POETRY.

TELLIN' FRIENDS.

" WHERE have ye been, then, Granny dear,

Out in the garden in the dark?

Set down, ye looks that pale an' leer—

I hrer'd a voice an' went to hark.

Who did ye talk to where the four Old hives be by the medder's edge?

Was it the cows a-reechin' o'er To crop our cabbage 'cross the hedge?

An' why've ye got the big door-key, An' what's the black strip as ye holdt You wants a nice hot cup o' tea, Ye've well-nigh caught yer death o' cold!"

" Why, lass, I've been to tell wi' they

As should be told, an' took 'em these—

The key an' crape. Who's them. d'ye say?

There, you knows who I means—the bees.

just like us folk they be wise An' must be told aught good 'r bad; An' so I taps to wake 'em—twice- An' tells how us've lost our lad."

I taps the key a-top each skep,

An' listens till I hears 'em buzz;

Then says as they'll not bear his step Nor see him more—the same as us.

I tells 'em they must take a pride 'Cause o the V.C. what he won,

An' how wi' Sussex lads he died— The some as what his father done—

An' bout the chap he saved, as well, An' them as they was ehargin' at;

An' said he stung afore he fell—

I reckon they thought well o' that!

I wish as bees could take their part An' fly to where they Jarmins be, An' sting t' death the murderin' heart U' him as made this misery !

I curse ... a'right, Kate, I'll bide still, An' curses they comes home t' roast; But mind you tells bees good 'r ill

The same as what yer Granny. used

So they'll be friends, an' swarm in May An' hive ye honey long an' late;

They'll bring ye some good luck, I lay—

An' pity knows ns needs it, Kate! "

HABBERION

• In many country districts beekeepers never omit to tell their been of any death in the family; the hive ie tapped twice on announcing that of a male, and three timee in the muse of a female; and crape is tied to each hive till after the funeral.

t" A swarm in May is worth a load of hay,

A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon, A swarm in July's sot worth a butterfly."

Old Country Rhyme.