The Swarm 
good, natural hours. To him who has 
known them and loved them, a summer 
where there are no bees becomes as sad 
and as empty as one without flowers or 
birds. 
[ 22] 
The man who never before has beheld 
the swarm of a populous hive must re- 
gard this riotous, bewildering spectacle 
with some apprehension and diffidence. 
He will be almost afraid to draw near; 
he will wonder can these be the earnest, 
the peace-loving, hard-working bees whose 
movements he has hitherto followed? 
It was but a few moments before he had 
seen them troop in from all parts of the 
country, as pre-occupied, seemingly, as 
little housewives might be, with no 
thoughts beyond household cares. He 
had watched them stream into the hive, 
imperceptibly almost, out of breath, 
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