FANNING THE HIVE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 November 1926, Page 18

FANNING THE HIVE.

What a hot day it was! So hot that the candies, in the brass candlesticks on tile mantelpiece, instead of standing up, straight like sentinels on duty, were bent over till they looked like nooks, and threatened every moment to start dripping away like icio.es in the sunshine.

“Poor things!” said Uncle Ned, coming into the room, as he straightened them out and laid them down on the mantel behind the candle-sticks. “Being only wax, they can hardly l>e expected to stand up with the thermometer at- 100 degrees in the shade.” “Neither can I,” said Billy, who, with Dolly, his twin sister, was lying on the floor in front of the French window. “It’s too hot even to read!” said Lindsay, lolling over- the arm of the Morris chair with a half-open book beside her. “Even Tim is panting,” said Heuen, putting a languid hand on the back of her little spaniel as they sat side by Bide on the floor leaning up against the wall. Uncle Ned looked around the room a moment, and then at the listless children. ‘‘Upon my word!” he, said, ‘if it s as bad as that, 1 think we’d better begin to fan the hive.” “What do you mean, Uncle Ned?” asked Lindsay curiously. “It. only makes me hotter to use a fail.” “I wasn’t talking about using a fan,” said Unole Ned. “but about being it fan. Did you ever see inside a beehive?” “No.” said everybody. “Did you, Uncle?” asked Helen. “Yes,” said Uncle, “1 saw into one last night in a book I was reading, and it was a busy place, I assure you. Lots to do, and everybody busy doing 1 “Tell us about fanning the hive,” said Bilily. „ . , , “Well,” said Uncle, “I understand that in very hot weather, when the hive gets unbearably close, some of the bees form a line from the entrance, and by using their wings vigorously, force fresh air into the hive, while others, in another line, use their wings to force the hot air out of the hive. In this way the hive is kept fresh, and everybody goes about- working comfortably. And”the little bees who are fans keep themselves as comfortable as they do the others. It’s a great idea isn’t it? By the way,” he added suddenly, looking about- the rather untidy, dusty room, full of glaring light, “T think this room would be much cooler if we closed in the blinds of the French windows.” “I’]l help!” said Billy, dashing out on to the porch. ‘‘l’m going to empty those faded flowers and- wash the*vase,” said Lindsav, with sudden energy. “And I’ll get- some fresh pansies and honeysuckle from the sideyard where it’s shady!” exe 1 aimed Helen, dashing out- with Tim. “I can dust around,” said Dolly, giving herself a good, shake as she got up. ‘things are cooler when they’re tidy, aren’t they!” About an hour later, Mother, with face flushed from the heat of the kitchen, came hurriedly into the room, an anxious look in her eye. “I just remembered,” she said, that I had neglected to draw in the blinds about the house. I’m afraid things will he very warm everywhere. Why! What’s this?” she added. “What have vou all been doing?” “Fanning the hive!” called everybody with one voice.. “Upstairs and down, we’ve been fanning the hive!