One day a bumblebee was flying along, sometimes stopping to sip the sweets of the flowers, and sometimes buzzing along to visit others. At last he strayed so far from home that he did not know which way to turn. The day was getting late, and he feared he should have to sleep away from the hive.
He buzzed around and around, but still could not find the way to his home, and at last he cried out:
“Dear kind Butterfly, can you tell me where I am to go to find my home? For night is coming on, and I have lost my way.”
“Yes, indeed, I will help you,” said the Butterfly, and spreading out her great, beautiful wings, she said, “Hop on, and I will carry you through the air to your home.” So the Bumblebee hopped on to the Butterfly’s back, and off they started on their way.
But after flying along some distance, the Butterfly said, “I am afraid you are much too heavy for me.”
“Oh, no,” said the Bumblebee, “I weigh hardly a thing.”
But soon after this the Butterfly said again, “I am afraid you are much too heavy for me.”
“Oh, no,” said the Bumblebee, “I weigh hardly a thing.”
But before they had gone much further, the Butterfly was again obliged to cry out:
“You are much too heavy for me.”
“Oh, no, I am not,” said the Bumblebee, and the moment after, the Butterfly dropped to the ground, and the Bumblebee found that he had jumped off, and little knew the weight of the things he was carrying.
“You have indeed thrown,” said the Butterfly, “one Bumbling Bee too many upon my back.”