The Queen Bee’s daughter was named Princess Beatrice. She was truly beautiful with a shiny black and gold body and wings that shimmered in the sun. Besides, she was very sweet-natured. She shared things with her friends and never put on airs.
Every morning, she would go along with all the other bees to collect honey. Princess Bee enjoyed the trips into the gardens. She loved the fragrant and brightly coloured flowers and, more than that, she loved the sweet nectar.
Princess Bee carried a tiny basket in which was a jar that she filled up with the nectar. Among her friends, however, was a bee who had always been a little jealous of her. She could not hum either and this had made a very sulky thing.
She was waiting for a chance to make Princess Bee look stupid. One day, they happened to go to a garden full of rose bushes and creepers. Some of the rose bushes had very long, tough thorns. The jealous bee lured Princess Bee towards one of these.
Just as the Princess was about to collect some nectar, the little bee jostled her and she fell against the thorns. It was terrible! One of her beautiful wings was ripped and she had bad scratches on her silky body! Princess Bee tumbled into the flower bed. The others, hearing her cry out in pain, rushed to her help.
The jealous little bee acted as if she too had been very worried and agitated.
“What happened, Princess?” asked the others, crowding around her. But Princess Bee did not tell them what had really happened.
“How will we take her back?” the other worried bees observed. Suddenly, one large bee came forward and said, “Will you allow me to carry you, Princess? I live in the same hive. My name is Boon.”
Princess Bee was put gently on Boon’s back and he flew carefully, carrying her back to the hive.
Queen Bee was very distressed and wanted to know how the Princess got hurt, but none could tell her. The jealous little bee had started feeling miserable by then, seeing the harm she had caused. She hadn’t wished to hurt Princess Bee so badly.
The doctor was called in and he applied some medicine mixed with dew on the torn wing. Every day, Boon would come to see her and tell her the stories of the gardens. The Princess fell in love with Boon. When the wing healed, the Princess married Boon.
