The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-08-02
BEL AIR. MD. FRIDAY MORNING. AUGUST Q 1857

niaso' anu sues every llttie agitation, how
ever slight, caused hum and hiss from
some thousands. He then remembered
the account given in Thorley's work or
bees, of a swarm settling on the face of 9
servant maid, who escaped unhurt by the
care and advice of her master, he without
irritating the swarm, having hived il
from off her with a hive well smaared
with honey. To avoid agita,ine the
swarm, Mr.. Simmonds slowly kneeled
down on the grass and remained perfectly
still. lie then found number Of bees
were gathering in a mass under the
=. waistband OF his trowsers, in the hollow
of bis back, to. which spot the others were
drawing, indicating that the queen was
there. Fearing, therefore, that the tight
ness of the waistband, rendered tighter
whenever he brsathed, might crush, or at
any rate irritate this part of the swarm,
he slowly uubuttoned the front part of his
trowscrsl
1t is not easy to conceive more help.
less condition than that to which MIR.
Slmmonds was now reduced. He that
was he.master Of forty hives, from which
he could usually levy what spoils he
pleased, killing his thousands at his
IpIeasuro with birthstone match, was
now completely in the power Of one de-
tachment of his own army, and was re.
duced to most suppliant position. Even
to call for he ? would have been daugor-
Gus, as the bees near his mouth would
have been undoubtedly irritated, and
would have probably entered his mouth.
At this moment he heard a railway train
on the Cherscy Branch Railway, from
which he was about fifty yards. 1t fortu-
nately happened that the engine driver
was known to him, and had little COM
mission from him to sound his whistle if
he saw anything wrong among his cows
and sheep
The engine driver, seeing Mr.. Sim
monds on his knees with one arm extend
cd as if for help, and something odd hang
ing from his face, sounded his whistle. =
This was heard by Mr.. Simmonds' wife,
who supPosipg that some COW was i'll,
sent her sen and farming man out into
the fields. They soon found Mr.. Sim.
monds IN the predicament above desert
bed. In addition tc the hanging mass,
there was cloud of bees still flying
around him, so that to approach him was
not the most agreeable flee. However
they came near enough to hear him
speak, which he did very gently, merely
5 GAY b pePrlInlg bushal hive we'll rubbed
While Hlcy were gone at the top of
their speed for this, he remained perfectly
STILL The tickling of the bees feet on
his face was almost unbearable, and the
danger Of irritating those that were down
his neck and back was imminent.
The most difficult part he had to per-
form, however, was that before mentioned,
Of dlssuading the bees, with the aid of his
two fore fingers, from getting up his nos
trils. These bees were not in good
humor, as they we're breathed upon, and
were also deferred from doing as they
pleased, and one bee showed his displeas-
ure by singing Mr.. Simmouds at the
fork OF bis two fore fingers. This was not
pleasant Of itself; but was serious oc-
curreuoe, as it might be the prelude to
mora extensive attack. He avoided
making any start when he was stung, and
continued to push away, as gently as pos
sible, those that were near his nostrils.-
This the only safe place to breathe from,
as it was necessary to keep his mouth per-
tcctly closed. Of course, the few min
utes that elapsed before the return Of his
son and servant seemed terribly long
period to Mr.. Simmouds, as during the
whole of it he remained as motionless as
possible on his knees.
On their arrival, the hive was placed
on three bricks, with its mouth down.
ward, and Mr.. Simm onds slow ly laid him.
self on his breast on the grass, with his
head close to the hive The honey soon
attracted the bees nearest to it, aud slow
movement Of the bees took place, till at
length the whole swarm gradually gather
ed itself under and within the hive, ex-
ccpt Il few patches Of bees, which, in
walking away, Mr.. Simmonds easily dis.
engaged from his dress with his hand, and
made them JON their companions. Mr.
Simmonds thus escaped from not only a
very disagrcc1bIc but Il pcriIous situation,
1t occupied two hours from the time that
the bees settled upon their master to the
time of his release
] a.