O'erheard the place of assignation, And crept out from his hidden station; Rushed to the Bee-house, found John Dull Asleep, and snoring like a bull. "Wake, Uncle, wake" in startling tone He shouted, "for your swarm is gone." Fytte IV. The Swarm. [Illustration] John Dull, awakened from his slumber, Observed his stock's diminished number; His apple trees he searched, and found The swarm some ten feet from the ground; [Illustration] Got his bee dress, his hive, and ladder; No Bee master was ever gladder. [Illustration] Mounted, and without any trip Got all the bees within the skip-- [Illustration] "Well done I have them;" as he spoke The ladder's top-most rung it broke, [Illustration] Crack! Crack! and, as I hope to thrive, The same befel the other five; [Illustration] The bees rush forth and quit the hive! [Illustration] John on his knees, and free from harm Marked well the disappearing swarm. [Illustration] Two boys were making pies of dirt Close by, and playing with a squirt; They squirted at the bees to stop 'em, Squirted in vain; they could not drop 'em. [Illustration] Old Sally met them with her mop, And Sammy trumpeted, stop! stop! [Illustration] And Dick and Bob and Bill they screeched, But not a sound these flyers reached-- [Illustration] A Sweep upon the chimney top Showered soot upon them, and cried "Stop!" [Illustration] When they had cleared the churches roof, Sam Dutton put his gun to proof; [Illustration] John Dull came panting up behind And could no other stopper find; [Illustration] He stamped and swore and scratched his head, "A pretty dance I have been led," "Confound the bees; I've got a warming" Some way I'll find to stop their swarming; A hive I'll build as big as two, Sold by Mancubrian P.tt.gr.w. Fytte V. The Patent Monster Hive. Adverse events reveal the real man, So Horace wrote, refute this truth who can. [Illustration] And John Dull to its full completion wrought The inspiration of his sudden thought. "Room for the swarm!" This is great Nature's law, And so he built two monstrous hives of straw.-- [Illustration] "Good morning neighbour" from across the fence Cried out Dick Dean. "May I without offence" "Ask what your making." "Why these blessed bees," "I find them creatures plaguey hard to please." "Plaguey! dont say so--they're a real pleasure," "I love to watch them when I have the leisure;" "Besides each scholar knows in antient days," "How Maro sung his little darlings praise." "And when the Roman legions brought alarm" "To every inmate of his Mantuan farm,--" "Smiling he stood, amidst his winged host;" "The mailed warriors fled and left him at his post." "All this I know--Beekeeping would be charming," "If there was never such a thing as swarming."