Honey. 127 



a bright glistening banner reflects the level rays of 

 the sun with dazzling sheen ; it is the gilding on the 

 swinging wayside sign transformed for the moment 

 from a wooden board rudely ornamented with a gilt 

 sun, all rays and rotund cheeks, into a veritable 

 oriflamme. 



There the men will assemble by-and-by, on the 

 forms about the trestle table, and share each other's 

 quarts in the fellowship of labor. Or perhaps the 

 work may be pressing, and the wagons are loaded 

 till the white owl noiselessly flits along the hedgerow, 

 and the round moon rises over the hills. Then those 

 who have stayed to assist find their supper waiting 

 for them in the brewhouse, and do it ample justice. 



Once during the morning, while busy in the hay- 

 field, not so much with his hands as his eyes, watch- 

 ing that the ' wallows ' may be turned over properly, 

 and the ' wakes ' made at a just distance from each 

 other, that the wagon may pass easily between, the 

 farmer is sure to be summoned home with the news 

 of a swarm of bees. If the work be pressing, they 

 must be attended to by deputy ; if not, he hurries 

 home himself; for although in these days bee-keep- 

 ing is no longer what it used to be, yet the old-fash- 

 ioned folk take a deep interest in the bees still. They 

 tell you that ' a swarm in May is worth a load of hay ; 

 a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon ; but a swarm 

 in July is not worth a fly ' for it is then too late for 

 the young colony to store up a treasure of golden 

 honey before the flowers begin to fade at the approach 

 of autumn. 



It is noticeable that those who labor* on their own 

 land (as at Wick) keep up the ancient customs much 



