148 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



As the sunset approaches the long, broad, dusty road 

 loses its white glare, and yonder by the hamlet 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 labour. 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 hayfield, 

 not so much with his hands as his eyes, watching 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-keeping is no longer what 

 it used to be, yet the old-fashioned 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 



