114 NIGHT WORK AND VENTILATION. 



— the wide world — yet quite ready to do anything at 

 home which is within their power; and in this set an 

 example to children who, even when quite young, 

 should be cheerfully ready, as far as possible, to assist 

 their mother, always seeking to be helpful children. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



NIGHT-WORK AND VENTILATION. 



And now is it not wonderful to think that a great 

 deal of all this work goes on at night, — more indeed 

 at night, when all the bees are at home, than in the 

 day, when many are absent ? Except during winter 

 the bees are always hard at work ; they improve not 

 only the ' shining hour,' but the darkest hour. They 

 never leave for another day, or even hour, what can 

 be done at once. If any repairs are needed they 

 well know by their wonderful instinct how true it is 

 that ' a stitch in time saves nine.' 



Virgil makes the mistake of saying that they 

 sleep at night :. 



'. . . . When eve at length 

 Admonishes to quit the balmy field. 

 Home to refresh their weariness they come ; 

 Awhile about the doors and avenues 

 Thronging with drowsy hum, till in their beds 

 Couch'd for the night, a silence o'er them creeps, 

 And" all their busy life is lull'd to rest.' 



Virgil (by Kennedy). 



Very much more might be said on all this subject 



