CHAPTER XIV.Bees.
The next morning, on the little boys getting up, they were surprised at hearing a tinkling sound just under their windows. They were induced, as soon as they were ready, to run down into the garden, to see what was going forward.
Mrs. Mansfield was the person who occasioned the noise, by striking the lid of a tin saucepan with a large key.
“Oh, grandmamma, what are youabout?” exclaimed Arthur, laughing. “I should have taken you for my little sister Kate, amusing herself by making, what she would call, apretty noise.”
“I do it, my dear, to prevent the bees from going away,” replied Mrs. Mansfield. “Don’t you see what swarms are flying about?”
“Yes,” returned Arthur. “But what have they to do with the key and the saucepan lid?”
Page 142.Chap. XIV.The Bees.London. Published by W. Darton Junʳ. Oct. 1ˢᵗ. 1815.
Page 142.
Chap. XIV.
The Bees.
London. Published by W. Darton Junʳ. Oct. 1ˢᵗ. 1815.
“All these,” said Mrs. Mansfield, “are young bees, that have been hatched this summer; and now that they are grown up, the hive is too small to contain them. They therefore have left it; and are going to seek another place for themselves; andit is generally supposed that a tinkling noise will keep them from going to a distance; though, whether it has any effect or not, I cannot pretend to determine.”
By this time the bees had settled in a cluster on the branch of a tree, where they all hung together in one great mass. Old Ralph then took an empty hive, and shook them into it, having previously covered his hands and face, that he might not be stung.
“How do bees make honey, grandmamma?” inquired Charles.
Mrs. Mansfield.By means of their long trunks they suck up the sweetness that is in the cups of flowers.
Charles.And is that honey?
Mrs. Mansfield.Not until it hasbeen further prepared by the bees, who swallow it, and then throw it up again, after having digested it in their stomachs.
Charles.Bees make wax too, do not they?
Mrs. Mansfield.Yes: come to this bed of flowers, and you will see them at work.
“I observe,” said Arthur, after having watched them attentively for some time, “that they every moment stroke their legs over one another; is that of any use?”
Mrs. Mansfield.It is in order to put the yellow dust, which they collect from the flowers, and of which the wax is made, upon their hinder thighs: a few short hairs on them form akind of basket, on purpose to receive it. When they have collected as much as they can carry, they fly back to the hive to deposit it there.
Arthur.And what use do they make of it, grandmamma?
Mrs. Mansfield.After having kneaded and properly prepared it, they make it into the honey-comb, or little cells which contain the honey; and when the cells are full, the bees stop them up with a little more wax, to preserve it as food for the winter.
Arthur.Then how do we get it?
Mrs. Mansfield.The hive is held over brimstone, which kills the bees, and then we take out the honey-combs. Some people adopt a method of taking the honey without destroying the bees;but I do not know whether that is less cruel in the end; for the poor things are then frequently starved in the winter, for want of their proper food.
Arthur.Have not I heard something about a queen-bee?
Mrs. Mansfield.Very probably you have. There is a queen to every hive; and she is larger than the rest. She very seldom comes abroad, and whenever she does, she is attended by a number of her subjects. They are so much attached to her, that, if she dies, they make a mournful humming, and unless another queen be given to them, will at last pine away, and die too.
“How very surprising!” saidCharles. “Who would have thought that such little insects could show so much attachment to each other?”
Mrs. Mansfield.The natural history of the bee is full of wonders, my dear. Besides the queen, there are two different sorts, the drones and the working bees.
The drones seldom leave the hive, and never assist to procure honey. When the time comes for making up their winter stores, they are, therefore, all killed by the working bees as useless members of society. As they are without stings, they are unable to defend themselves. The working bees compose the most numerous body of the state. They have the care of the hive, collect wax and honey from theflowers, make the wax into combs, feed the young, keep the hive clean, turn out all strangers, and employ themselves in promoting the general good.
Arthur.They are very industrious, indeed, Charles! Do you recollect Dr. Watts’s little hymn about the Busy Bee?
Charles.Yes, brother; I was just thinking of it.
Mrs. Mansfield.Repeat it then will you, my love? After the account I have been giving you, we shall attend to it with particular pleasure.
Charles.How doth the little busy beeImprove each shining hour!And gather honey all the dayFrom every opening flower!How skilfully she builds her cell!How neat she spreads the wax!And labours hard to store it wellWith the sweet food she makes!In work of labour, or of skill,I would be busy too;For Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do.In books, or work, or healthful play,Let my first years be past;That I may give, for every day,A good account at last.
Charles.How doth the little busy beeImprove each shining hour!And gather honey all the dayFrom every opening flower!How skilfully she builds her cell!How neat she spreads the wax!And labours hard to store it wellWith the sweet food she makes!In work of labour, or of skill,I would be busy too;For Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do.In books, or work, or healthful play,Let my first years be past;That I may give, for every day,A good account at last.
Charles.How doth the little busy beeImprove each shining hour!And gather honey all the dayFrom every opening flower!
Charles.How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour!
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!
How skilfully she builds her cell!How neat she spreads the wax!And labours hard to store it wellWith the sweet food she makes!
How skilfully she builds her cell!
How neat she spreads the wax!
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes!
In work of labour, or of skill,I would be busy too;For Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do.
In work of labour, or of skill,
I would be busy too;
For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.
In books, or work, or healthful play,Let my first years be past;That I may give, for every day,A good account at last.
In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my first years be past;
That I may give, for every day,
A good account at last.