AT WORK. 57 



felt now that I was fairly launched in my life-work. 



I sat in the orchard in the genial April twilight, 

 looked over my hives, planned for the work that 

 was to come, and heartly enjoyed the peaceful still- 

 ness. In that evening hour the hives were all silent, 

 but I knew that on the morrow the tens of thou- 

 ands of workers would be foraging with busy hum 

 in the maple forest to gather honey for themselves 

 and me. 



Just then Will came from the post-office with a 

 letter. It was a notice from the express agent 

 at Howard that a hive of bees addressed to me was 

 in his hands. The Italians had arrived ; my transfer- 

 ring was done none too soon. Attention must now 

 be given to the important work of raising Italian 

 queens, and introducing them to my black stocks. 



