754 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Oct. 1. 



hornpipe on the stern of the vessel, and we were 

 all fantastically exuberant. 



The distance to the islands was 25 miles. We 

 were all on board, and anxious to start at 9:30 

 A. M. The sails were set, and flapped lazily in 

 the slight breeze. Sebastian assured us that, 

 in a short time, a fine wind would waft us over 

 the waters; and surely the breeze did come up, 

 but it was nearly a head wind. Much tacking 

 had to be resorted to. The sail was changed 

 from larboard to starboard; belaying-pins were 

 used freely; the mizzen-sail was run up; the 

 jib-boom fixed; the bowsprit unhampered; the 

 scuppers cleared; the log was rolled to its prop- 

 er position; the captain and pilot took a frater- 

 nal drink from a wicker-covered bottle; the 

 latter grasped the helm, while the former 



a long time with decided sang froid. At this 

 time our schooner was riding the waves in fine 

 style, rising on a wave, and then pitching 

 recklessly between them. I was filled with en- 

 thusiasm, and was just about to make fitting 

 remarks upon the subject, when Bro. Crampton 

 seemed to have a revulsion of feeling, and bent 

 gracefully over the larboard rail, and the 

 breakfast his wife had prepared with so much 

 care was all deposited into the depths of the 

 ocean. Those good potatoes, that savory roast 

 beef, and other fixings that Mrs. C. can so 

 skillfully prepare, all had to go and serve as 

 food for the unappreciaiive fishes. After this 

 episode Mr. Crampton crawled up on the deck 

 with his blanket, and reclined with the rest of 

 my companions. 



Crampton. Wilder. 



bee-keepers' camp on ana capa islands. 



chucked himself into a bunk in the cabin and 

 went to sleep. 



The swells of old ocean allowed us to rise and 

 fall gently; but after a while the wind Increas- 

 ed, and began to brush up the white caps. Mr. 

 Mercer then gave us instructions to prevent 

 sea-sickness. He said that, by reclining on the 

 back on the deck, and looking aloft with a 

 fearless heart, the peculiar sensations would be 

 averted. So he spread his blanket, and reclin- 

 ed. Mr. Mendleson agreed with him, and also 

 reclined; but instead of closing both eyes, like 

 Mr. Mercer, he kept his starboard eye open and 

 his head well ventilated. Bro. Wilder put his 

 arm lovingly aroung the mast. The wind blew 

 through his mustache as he attempted to sing 

 "O'er the Ocean Wave." Mr. Crampton and I 

 sat on the larboard quarter, and talked bees for 



Partner Wilder had been quiet for some time. 

 He had taken Mr. Mercer's advice, and was re- 

 clining; but his supine condition was suddenly 

 interrupted. Your readers have all heard that 

 old chestnut about the fellow who was so sick 

 that he threw up every thing but his boots. 

 Well, that was Partner Wilder's fix. " Why," 

 said I, " Bro. Wilder, are you seasick?" 



" No— oh, no," said he. "'Tis only a little 

 bile on my stomach." 



Then he biled over again. The bile troubled 

 him several times; but— oh, no! he was not 

 seasick. 



Mr. Mendleson made a dead failure of his 

 starboard eye and ventilation plan; and the 

 breakfast, so carefully prepared by Mrs. M., 

 went by the board with a regretful groan. Mr. 

 Mercer held out well on his look-aloft plan. 



