TREATMENT OF BEES. 9 



their friend, and will treat you as such. If you are 

 kind to them, they will be kind to you. 



In fact, bees seldom sting except in self-defence, 

 or in defence of their homes. If you see one on a 

 flower hard at work, it will never fly at you. Bees 

 thus occupied never think of stinging, unless they are 

 touched. And, even at their hives, they will but 

 seldom attack us, unless by our own fault we make 

 them angry, and they think their home and young 

 are in danger. And can we find fault with them for 

 this? Is it not most natural? Is it not praiseworthy? 



I do not say, however, that bees will never sting 

 without just cause, for I must confess that some are 

 very easily provoked. There are cross bees just as 

 there are bad-tempered people, very soon put out, 

 and very resentful. Generally speaking, however, the 

 temper of our bees mainly depends upon our own 

 good or bad management. 



Always remember then, that just as you get your 

 companions to be good friends to you, or as you can 

 get some pet animal to do almost anything you wish, 

 if only you act with kindness, so bees also, must be 

 treated in the same kind, gentle way, and then you 

 will all be good friends together. Treat them, in 

 short, as if you loved them ; treat' them as God's 



creatures. 



' He prayeth well, who loveth well 

 Both man and bird and beast. 

 He prayeth best, who loveth best 

 All things both great and small ; 

 For the dear God who loveth us. 

 He made and loveth all.' 



Coleridge. 



