The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-06-07
HIVING BEES.
A Lively Day the Boys Had in Georgia.

There was lively bee-hiving out at
Judge Odom's Oakley woods place the
other day-the whole affair being fully
up to regulations as regards the tragic
and ludicrous. Judge Odom had
charged Mr.. Roberts, the overseer, to
watch the bees and let no swarms get
away. Swarming season approached,
and Roberts made ready - his apiarian
harvest by preparing gums, and con-
venently placing tin pans. bells, horse
shoes, and other instruments of music
likely to compose and detain swarm
of bees on taking French leave. He
did not have long to wait. The other
morning the hottest kind of swarm
darkened the air, and Roberts put his
orchestra in motion with a vigor that
would cause any Observation-Disclosures bee
to pause, reflect, and turn back. They
did pause, and with one accord pitched
upon tree in the yard, where they
formed themselves into u funnel-shaped
mass. Roberts then played upon them
with huge syringe from bucket of
water, and having ef1ectually, as he
supposed, put out the incipient flame
that turks in their tails, prepared to
gather them into his garner. The bunch
Of bees were some ten or twelve feet
from the ground, and the object was to
land them safely within the bee-gum.
A serious difficulty here met Mr.. Rob-
erts-to wit, how to bring the gum in
proximity with the bees and retain it
there. The gods of genius were propi-
tous; necessity, prolific old mother of
invention, brought forth son in the
person of Blind Phil" a colored man
on the place, who is nearly or quite
blind. "IIere, Phil, come here said
Mr.. Roberts. 81 want you to hold this
bee-gum up under that bunch of bees,
while climb the tree and sweep them
in" And without ceremony or unnec-
essary delay, he seized Phil, and placing
him directly under the bees, put the bee
gum on top OF his head, and directed
him to stand fast. Broom in hand, Mr..
Roberts then ran up the tree with the
nimbleness Of cat squirrel, and crawl
ing out, hung himself on limb, and
cautiously began to sweep them off, let
ting them fall in Jumps into the open
box on the negros head below. Mr..
Roberts congratulated himself on the
success of his scheme. Sometimes a
wad of bees would miss the hole and
strike Phil on the shoulder, which made
him restless. "Stand firm, Phil, said
voice from above, land they will not
sting you.
Couch! golly! I'm stung for shuah!
Whew! Mars. Roberts, I'm got to drop
dis box!'
"Stand still, you chicken fool you!
I'll soon have them all in. Who cares
for beep" Just then an old-liner--a
king bee marched down on Pills back
under his shirt, and Phil became still
more uneasy, but Mr.. Roberts spoke
soothing words from above. Suddenly,
however, the bees seemed to realize
who it was disturbing them, and about
forty business fellows popped Mr.. Rob
erts simultaneously, and he dropped his
broom, lost his hold, and came down
with crash upon the negro and box.
With whoop and wild screech Phil
got upon his feet and lit out, followed
by a crowd of bees. He forgot his
blindness, and went he knew not with
er, striking the pardon palings broad
side and leveling three panels with the
ground. He never stopped, but contin-
ued to charge around the Enclosure un-
til the vegetables were all destroyed.
In the meantime, Mr.. Roberts was
fully employed. In fact he was very
busy, Around the house and through
it then under it; out to the gate,
through the horse lot, and cover the
hills and far away"
Neither were the bees idle but dill
gently ''improved each shining hour"
fitting from flower to flower (Roberts
and Phil were the blossoms), culling all
the sweets and raising merry hail Co
lumbia. The swelling has all gone
down now, and IL anybody sees stray
swarm of bees in the neighborhood they
need not hesitate TO hive them, as Mr..
| Rnho,ta and phil yyill law ma ,lai,, 30