The American Perceptor from 1817

This is the oldest book I own, a collection of essays for students, including such jolly pieces as The Child Trained up for the Gallows, On profane Swearing, and the Story of Logan, a Mingo Chief. Published when L.L. Langtroth, the father of modern beekeeping was seven years old, he may have read this essay as a youth:

The Bee

The Bee is a noble pattern of industry and prudence. She settles upon every plant and flower, and makes the most insignificant, nay, even the most hurtful of them, useful to her purpose. Thus she toils all the summer, while the days are fair, in order to get a stock, which she lays by to serve for winter, when the herb and flowers are dead, the trees deprived of their leaves, and the weather unfavorable.

Then the Bees retire to their hive, which is formed like a little state, and governed by a queen, who dispenses justice to her subjects. It is said they bury their dead, punish criminals, and drive the drones from their hives. They keep a regular order, whether in war or peace; and, as soon as their queen dies, appoint another to succeed her, and rule their little state, which may serve as a pattern for a well ordered community.

The Bee is one of the aptest emblems of industry, and the art of extracting good out of evil, that can be found in nature. It is endued with an instinct, which justly excites our admiration: and its perseverance is an admirable example for the wisest of us to follow.

As the Bee, in the summer, provides for itself that which may serve for its support in winter, so should we, in the summer of our days, take care to lay in a store of profitable virtues and good qualities, which may render us justly admired in age, and enable us to set a good example to posterity.

Like that industrious insect, likewise, we should learn to make every occurrence of life serviceable to us; for nothing is so small or minute but it may be made of use; nothing so bad in nature, but we may draw from it some profit or instruction. And thus, by choosing the good, and avoiding the evil we may purchase to ourselves, peace here, and the hopes of a brighter reward hereafter.