Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-02-16
Old Times.

The last year we kept batch at the
it was about the last of February, there
came warm, sunny spell of weather.
The witch hazels were in full bloom,
and the air was laden with their frag-
rance; how delicious the air smells at
such time. Mingled with the scent
of the pine and cedar it brings beauti-
full thoughts, as well as joyous feelings,
and on just such days "the little busy
gathers honey all the day from every
open flower" and while the little bee
is gathering his honey, the sharp eye
of the hunter is watching it, and when
he has his load ready to start for home
that eye is watching him as he circles
around and takes the straight course
for his home. Now the hunter has got
his course, he with rapid steps follows
on his course, with eyes scanning each
tree on that line, for bee takes n
straight course, neither turns to the
right or left az he makes for ibis home
therefore, the old saying, straight as a
well how and where to look for the
hive, and very seldom misses it. When
he has found the hive, he, with his
knife. cuts on the fork of the tree the
initials of his name and date; none but
a thief will think of cutting that tree,
for he knows it Is not his tree if he does
find it.
That winter there were two neigh
bors who spent good part OF their
leisure time hunting bee trees, and they
found good many trees and gathered
large quantity of honey, which they
sold at a good price. On one of those
pleasant days messenger came to the
mill and said, "Hannan and Jerry
have found lot of bee trees and want
you fellows to come over tonight and
stay and in the morning go and help
cut those trees, and you may have
bucket of honey for your cabin" The
next morning we were ready to start.
Hannah and Jerry each had horse to
ride; each carried a six gallon churn
before him on his horse to put the hon
ey In. My old partner and l were to
walk. We took our guns and the axe
to cut the trees down with, and large
buckets to fill with honey. By sun
rise we were off on our tramp over high
mountains, down deep ravines, across
wide bellows, for miles. At last we
came to large, dead pine tree on top
of a high mountain. Hannah said to
me, "Now, young man, you cut that
tree down and you may eat all the
honey you want; and by the time you
get it cut down you will want some
thing to eat. 1 took the axe and with
one stroke sank it to the eye, followed
by sharp snap from the tree. for ii
was nothing but thin shell, almost
ready to fall of its own weight. Now
/ do not remember of ever haying seen
a hollow pine tree before, for the heart
of pine is most always rich and solid
with pitch. 1t did not take more than
a half dozen blows with the axe to fell
that large tree, twas so hollow. When
it struck the ground it smashed all to
pieces and scattered the honey in every
direction for yards around; but we
gathered up all we could and saved
about two gallons. It. seemed such
pity to see such quantities OF good, nice,
white honey wasted. but there was no
help for it. So we gathered up our
things and started for another tree
about mile farther on. From thst
tree we got about two gallons. 1t was
not good tree, and the hunters began
ITO think their prospect was not very
good: they need not have brought so
many vessels, they were not very sure
of filling tAem. Well, we will go and
see what We will get out of that little
pine on Rock .cresk; I don't believe
there Is much honey Ia IL, That little
pine stood ON the banK OF Raskf creek.