220 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



calamity has befallen them. Those that come from the 

 fields, instead of entering the hive with that dispatchful 

 haste so characteristic of a bee returning, well loaded, to 

 a prosperous home, usually linger about the entrance with 

 an idle and dissatisfied appearance, and the colony is rest- 

 less, late in the day, when other stocks are quiet. Their 

 home, like that of a man who is cursed in his domestic 

 relations, is a melancholy place, and they enter it only 

 with reluctant and slow-moving steps. 



And here, if permitted to address a word of friendly 

 advice, I would say to every wife Do all that you can 

 to make your husband's home a place of attraction. 

 When absent from it, let his heart glow at the thought of 

 returning to its dear enjoyments ; as he approaches it, let 

 his countenance involuntarily assume a more cheerful ex- 

 pression, while his joy-quickened steps proclaim that he 

 feels that there is no place like the cheerful home where 

 his chosen wife and companion presides as its happy and 

 honored Queen.* If your home is not full of dear de- 

 lights, try all the virtue of winning words and smiles, 

 and the cheerful discharge of household duties, and ex- 

 haust the utmost possible efficacy of love, and faith, and 

 prayer, before those words of fearful agony, 



"Anywhere, anywhere 

 Out of the world !" 



are extorted from your despairing lips, as you realize that 

 there is no home for you, until you have passed into that 

 habitation not fashioned by human hands, or inhabited by 

 human hearts. 



Although when bees commence their work in the Spring, 



* " The tenth and last species of women were made out of a bee ; and happy is 

 the man who gets snch' a one for his wife. She Is full of yirtue and prudence, and 

 is the best wife that Jupiter can bestow.'V-SpECTATOB, No. 209. 



