Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-10-19
Swan Song of the humble Bee.

Mention was made in this column
some months ago of the great opportu.
mites to study life-all kinds Of life
on farm. That was In the spring
when vegetable and animal life was Just
beginning to be active. Well, the activ-
1iiy has continued and increased all
through the summer, and now that
autumn has taken foot off the acceler-
ator there is still life to study, although
it is of dying kind, but interesting just
the same, as dying is a part of life, and
some tired people say the best part
the end.
For the most part nature is set in a
minor key, although there are bright
and brilliant days in October, and all OF
them have a soft mauve haze yelled over
them, yet the wind as it roams through
the bright colored foliage, or among the
leafless branches, always give chords
that remind one of Tosti's "Good Bye"
and the birds, swallows and all are
"making them ready to fly"
The frOst-killed leaves drop softly
down to cover the roots OF the trees up
on which they grew, giving an object
lesson to man that one of the things to
do in winter is to keep ones feet warm.
There are so many dead leaves, the wind
is liberal with them and sweeps them
around with centripetal motion so they
catch hold of every protruding stalk or
bush and form little mounds about
them. They have way also of settling
down in some fence corner where the
wild asters bloom and covering every.
thing that happens to be there.
The last humble or humble bees hover
around these asters and humble all
right. You may think it jazz song,
but it is not for the male 1t is more o
swan song. 1t is true he has been jazz
| with his queen and incidentally fertiliz-
ing clover, but his day is over. He is
looking over these asters and hooks in
the fence corners for some secluded spot
to tuck up his queen for the winter, and
when found covers her with dead grass
and foliage that she may sleep warm un-
til the resurrection day another spring.
But for him it is case of shipwreck
There may be mo- dark green water
about him, but there is dark gray wealth
er, which spells death just the same
1t is a case of "women and children
frst;" SO he tucks up bis queen, softly
buzzing the while, and then faces the
dark gray weather with the best grace
aud buzz he can muster. Does be know?
If he does, he is the bravest fellow
know, and take off my hat to him.
The judgment of his youth and young
adulthood may not have been very great.
If it had there might not be in the com.
ing spring a comb full of soft-bodied
white grubs to develop into next years
crop of humble bees. He might go
farther with Tosti's song and hum CAN
the to-morrows shall be as today" and
IL they are going to be, be might con-
cude be would not be responsible for
any gay black and yellow gowned Lotha-
rios of another summer, for they would
have to face the gray, cold autumn just
as he is facing it. he might add "the
clover may 60 to''-wsll, I won't say
where, but 1t simply shows it is we'll
perhaps the young of the animal or in
sect Kingdoms are reckless and ignorant.
Just think what might happen If the
humble bees or any other kinds OF bees
or insects should become wise and
develop will power stronger than their
passions. There then would be no flow
ers ITO blush unseen' or to see blush.
It would be dead world.
A live world depends on little things
and one of them seems to be q humble
bee. When one thinks what depends
upon him, one can forgive him for his
sting. He is not to blame for 1t. He Is
not insulated right and is liable to short.
circuit any time. If be were as big as a
mule, his sting might be more danger
GUS than the kick of that animal.
But to- day, singing his swan song, he
is building his humble Tai Mahal in
honor of his queen-sipging q song we
have all got to sing, If we are brave
enough, and If we are not we can admire
any one who is.
AoUARIUs.