1030 



CLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



THE WINTER CLUSTER 



BY MARY G. PHILLIPS 



Summer is gone, and the winter drops its mantle of snow 

 Gently from clouds of grayness to the dark-brown earth below. 

 Now beasts and furry creatures cease from their active play, 

 Hunt some quiet hollow where they snugly sleep all day. 

 Out by the leafless wood-lot stand the rows of quiet hives, 

 Mere undulating snow waves, hiding thousands of tiny lives. 

 How i^eaceful seem these houses ! Are the inmates fast asleep ? 

 Like other tiny creatures, is their dormant slumber deep? 



Ah I under the snow-white blanket, all hidden from prying ej'es, 

 Here life is teeming, bustling, in the row of quiet hives ! 

 The bees are compactly clustered forming their winter sphere. 

 The outside ring is their vanguard to guard against cold severe. 

 Each faithful little worker stands at her meted task, 

 Fanning, fanning her life out to combat the icy blast. 

 Now one leaves the circle to seek the honey store, 

 Gathers strength and courage, then back to her work once more. 



Brave little honey-workers! Beat, oh beat with all your might! 

 Warm the hive and your comrades, it is not always night; 

 The creeping chill will vanish, the sweeping wind will die ; 

 Spring will come with its sunlight ! Have courage, then yon may fly 

 Washington, D. C. 



