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THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

 

The Fly, the Bee, and the Ant.

 

A FABLE,

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH, FOR THE CHILD'S FRIEND.

 

Ant, and an industrious modest

Bee, met together in the corner
of a grove. The Fly, according to her
wont, sipped at the flowers, the grasses,
the dust and the manure, and settled her-
self upon every spot without discrimina-
tion. Up the ridges, down the hollows,
and along the level spaces, feeling her
way with her two antennz, she fearlessly
pursued her path. Dame Ant, on the
contrary, laboriously lugged everything
into her store-house. The Bee, in the
meanwhile, flew straight to the flowers,
and from rosy morn to purple twilight
diligently plied her task, in filling her bas-
ket with their sweets.

NCE upon a time an agile, game-
6 some Fly, a careful hoarding

MORAL.

Methinks I see a whole laughing troop
of little misses; away they go arm in
arm, like a garland of flowers, wending
their way under the shade of the elm-
trees; and now they have reached a
grove. Like the fly, eager for pleasure,
they run about everywhere. Some of
them, however—and that is a great pity,
do mischief—tear off the branches, and
pull up the flowers; they leave a track
behind them like a tornado, and all this
that they may gather bouquets, which
swell to the size of a fagot-bundle, and
are then thrown away for something else.
Roses or lilies of the valley, no matter
which, all are trampled under foot. Two
or three of the party, however, in rever-
ence of the Hand divine which dresses
the fields with their verdure, content

 

themselves with enjoying everything ; they
examine each plant with wondering curi-
osity, and seek to discover where lies the
secret of the fragrant incense of its per-
fume. A mother arrives upon the scene,
and to mothers God imparts wisdom
through their affections; because a true
pure love foresees the future in the present,
derives instruction from every incident,
and imparts a charm to duty. This mo-

ther thus addresses the little party :

“ That troublesome fly lives only to en-

joy himself, and cares for nobody élse.
The ant, too, with all her bustle and care-
fulness, trotting backward and forward,
is only hoarding all the time; she pro-
duces nothing. But look at the flowers,
see how the bees come out of their fresh
fragrant chalices, laden with sweets, to be
turned into honey on which all may feast.

Children, may this be the portion confer-
red on you by Heaven—may yours be

the skill to gather from mortal things the
honey and the fragrance, so that when

that last day arrives, on which the soul

shall mount up on wings and soar away

to God, you may be able to say, ‘ Lord,
here am I! From the early morning of
life I have labored and gathered; and
my day in that world which passes away

is ended; I come to thee; my wages are
here !” |

“With books, or work, or healthful play,
Let your first years be pass’d,
That you may give for every day
Some good account at last.”