I fancy you think I cannot stop long enough to tell you a story, even
about myself. It is true, I am always busy with the flowers, drinking
their honey with my long bill, as you must be busy with your books, if
you would learn what they teach. I always select for my food the
sweetest flowers that grow in the garden.
Do you think you would be vain if you had my beautiful colors to wear?
Of course, you would not, but so many of my brothers and sisters have
been destroyed to adorn the bonnets and headdresses of the thoughtless
that the children cannot be too early taught to love us too well to do
us harm. Have you ever seen a ruby? It is one of the most valued of
gems. It is the color of my throat, and from its rare and brilliant
beauty I get a part of my name. The ruby is worn by great ladies and,
with the emerald and topaz, whose bright colors I also wear, is much
esteemed as an ornament.
If you will come into the garden in the late afternoon, between six
and seven o'clock, when I am taking my supper, and when the sun is
beginning to close his great eye, you will see his rays shoot sidewise
and show all the splendor of my plumage. You will see me, too, if your
eyes are sharp enough, draw up my tiny claws, pause in front of a rose,
and remain seemingly motionless. But listen, and you will hear the
reason for my name--a tense humming sound. Some call me a Hummer indeed.
I spend only half the year in the garden, coming in May and saying
farewell in October. After my mate and I are gone you may find our nest.
But your eyes will be sharp indeed if they detect it when the leaves are
on the trees, it is so small and blends with the branches. We use
fern-wool and soft down to build it, and shingle it with lichens to
match the branch it nests upon. You should see the tiny eggs of pure
white. But we, our nest and our eggs, are so dainty and delicate that
they should never be touched. We are only to be looked at and admired.
Farewell. Look for me when you go a-Maying.