The Busy Bee

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• Contents
  January 1878: Bells
• Preface No 1
  Editor
  Preface no I. How doth the little Busy Nee Delight to bark and bite; To gather honey all the day, and eat it all the night! - Dear reader, do not believe that this was ever applied to me. You need not be afraid, I assure you, there is no sting in my tail, or in any of my tales (for I have several.) And is my collection to be compared to honey? That is a point for you to decide. Anyhow I will not eat it, but will rather leave it for succeeding generations to admire. Rather this latter view, of my labours! How does the little crocodile Improve his shining tail; and pour the waters of the Nile on every glittering scale?
  January 1878: Bells
• Preface No 2
  Editor
  Preface No II. "A happy new year to you all!" said Mr John Smith to his wife and family, as he came down to breakfast on New Year’s Day. Of course all the little John Smiths and Mary Smiths re-echoed the wish to their dear Papa; and the Editor of the Busy Bee would fain to follow their example, and wish his readers a very happy New Year! "Somewhat late in the day!" says smiling Miss Simpkins, with a reproachful glance. "Ah madam! If you had had all the labour that I have, perhaps you would have been a little behind ?? too. Such a collecting of manuscripts, such a rushing of the pen, over such acres of paper, such a confused mass of thoughts in the Editor‘s brain, enough to delay even an Express train! And more over Madam, had you been quite punctual in sending in your valuable contributions perhaps the Editor would have been punctual in sending in out his magazine! Ah well! We all have our failings, and as the year is not very old yet, but is even now only a baby in long clothes, the Editor is not so very much behind his appointed day. However, be that as it may, here we are, with many apologies and confessions of guilt! Here is a heterogeneous collection for your breakfast table! May it only not prove indigestible! And perhaps next time we put in an appearance, with many a timid glance, we shall not be so late as we are now; however in the mean time, with a repetition of her former good wishes, the Editor will just bow herself off the stage, and retire into private life. Editor
  January 1878: Bells
• Notice
  Editor
  Notice The next number of the Busy Bee will, it is hoped, be issued early in April; and the degree of punctuality of its issue must depend chiefly on that of our correspondents, from whom contributions are earnestly requested. The subject proposed for the next number - not to the exclusion of other subjects - is "Water" which in its various forms of steam, snow, ice, cloud, fog, sea, river, or lake &c, is, the Editor believes a very wide field for the exercise of the pen, whether in prose or verse. This latter especially she would endeavour to encourage. It is requested that papers be sent in by Wednesday, the twentieth of March. Editor
  January 1878: Bells
• Frontispiece
  April 1878: Water
• Preface
  Editor
  Preface Here we are again, Ladies and Gentlemen, here we are again; this time with a different subject indeed, but with still an echo in our first paper of the Christmas bells. A watery subject, but not, the Editor hopes you will think, wishy washy watery contributions. Though the theme is scarcely exhausted, yet we have many sides of the question. But though poets have been found for other subjects, yet we have none for this. How so? Will no one attempt to court the wayward muse? Is no one inspired by the mighty roaring of the cataract, or the silent sweeping of the river through the sunny meads, or the turbulent raging of the tumultuous sea? You will perceive, gentle readers, that the writing is in many different hands. The fact is that the editor bound together all the M.S.S. just as they were (except a few which had to be copied out as they were on wrong-sized paper) It would give a better appearance to the magazine if contributors would send their papers in large envelopes, so as to avoid the unsightly folds. The coat of arms is enigmatical, and not the Editor's family shield, though we, who are behind the scenes, have been admitted to the secret of its meaning. Editor
  April 1878: Water
• Contents
  April 1878: Water
• Notice
  Editor
  Notice The editor hopes to publish the next number of this most valuable periodical in June; she will therefore be much obliged if our readers will send in their contributions before the 30th of May, and she also requests them to be more punctual in sending them, as this time only one contribution was received by the right day, which was the 20th of March. The magazine will be sent round to the different members in the same order in which they send in their contributions. Each member is requested to pay the cost of postage, (there being no other charge for the magazine,) and to send it, after not more than four days, to the next member on the list. The subject proposed for the next number, (not to the exclusion of other subjects,) will be "Flowers." The manuscripts to be written on notepaper, and in a readable form. The pages must not be numbered. All communications to be addressed to Miss Moor Ampfield Vicarage Romsey
  April 1878: Water
• Circulation list
  April 1878: Water
• Notice
  Notice. The Editor hopes to publish the next number of this interesting magazine on the first of October; she therefore requests her readers to send in their contributions by the tenth of September. The subject proposed for the next number will be - "Recreations" The manuscripts to be written legibly on note paper. Each person is requested to send on the magazine after two days, or at the most, in any special case four days.
  June 1878: Flowers
• Title page
  June 1878: Flowers
• Preface
  Editor
  Preface. [Comment:] What a jolly good margin we have on the next page! The Editor has much pleasure in producing the summer number of the Busy Bee, with its most appropriate subject of "flowers", and though some of the bees are still silent, and some sent in their contributions after the day appointed she hopes they will be more punctual next time. The Editor would call her reader's attention to the fact that this book is illustrated; may the example of these few skilful artists be followed by others next time. She also requests her readers not to keep the magazine too long, as the last number was sent off on the first of April, and did not reach the Editor again till the twenty-second of May, and if it is kept too long by some, the later members become impatient. The manuscripts this time are not arranged in any particular order. The spaces between each paper are meant for the readers' comments, but each person is requested not to take up more than the space allotted to him, and no person is obliged to make comments. You are requested to write them in ink. Editor June 14
  June 1878: Flowers
• Contents
  Editor
  June 1878: Flowers
• Circulation list
  Editor
  June 1878: Flowers
• Notice
  Editor
  P.S. Will the contributors be so good as to put their sheets of paper, when they have more than one, inside one another, as Mitch has so carefully done in his thief-catching story, as it makes it much easier to bind, and single sheets are most difficult to manage. - N.B. This magazine is sent off on the 16th of June. Will the contributors please forward the magazine in the same bag in which it is sent off
  June 1878: Flowers
• Title page
  Editor
  October 1878: Recreation
• Preface
  Editor
  Preface. The editor much regrets that her unexpected and prolonged absence from home has prevented her bringing out the Busy Bee on the first of October, the day on which it was intended to appear. She begs her readers to notice that Ignotus has been very busy in writing, more than half the book being composed of his valuable and interesting productions, much to the shame of our other contributors, many of whom have sent nothing at all. She would moreover call her readers attention to the extreme neatness of A.S.W’s paper, and she would be glad if all her contributors would follow his example. She hopes to publish the next number in January, and would therefore be glad to receive all the contributions by the 10th of December. Our readers are requested to write their remarks on the blank half sheet at the end of each paper, and to write them neatly and in ink, and if anyone has any suggestions to make for the further improvement of this magazine he (or she) is requested to write them on the spare sheet at the end of the book. The old magazine is sent round again that the remarks made in it last time may be seen by all.
  October 1878: Recreation
• Contents
  Editor
  October 1878: Recreation
• Notice
  Editor
  Notice. You are requested not to keep the magazine more than two days, or at the most, in any special case, four days. You are requested to send in your contributions for the next time by the 10th of December. The subject will be "Animal life."
  October 1878: Recreation
• Suggestions
  Editor
  October 1878: Recreation
• Circulation list
  Editor
  October 1878: Recreation
• Title page
  Editor
  January 1879: Animal Life
• Preface
  Editor
  Preface Herewith appears the first number of the Busy Bee for 1879, and the editor is bound to remark how very few members have written upon the proposed subject, namely "Animal Life," Ignotus being the only one, but this, however, is of small matter, as there is thus a greater variety. The editor would also call her readers' attention to the neatness of Sambo’s and Ibis’ papers, as well as to the fact that Effigy has at last favoured us with the end of her tale "Francesca," but since her delay in sending it no more stories that are "to be continued" will be received, unless under any very special circumstances. The next number will be brought out in April, you are therefore requested to send in your contributions by the 10th of March, or not later than the 20th. The subject proposed is "The Weather". You are also requested to forward the Magazine in precisely the same order as is marked at the end of the book, and not to keep it more than three days. As the number of members continues to increase, the editor will send round the Magazine twice; first to those who do contribute, (i.e. the working bees,) and secondly to those who do not contribute (i.e. the drones). A copy of the criticisms and remarks from the last number is placed at the end of the book. You are request requested to write your criticisms in ink. It is proposed to change the name of the Busy Bee to the Bee-hive, all members are therefore requested to write their names on the voting-sheet at the end, that the editor may know what course to pursue. It is possible that some of the members may not have time to read the Busy Bee in the three days allowed, but if those members will write their names and addresses at the end of the list of drones they shall have it in the second round. The Hursley members having requested to have the Magazine all together and last, the editor has complied with the request. Editor.
  January 1879: Animal Life
• Contents
  Editor
  January 1879: Animal Life