Hidden Treasure: The Story of a Chore Boy Who Made the Old Farm PaySimpson, John Thomas
Science
Hidden Treasure: The Story of a Chore Boy Who Made the Old Farm Pay
Simpson, John Thomas
Farm life
"Looks like a circus parade, Aunt Bettie," declared Bob, as they stood
on the hill back of the barn and saw them winding up the lane. First
came the team of black Belgian mares, then the ten Holstein cows, with
the bull leading his herd, then a wagon with the five Berkshire sows
in a pen, on top of which were the incubator and brooder, and on top
of these again the coops with the white leghorn and white rock
chickens. Then came another wagon with the bee hives, and following
this the small flock of Southdown sheep, looked after by a fine collie
dog, and last of all came Joe Williams in his new auto, smiling like
the king he felt himself to be.
It was an impressive sight to see this procession of fine-blooded
stock arrive at the farm, and the eyes of both Bob and his aunt were
glistening when they looked at each other as the procession came up
the new road into the barnyard.
"Well, what do you think of them, Bettie?" called her husband, jumping
from his auto and kissing her. "Almost like a circus procession. Hey,
Bob, show them where you want your bees. Better take them right over
to the orchard and set them up where you intend to keep them this
summer."
"I've got a place already fixed for them," he replied. Then as Tony
came near he called, "Do you understand how to talk to Italian bees,
Tony?"
"Yes, I know-a da bees and-a da bees know-a me--no-a sting," said
Tony.
"All right," said Bob, "come with us," and they climbed up on the
wagon and drove across the meadow to the new apiary.
They placed the hives on the cinder foundation Bob had made for them
under the trees and when they were all placed they looked very
attractive in their white paint.
"I'm sorry I didn't buy them myself," said the driver of the wagon,
who had been a farm hand for the former owner. "They're the greatest
honey-makers I ever saw. But I didn't have any place to take them, so
I had to let them go. You're a lucky boy--you got them for a song, but
do you know how to handle them?" he inquired. "You'll have to look out
for them now very carefully, or you may lose them. The spring is the
time they require watching so they don't starve."
"I've been reading up a lot about them," said Bob. "But what's in that
box?" he asked, as the driver unloaded his last piece--a large box
like a tool chest.
"These are your things for handling them, Bob--a smoker, a veil, some
tools and a lot of extra parts and things. If you want me to, I'll
come out the first nice warm day and help you look them over. I'm not
afraid of them. Call up my sister on the 'phone, 770, and tell her
when you want me. My name's John Adams."
"Yes, I will," said Bob, "and I'll pay you for your time, too, for
while I've read some, I've had no actual experience with bees."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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