1880 



GLEANLN'GS iX UEE CULTURE. 



933 



the older members of the family to see the inter- 

 est Arthur still maintained in them. Scarcely a 

 day passed but that ho would spend a few mo- 

 ments with them as he went to or came from his 

 work; and occasionally have I had a glimpse of 

 him at sunrise, partitilly sitting by tlie side of a 

 hive, watching the busy workers. 



As the season advanced, the work on the farm 

 increased, and it was with a great etfort that 

 Arthur and his father kept their work up and 

 made iHves for the bees. Twf) of the colonies (?.s 

 they had by this time learned to call them) swarm- 

 ed three times apiece, and the third one twice, 

 thus requiring eight new hives. 



By this time the father expressed as much 

 enthusiasm as Arthur himself. The family had 

 noticed of late, that, in speaking of the bees, 

 Arthur would call them our bees. I will here re- 

 mark, that, though he possessed an impulsive dis- 

 position, he also possessed a manly spirit, which 

 would not permit him to accept of any title or 

 honor that did not rightfully belong to him; thus 

 the term "our folks' bees" was universallj- accept- 

 ed afterward. One day, as Arthur's father was 

 glancing over his A(iriculhiri><t,he came across the 

 following advertisement: 



™!!SlllBEESor HONEY 



we will with pleasure send asami)le eopv ot the 



SEMI-MONTHLY CLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE, 



with a descriptive price-list of latest niiiirove- 

 ments in HIVES, HONEY-EXTEACTOES, COMB FOUNDA- 

 TION, SECTION HONEi-BOSES, all books and jour- 

 nals, and every thing pertaining to Bee Cul- 

 ture. Nothing Patented. Simply send your ad- 



t^^e^T'f^' I. ROOT. Medina, 0. 



"Nothing patented! "he ejaculated; then after 

 giving the subject a little thought, he sent his 

 address as recommended. 



I have often heard Arthur's mother speak of the 

 day the circulars, as she then called them, ar- 

 rived. She was expecting company, too, that she 

 felt unusually particular about. 1 do not suppose 

 that every boy knows, but manj' a boj's mother 

 does, how many extra steps are to be taken, and 

 how much anxiety such an occasion requires, es- 

 pecially if they live on a farm where such a varietj- 

 of work must be attended to. 



Arthur and his father, notwithstanding thej' 

 seemed so intent on perusing their circulars, 

 assisted her somewhat, and the day with its cares 

 and enjoyments passed away. During the re- 

 mainder of this busy week the mother came across 

 their papers many times, but only to put them in 

 their proper place. 



The next Sabbath morning dawned bright and 

 beautiful. Arthur remained at home with his 

 mother and younger brothers, while his father and 

 the remainder of the family attended church. 



Arthur spent the greater part of the day in 

 reading, as usual. His mother had but little time 

 to read, even Sunday, until dinner was over. It be- 

 ing ready at the usual hour for that day, she sat 

 down with her paper in hand, waiting for their re- 

 turn from church. It was with a great deal of 

 anxiety she watched the time go by, as they were 

 obliged to cross a certain bridge that had been 

 condemned. Arthur, noticing her concern, said, 

 " Mother, perhaps you will find something interest- 

 ing in this, handing her one of the said circulars, 

 which proved to be Gleanings in Bee Ci'ltuke. 



She was quite surprised, on glancing over its 

 conten.s, to find it of so different a character from 

 what she expected. It truly was Gicani'/iys— arti- 

 cles written liy different persons here and there all 

 over the country, and then notes or comments by 

 the editor on nearly every one. And still further 

 on came "Our Homes," so full of such good 

 thoughts and suggestions that they all thought the 

 time was very pleasantly as well as profitably 

 spent. Arthurs grandparents came in about the 

 time his mother sat down to read, and they too 

 were attentive listeners. 



Thus the days and weeks of the summer flew by, 

 Arthur often reviewing this number of Glean- 

 ings that I have referred to, and the price list that 

 accompanied it. He often wished that thes' could 

 subscribe for it. It seemed impossible just then, 

 as his own weekly paper could not be dispensed 

 with, and he had tried very hard to pay for it him- 

 self for the last few years. The price list not only 

 gave the prices of bees, queens, hives, and all that 

 pertained thereto, but also prices of their counter 

 store connected with the factory. It was really 

 surprising to note the many useful articles it con- 

 tained. 



The autumn months were near at hand, and so 

 was Arthur's birthdaj-. His mother could not 

 think of letting it pass by unnoticed, as it was the 

 family custom to present at least some little token 

 of remembrance. Thinking it would be a pleasant 

 surprise to receive something from Mr. R.'s store, 

 she wrote an order for the same and also in- 

 closed the price of Gleanings for Arthur's father, 

 he having already sent for the ABC book. Per- 

 haps it is needless to say. that, as such days re- 

 turned, they all enjoyed it as much as the one who 

 received the gifts. Nothing worthy of note trans- 

 pired during the remainder of this year. The 

 family S))ent many happy evenings during the win- 

 ter months listening to Arthur as he read from his 

 journals. They wisely reported the discourage- 

 ments as well as the encouragements in bee cul- 

 ture. Thus by spring Arthur had gained much 

 valuable information. Nor was it long before 

 some of it was put in practice. Scarcely had his 

 winter school closed when their bees were again 

 on the wing. A little plot of ground was neatlj* 

 arranged, and the eleven hives were set out in 

 order upon it, quite after the manner of our mod- 

 ern apiaries. 



By this time it was plainly to be seen, that, if 

 they continued to keep their bees, something 

 further must bo done than simply to make a hive 

 as it was needed. Thus far they had never been to 

 any expense as far as dollars and cents were con- 

 cerned, neither had they received any returns 

 from the bees, save some honey for family use. 

 Arthur and his father concluded it best to send for 

 two hives of different styles before making any 

 further arrangements. Being sent by express, 

 they were soon at hand. Arthur's father brought 

 them home in the evening, and the delighted chil- 

 dren could not think of going to bed without seeing 

 them set up, as thej' came in the flat. 



It was evident, from the expressions of the whole 

 family, that they more than met their expecta- 

 tions. They indeed looked like miniature houses, 

 with their little porticos in front. 



There was no more time to be lost. The season 

 when they would need their hives most was rapidb* 

 advancing; but the contrast between the old and 



