712 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Oct. 1. 



"An' it's mesilf too, Mr. Buell, that will keep 

 yer mimory as graan as the shamrock of ould 

 Ireland." 



"Thank you, friends," answered Mr. Buell; 

 " it has given me great pleasure to aid you, and 

 to be so providentially on hand. 



' Behind the dim unknown 

 Standeth God, within the shadow, keeping 

 watch ahove his own.' 



" Now, friends, adios until to-morrow." 



"Averyfoine man that," said Matt, as the 

 boat receded, " and a foine sprig of a leddy ; too 

 bad intirely she's so mintally unbalanced." 



Fred had the same thoughts, but with feel- 

 ings that were stirred to their profoundest 

 depths. Turning to Matt as they walked, Fred 

 pointed to the receding boat and said, " Matt, 

 how would you feel if your Biddy Malooney 

 were mentally unbalanced like that young 

 lady?" 



" Fur the love of Heaven, don't mintion it," 

 cried Matt; and with an expression of agony 

 in his face he said, "Sure, Misther Fred, I'an 

 know I'd be a lunatic mesilf." 



It was well toward evening before Fred felt 

 like doing more work; and then he put in his 

 time languidly picking up the odds and ends of 

 boards and frames that will accumulate even 

 in a small apiary. 



A night's rest gave Fred the necessary re- 

 newal of spirits for the next day's work, and 

 the first steps were to the bee- cave. 



The mattock was luckily sticking in the 

 chalk where he had left it when he turned to 

 laugh at Matt's antics. The hats and attached 

 veils were floating in the dark pool twenty feet 

 below; and to get them, Fred thought of Matt's 

 fishing tackle, and immediately started for the 

 ranch for those necessary implements. 



Matt was eating his mush. 



" Good-morning, comrade," said Fred. 



"The same to yersilf, Misther Fred." 



"Well. Matt, did you wake up this morning 

 thoroughly disgusted with the bee business?" 



" Faith, an' I did not; nayther did I go to bed 

 disgusted; but I tell yees I am disgusted wid 

 the ridiculous jumping-jack I made of mesilf, 

 an' all because a baa was making a proclama- 

 tion on me backbone." 



" And, Fred," said Mr. Ghering, with a 

 twinkle in his eye, "do you know Matt vas 

 disgusted too wid your politics? He say you 

 try to make von Prohibitionist of him; but you 

 give too much dose — too much water at von 

 grand splash." 



" That is too bad. While I should like to see 

 him a good Prohibitionist, I did not mean to 

 drown him; and to prove it to you I wish to get 

 a strong rope to hang into that pool; then if we 

 fall in again we shall have a way of escape. 

 And, Matt, I want your fishing-tackle with 

 which to fish out our hats and veils." 



Having obtained the articles needed, and 

 submitted pleasantly to further chaffing from 

 the men, he returned to the butte. Hats and 

 veils were fished out with the hook and line, 

 and the rope hung into the well, with the up- 

 per end thoroughly secured. Before the bees 

 were stirring, a new path a little deeper into 

 the chalk had been cut, and transferring oper- 

 ations could be resumed. It was a busy day on 

 the ranch, and Matt could spend no time as a 

 helper and learner, and Fred went forward as 

 rapidly as possible alone with his work. 



Having in mind his previous day's experience, 

 Fred approached the next chalk-hive pocket 

 with some trepidation; but having in mind his 

 rope way of escape his confidence returned, and 

 three transfers were successfully made during 

 the forenoon. 



Fred's late and hasty lunch was slightly in- 

 terrupted by the arrival of Mr. Buell, veiled, 

 gloved, and with a pair of old stockings drawn 



ON SHORE AGAIN. 



over his shoes, and tied securely around the 

 ankles. 



Fred laughed when Mr. Buell approached. 



" I see,'" said he, " that you have profited by 

 Matt's experience, and mean to leave no place 

 for the entrance of bees." 



"Forewarned is forearmed-," said Mr. Buell; 

 " and, Fred, I have found bees in one of the old 

 sycamores near my place; and if I can learn 

 how to transfer I will try them for an experi- 

 ment." 



"It is very easy after getting confidence," 

 replied Fred; " but. like every thing else, you 

 must have practice; and, as Matt expresses it, 

 your knee-caps will rattle a little at first." 



When they approached the cliff Mr. Buell 

 remarked that he would prefer to take his first 

 lesson where there was less danger from 

 drowning. 



" No danger now," said Fred, and he pointed 



