1873.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



61 



ever, we took from the lower story three days 

 later (despite the brood, and without injuring 

 it), seventeen pounds of very nice basswood 

 honey. 



For four days our ' maiden' swarm worked at 

 comb-building as never had ou7- bees before. 

 As the beautiful work went on, we grew re- 

 conciled to our loss of honey, and remembered 

 that, after all, bees and worker-comb, in^ead of 

 honey, had been our aim for this season ; why 

 then should we complain that our faithful little 

 laborers had thus eflfectually carried out our own 

 plans ? 



On the afternoon of the fourth day our equa- 

 nimity wa§ aggravatingly upset. Without 

 warning, our new colony once more rushed 

 forth in a body, and consternation and dismay 

 filled our hearts, (for we thought, sureli/ they 

 will go off to the woods, noiv,) until they began 

 to congregate upon a little tree, a rod or so 

 from the hive. 



" They are very good and considerate in their 

 choice of resting places," I remarked. 



"Perhaps you don't notice," responded 

 Nellie, " that it is my little apricot tree they 

 have chosen. Without doubt it will be entirely 

 ruined !" 



" Never mind," I said cheerily. (It is well 

 to be cheerful in contemplating the sorrows of 

 a friend.) It could not long survive our cold 

 winters — better that it thus worthily perish 

 now." 



Looking into the deserted hive, we found 

 eggs and honey with as much comb as our one 

 artificial swarm of a year ago would have taken 

 three weeks to build. 



"It is evident that they left because they 

 were wise enough to foresee that, with this 

 space fully furnished with comb, honey and 

 brood, there would not be enough room left for 

 themselves." This was the conclusion I finally 

 reached. 



" Well, — what are you going to do about it?" 

 asked Nellie. 



" Give them room above ; besides giving some 

 of the bees to the other hives. " Yet, after all, 

 I shall not feel at ease respecting them. If — I 

 said, with sudden emphasis — "we only could 

 find the queen !" 



" Something like 'looking for a needle in a 

 needle in a haystack,' I fancy," said Nellie; 

 " but what would happen in that case?" 



" I believe — yes, I do believe that I would cut 

 off her wings!" 



" Would you?" said Nellie, a little incredu- 

 lously. 



We had put our hive, with entrance enlarged, 

 in close proximity to the swarm, and had already 

 induced quite a number to enter, when, sud- 

 denly, I saw, and pointed out to Nellie, the 

 queen. Instantly, Nellie's fingers went down 

 among the bees in the place indicated, and after 

 a few moments of breathless suspense, she 

 exclaimed, starting toward the house. 



"Come quick, Cyula! Find your scissors!" 



I followed, with (I confess it) a somewhat 

 reluctant step. In all impossible places I began 

 to search for those scissors, saying to myself 

 meantime, oh, I cannot do it — I cannot V 



" Don't you think, j.Iellie," I queried, " that 

 our scissors are rather clumsy for such work !" 



" Those you have in your hand — the shears — 

 yes ! But the little ones, — well, they're not as 

 good as those we see idvertised for this special 

 use, doubtless — still, I guess they'll do. Be 

 quick, Cyula! She is growing impatient — she 

 is biting my hand." 



" Put ber under a tumbler," I said, glad of a 

 moment's respite, and ofiiciously aiding in this 

 operation. 



Nellie now began a systematic search for the 

 scissors, and I, pretending to aid in this, wan- 

 dered off into the kitchen, repeating to myself 



" It is just impossible — I canH do it!" 



A minute later, Nellie found me standing in 

 the door-way, with my eyes vacantly fixed upon 

 the bowed-down apricot tree. 



"I have found the scissors," she said, with an 

 inquiring, and somewhat suspicious glance. 

 "Are you ready!" 



" Ready for execution ? — yes !" I replied, as I 

 meekly turned to follow her. 



" No," she laughingly answered, your wmgs 

 havn't begun sprouting yet, Cyula. I'll clip 

 them with pleasure, whenever they do, be 

 assured. But are you ready, either to hold 

 Rebecca" (all our queens have names) " while I 

 clip her wings, or shall I hold her while you 

 do the deed ? Surely you don't mean to say 

 that you are willing to risk her going oft' with 

 the swarm to-morrow?" 



" iSTo, — of course not," I replied, summoning 

 all my resolution. " Did not /propose clipping 

 her wings ? But, if you don't care, I think I'll 

 let you use the scissors." 



" Very well," said Nellie. 



I fear that I am exposing myself to the last- 

 ing scorn of all brother bee-keepers ; but I must 

 confess that when I essayed to hold her ma- 

 jesty, "gentlj but firmly," I found my hands 

 trembling to such a degree, as to make the 

 situati(m for her a somewhat dangerous one. 



"You'll have to take the scissors after alb 

 Cyula," said Nellie. " Now, then,"— she said, 

 as for a moment she held her still, with the 

 poor little folded wings within reach of the 

 scissor points. 



" But I wish to cut but one wing," I remon- 

 strated. 



" I can't easily separate them. It will do just 

 as well — will it not?" 



The next instant (I hardly know how I did 

 it) the shining points had met, and the tiny, 

 gauzy fragments had dropped to the floor. 



As I looked at her now I was overwhelmed 

 with contrition and remorse. I felt as David 

 may have felt when he had cut off the skirts of 

 Saul. 



