Saying this, Jack sat down upon the grass, and, hitching pretty close to the hive, quietly contemplated the scene. The buzzing of the bees made a roar all around the hive, and though those which had settled into a heap were quiet, there were many who reminded one of the marshals on the 17th of June, in managing the procession to Bunker Hill: they were flying hither and thither—back and forth—up and down—round and round—in and out—appearing to be brim full of something very important, but really doing nothing, after all. With them it was buzz, buzz, buzz!
Jack had looked quietly on for about half an hour, when he saw an unusual agitation in the bees that had congregated upon the outside of the hive; they began to flutter their little wings, and run this way and that. All at once a portion of them took to flight, and rising about forty feet in the air, whirled round and round for a few minutes, and then streamed away upon the wind. They were followed by others, so that a continued line of bees was distinctly visible in the air.
Jack, greatly excited, followed the runaway bees, thinking to himself—“if you are about to desert in this fashion, I guess I’ll find where you are going to!”—so he followed the stream, and, at the distance of about fifty rods, he found that they began to light upon an apple-tree. Here they collected very fast, and pretty soon he could see them gathered in a large dark mass upon one of the limbs. He now ran home and told his father what was going on.
Jack’s father set out with another man for the scene of action, having provided a new hive and a brass kettle. When they came to the apple-tree, they began to beat the kettle, under the idea that such kind of music is apt to induce bees, when swarming, to settle down the more readily. Pretty soon the whole company had arrived and alighted upon the limb. They were collected one upon the other, and the whole mass looked about as large round as a man’s arm.
The new hive was now placed upon a bench beneath the tree, and some honey was put near the holes. At evening, the limb upon which the bees were clinging was carefully cut down, and placed near the hive. In the morning the bees began to leave their place upon the bough, and to enter the hive. In a short space they had all taken up their abode in it, and immediately they began to build cells, in which to store their honey. That evening the hive was removed and placed upon the same platform as the other hives. Its inhabitants seemed all pleased with their new home, and very soon they had stored it with honey.
These events made a strong impression upon Jack’s mind, and turned his attention to the study of bees. He learned a great many curious things about them, but still he was obliged to ask his aunt Piper a multitude of questions, in order to gratify his curiosity. I may as well tell the substance of what he learned about bees, in [another chapter].
The 4th of July.
What a great day is the 4th of July! In the morning the bells are set a-ringing and guns are fired. During the day, the people get together, and some one makes a great speech to them.
This is called independent day. Do my readers know why the 4th of July is thus noticed? Perhaps not—so I will tell them.