
audiobook
by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne, William Roscoe
A lively chorus of forest creatures gathers beneath an ancient oak for a grand celebration, where butterflies flutter in bright silks, beetles trundle along with their tiny companions, and buzzing bees bring honey for the feast. The invitation comes from the sprightly trumpeter Gadfly, whose horn summons insects of every shape and hue to share music, dancing, and laughter on the smooth, grassy clearing. As the sun warms the meadow, friendships bloom between unlikely pairs—a blind beetle and his ant friend, a shy dormouse and his mole cousin, and even a cautious snail that promises a graceful minuet.
The festivities unfold with whimsical detail: a mushroom serves as the banquet table, a glow‑worm lights the twilight, and the air is scented with wildflowers and honey. Each guest contributes a favorite treat, creating a mosaic of flavors that reflects the diversity of the woodland community. Amid the merriment, listeners are invited to revel in the gentle humor and heartfelt camaraderie that make this enchanted gathering a timeless delight for listeners of all ages.
Language
en
Duration
~27 minutes (26K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2007-06-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1825–1894
A Scottish adventure writer whose stories of survival, exploration, and moral courage thrilled generations of young readers. Best known for The Coral Island, he drew on real experience and a gift for vivid storytelling to bring distant worlds to life.
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1753–1831
Best known today for his lively children's poem The Butterfly's Ball, this Liverpool writer was also a historian, abolitionist, lawyer, banker, botanist, and art collector. His life joined literature, politics, and reform in a way that made him one of the city's most remarkable public figures.
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