The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-01-07
UNCLE JOE'S BEE-HUNT.

The custom of bee-hunting used to
be, and is yet, to some extent, favorite
pastime among the inhabitants of the
Green Mountains. To hunt successful
i requires thorough knowledge of
the bee and all his habits and there
fore, like any other game, those who
love the sport, pride themselves upon
their proficiency.
The hunter starts out armed with
small box with sliding cover, card Of
honeycomb, and small bottle of honey
molasses, or something suited to the
taste of the bees. When near to locality
of wild bees, he fills the comb with the
honey from the bottle, places it in the
bottom of the box, and hunts for bee
upon flower, which, when found, he
brushes into the box, at the same time
closing the box.
The prisoner will buzz for while,
and then goes to filing his sack from the
honey in the bottom of the box The
hunter then places the box in favorable
position for seeing it, and slides back
the cover.
Having ssflled,' as the hunters say,
the bee flies straight to his tree, and re-
turns to fill again, bringing others with
him. Oftentimes these workers increase
SO rapidly that steady stream will be
70 tba Inv 1ryh1a
can easily be followed to the tree at
once.
Frequently large deposits of honey
are found in this way, which the little
workers show quite as much bravery in
defending as industry in gathering.
There lived in the town of R an
excentric character, "Uncle Joe, whose
particular pride was in being thought'a
master Of this sport.
Once, on the approach of the hunting
season, he went out as usual armed with
bee-box and honey bottle, and soon had
a worker caught, but somehow he show
ed an utter indifference to Joe's honey.
He let him go and caught another, who
behaved in like manner; and SO he
spent the day, every bee refusing his
free lunch, until Joe really thought the
bees all crazy or himself dreaming, for
surely he never knew the Like before.
In utter amazement he gave up the
job and went home. Meeting his ''bet-
IL a. no L h:
traps to put away told her his luck,
which he was disposed to consider as an
i'll omen, and awaited her to speak,
which she soon did.
EHolding the bottle up before her, she
exclaimed, with twinkle in both eyes:
"Well-well, Joe !! if you hain't gone
and taken my castor-o1 to line bees
with -
Joe looked, and seeing his honey bot
tie untouched, saw the joke and wilted,
for he knew that he would never hear
the last of it, as one of his neighbor's
boys happened to be present, who would
be sure to give it a free circulation
among his acquaintance.
That evening Joe rather happy from
the effects of something taken to relieve
hts chagrin, strolled into the village
hotel, where few of his neighbors were
congregated.
One who never let a chance slip to
give Joe hit, and who rarely got the
better of him, related Joe's experiment;
and turning to him with an air of having
at least got his enemy in a tight place,
asked Joe if he hadn't better treat on
that. Joe steadied himself by chair,
and when the laugh had subsidized SO
that he could be heard, said, with very
knowing look:
Gentlemen, there's no mistake about
that. I wasn't trying to hunt those
bees; was only doctoring them. Bees
always have to be physicked before they
work well y
This brought the house down, and al
though Joe did Enot stand the treat,
some one else did, and he had to be
helped home.