166 EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
they were hard at work, when, to his infinite 
disappointment, it was found that the bees had 
made their escape through a small hole in the 
hive, leaving behind them only an unfortunate 
humble-bee, whose bulk prevented his squeez¬ 
ing himself through the aperture, and whose 
loud complaints had been mistaken for the 
busy hum of industry.” You must patiently 
study the method of nature, and take advice of 
the under-stew T ard in the establishment of all 
communities, both insect and human. Prob¬ 
ably the bees could not make industry attract¬ 
ive under the circumstances described above. 
A wise man will not go out of his way for 
information. He might as well go out of na¬ 
ture, or commit suicide. 
March 18, 1858. .... The bluebird and 
song-sparrow sing immediately on their ar¬ 
rival, and hence deserve to enjoy some preemi¬ 
nence. They give expression to the joy which 
the season inspires, but the robin and black¬ 
bird only peep and tchuck at first, commonly, 
and the lark is silent and flitting. The blue¬ 
bird at once fills the air with his sweet warb¬ 
ling, and the song-sparrow from the top of a 
rail pours forth his most joyous strain. Both 
express their delight at the weather, which per¬ 
mits them to return to their favorite haunts. 
They are the more welcome to man for it. 
