The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-10
RoFFlN.s BEES.

| into the country. She told Mr. Boffin of
| really nice place. adjoining Mr.. Span
! gers where it would be so nice to keen
bees, just like Mr. Spanger; land then
you know, my dear Benjamin. we could
produce our own honey
Mr.. Bofin's ideas of bees and makine
| honey were as vague as possible. but the
first principle of his married life was to
see Mrs. 2. slightest wish fulfilled. Nc
sooner We're they installed in their new
home than he bought seven dollars worth
| of books on bees: Bees and How to
| Cultivate Smith on Bees Rigging
on Bees" and in fact. anybody who had
written anything about bees could be
| found in his collection
Mrs Boffin read. Mr.. Boffin read, and
| ---eir son Tom. also, read, and among the
three they concluded what they did not
| know about bees was not worth knowing
| Hoffins next step was to procure a dozen
! niveS made to order. These were placed
at proper distances under a row of apple
trees And with what pleasure did Mrs.
BofIin survey the management OF the ex-
| p rienced hiye-builder. She could already
see, in her minds eye, the winged work.
ers darting to and for and in and out of
| their homes, and visions of delicious
honey stood in bold relief before the
| eyes of Mr. Boffin
| So he posted his letter, with a twenty
| dollar note inciosed, to a celebrated bee
| raiser, and by return mail the package
| came The man who left IL at the house
remarked that he supposed it was a new
| KIND or music box; he merely thought so
| from the continued humming
! Mrs. Boff:n smiled and thought of de-
lusions- The brown wrapping paper was
carefully removed. and a box about
eighteen inches square stood exposed TO
view. Around the sides, upon the top
and bottom, were small holes. covered
w..h fine wire gauze On a card was
wEittel Seven Hundred Italian Bees
1T does not say anything about Ital-
ian bees in the books. does it, my dear?"
asked Mr.. Boffin, who was nervousiy
scratching his head.
"Oh, never mind; they are to be han
died just the same as ether bees
Bofin said nothing. but took up the box
and wendell his way to the orchard, fol-
lowed by Mrs. B.. Tom. and their black
and tan terrier. Skip Master Billy Bof-
fin, aged three years. was left In the
house on the kitchen floor, with a huge
slice of bread and butter to quiet nox-
ious disposition, inherited probably from
his father.
Il guess we will place few in each
hive"
Could they have seen the look of dismay
on the countenance of Spanger. who was
peeping through a crack in the fence
near by, they might have hesitated. But
Mr. Boffin proceeded to pull off the cover.
very carefully and gently, while Tom held
the hive tipped over so the bees could go
in. Mr.. Boffin 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
another, but instead of going into the
hive, they darted away, and were soon
out of sight. After losing twenty or
thirty in this manner, Mr.. b. paused for
reflection.
Tom, go and get Jones on Bees"
So Tom set down the hive and started
off for Jones on Bees
Turn to page sixty-seven."
Tom did as directed and after a few
lines were read they concluded they were
doing wrong; they had omitted to smear
the sides of the hive with honey. So Mrs.
Boffin went over to Mrs. Spanger's and
procured a pint of strained honey. The
WORK was soon accomplished.
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. howl
ing as he did so, darting between Bofi1n'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. Boffin had fortunately
sat right in the box, ana his coat tails
.crowding snugly in kept the inmates
from getting out. Mrs. Boffin screamed:
Don't get up, Benjamin; don't get up,
or we shall lose them,"
Bofiin had no idea of getting up then,
but the piteous expression upon his face
would have excited sympathy in any one.
Tom was gradually approaching the
house, as he thought there might be q
possible chancelof getting stung. He was
soon stopped. by his mother. who called
him back to help his father
Not liking to show the white feather
he returned. Mrs. B. explained how the
cover was to be slipped on while Boffin
carefully arose from his sitting position.
But, alas, the human expectations, One
solitary bee had crawled up the leg Of
Boffin's pants.
n yell. turned n handspring. and made
for the house, followed by Mrs. Boffin,
Tom, and about six hundred bees. In
rushed Boffin and took refuge under the
bed where Skip was already busily en-
ployed rubbing his nose. Tom landed In
the water-butt outside just as one big
fellow took him by the ear. Mrs. Boffin
with great presence OF rnlnO- covered nfr
head and shoulders with her dress. but.
as she could not see. bumped her head
against the door-frame. which nearly
stunned her. But she managed to STUN
BILE in and close the door just as two Of
the enemy buzzed in, one taking Master
Billy under the eye and the other herself
on the hand.
The swarm outside lowered around the
d.
TO Spanger's hives. where they settled
down. and at once commenced making
honey for Mrs Spanger.
Peace being declared in the house of
Boffin, Mr.. b. came out and DECEASED he
knew il was wrong to handle Italian bees
that way. Tom came in dripping wet.
one ear as big as a dollar bill. vowing
vengeance against all bees. Italian or
any other kind Mrs. Boffin brought out
with the exception of Billys eye. there
was soon but little to show there had
been q bee scrimmage.
Next morning Boftin called on Spanger |
for his bees. !
How many did you have?''
About six hundred replied Boffin.
Pick 'em out. said Spanger.
Pick the deuce out. How am | going !
to tell my bees from yours
Then Spanger. with a smile. said:
Yours were Italian bees. were they 1
Yes but I can't tell an Italian bee /
from any other unless IL stings harder"
Then Spanger told Bofin TO take six !
hundred bees and pick them out any
where Botin remembered his leg. and /
refused In fact. he did not know how TO !
pick them Nothing was said about pick (
ing in his collection Of books 50 he con- I
suited his wife. who told him the best /
way was to engage a bee-raiser. This /
was done. al an expense Of ten dollars. 4