Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-27
Bee Hunting.


luck;' that "bees was the knowingest critters
alive"-that they lived in " the holer trees, all
around usn He said they had queens to gov
erm 'em'-that they had workers and dronesn
that everything about 'em was done Just
so, and if any of EN- broke the laws they just
killed 'em, and pitched 'em overheard" This,
he said, he had " seed HIMSELF he had seen
regular bee funeral" He seed, once, four
bees tugging at dead body, drawing it on the
back, when they throwd it out Of the hive and
covered it over with dirt" And then, they
have "wars," he says, and "genrals," and
:" captins," and "sogers," and Ego out a-fghting,
and a-stealing honey;" they are KNOWN
critters, and there is no tellin' nothing about
EN-"
Venison took the little box he had brought
with him, which was filed with honey, and,
opening its lid, placed it on a stump. He then
rambled around the woods until he found
lingering flower that had escaped the frost with
a honey-bce upon it. This he picked, bee and
all, and placed on the honey Soon, the bee
began to work and load himself; and finally he
rose in circles, winding high in the air, and sud.
denly turning q right angle, he shot away out
of sight.
"Where has he gone 2" inquiredI /.
"Gone hum where he lives" answered Veni
son, to unload his thighs and tell the news"
In few moments, three bees returned, filed
themselves, and departed then six then
dozen, until black line was formed, along
which they were rushing both ways, empty and
laden, one end of which was lost in the forest.
Venison and myself then started on trot,
with our eyes upward, to follow this living line;
and after having proceeded quarter of mile
it became so confused and scattered that we
gave it up, and returned.
aWhat now ?' innuired
I'll have 'em! I'll have 'em n he replied.
They can't cheat old Venison. I've hunted
the critters more nor forty years, and / alters
takes EN- when tries I'll draw couple Of
more sights on EN-
Venison took two pieces more of honey, and
placed one on each side of his box. The bees
followed him and commenced their work. Very
soon, instead Of one, he had three lines estab-
lished, his line of honey forming the base of
triangle, while the bees were all rushing to its
point, on each side Of this triangle through its
middle.
This, of course, was demonstration. Ven
ison and myself followed up again, and, sure
enough, we had EN-" as he predicted. There
they were, roaring in the top Of great oak
like thunder coming in and going out, wheel
ing mp and down through the air as though
some great celebration was going on. 1t seemed
that the whole hive of workers must have broken
forth to capture and carry away Venson's ho-
ney box.
"Will they sting ~ inquired |.
"Some folks they will,' he replied. off
they hate man they'll follow him mile and
no body knows who they hate and who they
don't, until they're tried
Where's the honey ~ inquired again.
"Well, that's the next thing I'm arter;'' and
Venison put his ear to the trunk of the tree to
ascertain in what part of it they were "a-work-
'in'.a He listened while, but "they warnt
low down, he know'd, for he didn't hear 'em
hummin." He thought the honey was " out the
way, high up somewhere" So at the tree he
went with his axe, and in half an hour the old
oak-older, probably, than any man on the
globe-came down with crash that reused up
all the echoes of the wilderness
Upon an examination, the honey was, proba-
bly,, Venison thought, packed away in hollow
of the tree, about fifty feet from the ground, as
a large knot-hole was dscerned out of which
the bees were streaming in great CONSERVATION.
SO he severed the trunk again, at the bottom of
the hollow, and there it was, great flakes, piled
one upon another, some Of which had been
broken by the fall of the tree, and were dripping
and oozing out their wild richness.
That's the raal stuff" exclaimed Venison;
" something sides bee-breadr
Venison had brought nothing with him to
hold his honey, and was little curious to
know how he would manage. He cut the tree
again above the knot During his labor, the
bees had settled all over him. His hands, face,
and hair, were filled, besides circle of them
that were angrily wheeling about his head.
But he needed them not, except byan occasional
shake, which was significant Of pity rather than
rage.
"Now,' said Venison, when his work was
finished, the tree cut, the knot-hole stopped, and
the whole turned upside down, "that's what /
call natral beehive, and we'll Just stuff in a
little drygass on the top, and then / II be ready
to moven
"Move!' exclaimed, "move! You don't.
expect zoe will carry home tree, do your"
1.-Two or three on 'em, / spect. Venison
alters gets as much as that
Venison was right. Before noon half
dozen hives we're captured and ready for re.
moval / confess, after the excitement was
over, that began to grow quite serious over
my forenoon's labor. l sat down to rest my.
SELF and the very solemnity Of the wilderness
produced a sober train of thought. A south.
west breeze sprang up loaded with the dying
breath Of the fall flowers. 1t was blowing
down the leaves around me, and piling them
up in gorgeous drifts. Like an undertaken
tearing down the drapery, and preparing the
year for its burial. A haze overspread every.
hing, and the distance was mellow, the objects
ndistinct and the whole landscape seemed
swimming, as we sometimes see it in dream.
The trees were covered with haze and canoe,
IN its way down, appeared to be hung up in the
lir; the birds were hazy; and, looking about
ne, j appeared to be sitting in great tent Of
laze. The squirrels we're Gathering through
he trees, and throwing down the nuts; the
cartridges were drumming; the rabbits rustling
trough the dry leaves; the waterfowl hurrying
through the air; and the crickets, those melan.
holy musicians, were piping low, dirgelike
train to the golden hours of autumn as they
,assed away.
Camphine Accidcnt.-The New Orleans Plea.
ane Of the sth instant says:
"Early last night one Of those Internal machines,
sually denominated camphine lamps, exploded al
restaurant in Poydras, near Carondelct street,