of leaving a country, where I had not the power of assisting the wretched, and where my own life was also hourly in hazard. Now," added Mr. Selby, looking at his watch, "it is time for me to keep my appointment."

1

THE BEES.

NEXT day, at tea, as the children were eating some of the honey Mary Atkins had given them, the curious appearance of the honey-comb induced them to ask their mamina a great many questions about bees. They knew how honey and wax were obtained and preserved by bees, from reading Miss Edgeworth's book about Little Frank, but they wanted to know a great deal more; for they had heard their papa once talking with a gentleman

about the economy of bees, and they did not know what was meant by economy of bees. Mrs. Johnson told them, what was called "the economy of bees' signified their admirable management of their work, and disposal of themselves into little parties, the better to accomplish it; and also their submitting to be directed by one bee, whom we dis tinguish by the name of Queen-bee, from her commanding the whole hive. This single bee, while young, is fed by the other bees, with the best of the honey; and they make her a cell three times as large as the cells of the common working bee. The industry and activity of bees is truly wonderful! not one in the whole hive is unemployed: some are engaged in gathering honey and wax; others in rebuilding rotten cells; some keep guard at the entrance of the hive, to prevent

other insects going in; some are employed in carrying out the dead, -for, when one bee dies, the other bees will not allow the dead body to remain in the hive: they drag it to the entrance, and then throw it over the stone on which the hive is placed. If the dead bee be a very large one, and too heavy for the little labourers to drag, they cover him over entirely with wax, so that no remains of him can be seen. They keep the hive beautifully neat and clean. It is said, by people who have taken great notice of bees, that, when they begin to work, which is as soon as warm weather has covered the fields with verdure, and the trees and shrubs with sweet flowers, they divide themselves into four companies; one of which roves the fields in search of farina, to make wax; another is employed in laying out the bottoms and parti

tions of the cells; a third party in smoothing off all the rough corners; and the fourth, in collecting and bringing food for the support of all the rest. Sometimes they relieve one another, by changing their employments. I have been told some very curious proofs of the attachment of bees to their queen, by a gentleman, whom I was acquainted with, who was so fond of these wonderful insects, as to pay very particular attention to all their movements. He assured me, that bees were not inclined to sting, unless offended, and that, if a person, when bees are buzzing round him, would only stand quite still, he would not be hurt; but people generally attempt to drive them away, which irritates them to sting. This gentleman had become so familiar with bees, that he oftentimes amused

Q

his friends with shewing them how he could cause the whole swarm to follow him, by carrying off the queen-bee. To accomplish this, he used to turn up the hive, and give a few taps on the bottom and sides, when the queen speedily appeared, apparently to learn the reason of the alarm: being accustomed to see her so often, he readily distinguished her at the first glance; and practice had enabled him to seize her with so much caution and tenderness, as neither to hurt, nor excite that degree of resentment which would have tempted her to sting. He then returned the hive to its place, and kept the queen-bee in his hand, until all the other bees, missing her, left the hive in the utmost confusion, to seek their mistress. When the bees were thus distressed, my friend used to place