Voice of Flowers/The Hollyhock and her Visitor
THE HOLLYHOCK AND HER VISITOR.
A large bumble-bee often visited a stately hollyhock. He lingered in the deep red cup that she made for him, and talked busily with her. The neighboring flowers heard the full tones of his voice, but could not distinguish his words.
At length, a tall larkspur bent her ear, and listening closely, understood him to say, "I am very rich. I have gathered much pollen. I store it in a large wax palace, which I shall fill with honey. None of the bumble-bees in the village can compare with me."
"Oh, it must make you very happy," answered the hollyhock, "that when any poor, sick bees come and ask relief, you will have plenty for them, as well as yourself."
"I cannot undertake to feed them," he replied. "Every one must provide for himself. I worked hard to get what is mine. Let others go and do the same."
"But will yon be able to use all that you have laid up? And, if not, what good will it do you?" asked the hollyhock, blushing more brightly from the earnestness with which she spoke.
"I never expect to use half of it, but I do not choose to give it away. What good will it do me to hoard it up, do you ask? Why, don't I hear people say, there goes the rich bumble-bee? That pleases me."
"I will tell you how to get rich, too. Open your leaves wide when the sun shines, and gather all the beams you can, and keep them close in your secret chainber. Then, when the dews fall, and you have drank as much as possible, shut yourself up, and do not let a single drop escape on the buds below; so you will be sure to grow larger than they."
But the hollyhock said, "There is no avarice among flowers. We take what our Father sends, and are glad. We do not wrinkle our brows with care, or grow old before our time."
The bumble-bee drew nearer still, and said, "You know nothing at all about the pleasures that wealth can bring. Listen! I think of setting up an equipage. I shall have two glow-worms for postillions; you know their lamps will cost me nothing. But you must not breathe this, for I have not yet mentioned it to my wife."
The hollyhock replied with a clear voice, "There is neither meum nor tuum among the flower-people. We like to share with others the good things that come to us from above. It makes us happier than to sound a trumpet before us, and boast of riches with which we do no good."
Then the large bumble-bee seemed offended at his friend the hollyhock, and, buzzing in an angry tone, flew away.
