The Swarm 



good, natural hours. To him who has 

 known them and loved them, a summer 

 where there are no bees becomes as sad 

 and as empty as one without flowers or 

 birds. 



[22] 



The man who never before has beheld 

 the swarm of a populous hive must re- 

 gard this riotous, bewildering spectacle 

 with some apprehension and diffidence. 

 He will be almost afraid to draw near; 

 he will wonder can these be the earnest, 

 the peace-loving, hard-working bees whose 

 movements he has hitherto followed? 

 It was but a few moments before he had 

 seen them troop in from all parts of the 

 country, as pre-occupied, seemingly, as 

 little housewives might be, with no 

 thoughts beyond household cares. He 

 had watched them stream into the hive, 

 imperceptibly almost, out of breath, 



73 



