Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-04-16
Boffin's Experience
with Bees

WILL ONNS
MRS. BOFFIN was determined to
Iv move into the country. She told
Mr.. Boffin Of really nice place adjoin-
ing .Mr. Spanger's, where it would be
SO nice to keep bees, just like Mr..
Spanger; land then, you know, my
dear Benjamin., we could produce our
own honey"
Mr.. Boffin's ideas of bees and making
honey were as vague as possible, but
the first principle Of his married life
was to see Mrs. BIS slightest wish
fulfilled. No sooner were they in
stalled in their new>. home than he
bought seven dollars worth of books
on bees: "Bees and How to Cultivate"
smith on Bees Higgins on Bees"
and, in fact, ybody who had written
anything about bees could be found in
his collection.
Mrs. Bofin read, Mr.. Bofin read, and
their son Tom, also, read, and among
the three they concluded what they did
not know about bees was not worth
knowing. Bofin's next step was to
procure dozen hives made to order.
These were placed at proper distances
under row of apple trees. And with
what pleasure did Mrs. Boffin survey
the management of the experienced
hive-builder! She could already see, in
her minds eye, the winged workers
darting to and fro and in and out OF
their homes, and visions of delicious
honey stood in bold relief before the
eyes of Mr.. Bofin. ~----
So he posted his letter, with $40
note Enclosed, to celebrated bee rails
er, and by return mail the package
came. The man who left it at the house
remarked that he supposed it was a
new kind of music box; he merely
thought 30 from the continued hum
ming. .
Mrs. Bofin smiled, and thought of de-
lusions. The brown wrapping paper
vas carefully removed, and a box rs
inches square stood exposed to view.
Around the sides, upon the top and bot
tom, were small holes, covered with a
fine wire gauze. On card was written
"Seven Hundred italian Bees" H=
1T does not say anything about 1tal-
ian bees in the books, does it, dear?"
asked Mr.. Boffin, who was nervously
scratching his head. ....... -
"Oh, never mind; they. are to be
handled just the same as other bees"
Boffin said nothing, but took up the
box and wendell his way to the orchard,
followed by Mrs. B, Tom, and their
black and tan terrier, Skip. Master
Billy Bofin, aged three years, was left
in the house on the kitchen floor, with
q huge slice of bread and butter to
quiet noxious disposition, inherited,
probably, from his father.
Il guess we will place a few in each
hive"
Could they have seen the look of dis
may on the countenance of Spanger,
who was peeping through a crack in
the fence nearby, they might have hes
itated. But Mr.. Bof1in proceeded to
pull off the cover, very carefully and
gently, while Tom held the hive tipped
over SO the bees could go in. Mr.. Boz
fin placed the box by the edge of the
hive, and lightly tapped the end. The
bees gradually began to move; first
one popped out, then another and an
other, but instead of going into the
hive, they darted away, and were soon
out OF sight. After losing 20 or 80 in
this manner, Mr.. B. paused for re-
Election.
TON, go and get Jones on Bees"
So Tom set down the hive, and start
ed off for "Jones on Bees"
Turn to page g."
Tom did as directed, and after a few
lines were read they concluded they
were doing wrong; they had omitted
10 smear the sides of the hive with
honey. So Mrs. Bofin went over to
Mrs. Spanger's and procured pint of
strained honey. The work was soon
accomplished. 49,"
Mrs. Boffin said she would hold the
box this time. Mr.. Boffin nervously
placed It in her hands, and off came
the cover. The first bee that came
out struck Skip on the nose, and he
skipped away, bowling fearfully as
he did SO, darting between Bofin's
legs and upsetting him upon the box.
Skip then made for the house, the
door of which was open, where he
overturned Master Billy, who joined
his voice to that of the dog. Mr..
Bofin had fortunately sat right in
the box, and his coat-tails crowding
snugly in kept the inmates from get
ting out. Mrs. Bofin screamed:
Don't get up, Benjamin; don't get
up, or we shall lose them!"