms of all and sipped their sweet nectar. Then Bella flew all around and collected the sweet yellow pollen into little baskets on her legs.
“Whoever has never been here,” thought Bella as she looked about her, “can form no idea of the beauty. I must come back again tomorrow.”
Poor little bee! Only see what happened to her!
A lump of sticky glue fell from the tree, and as Bella was resting herself on one of the bright blossoms, it came down on her.
“Oh, dear, oh me!” said Bella. “I am caught fast. What shall I do?”
And she kicked and she pulled, but it was no use. She could not stir. Just then a humble-bee came whizzing by. He looked at Bella and then sat down by her and said, “What are you crying for?”
“Oh, dear,” said Bella, “this lump of glue has caught me, and I cannot get free.”
“Be quiet,” said the humble-bee. “Perhaps I can help you.”
He put his mouth to the lump of glue and blew three times, and it was as if a wind had come to help her. The glue burst apart, and Bella was free. She jumped about for joy, and said over and over again, “Thank you, thank you! Now may I pay you for the good turn?”
“Yes,” said the humble-bee, “I cheerfully accept your offer; it is always good to repay a favor to another. This is what I ask: that you keep your bright, warm heart and never think too much of us humble-bees. It makes them sad because they have nothing brilliant about them. Adieu!”
Bella thanked him again and again, for he had saved her; but she never saw him again. Only a few days passed, and she was dead. If you know anything of the life of a bee, you know that it is soon over. She was born that spring morning, and by night of the second day, she was lying on the dry ground, dead.
She had done a bee’s work, and had gathered nectar as long as she lived. Her legs were all fulled with pollen, and in her little limbs were many gallons of sweet honey that she had brought from the flowers. For this honey, the beekeepers were very thankful, and so were all the flowers in the fields and meadows, for now they stood in gay dresses, with sweet scents about them. One little bee, just as poor simple-hearted humble-bee had told her to do, had worked that spring and summer; and it is the same year after year. And when the flowers look up where the fruits are coming, they all say, “Thank you, Brave Little Bee!”
The sweetest honey that you ever tasted has come out of a little body that was made in the shape of a bee.