THE BAILIFF AND THE BEES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9024, 3 September 1907, Page 4

THE BAILIFF AND THE BEES.

« Ail amusing s;tory "was told a fewdays ago in an action for debt before a. Rhenish Court. A peasant in the neighbourhood of Cologne had omitted to take account of a judgment for debt, and one of the Cologne bailiffs receivjed " instructions to distrain. The i townsman, all unaccustomed to matters ! rural, arrived at the cottage and re- ! quired the angry peasant to accompany i him into the little garden in order that ! he might witness the removal of a num- ! ber of beehives. i "Are they complete?" asked tne bailiff, pointing to the hives. " 5 0\v d'ye mean?" asked the rustic. " Why. are all the bees in?" A broad grin spread itself over the peasant's countenance as his slow wits \ took in the extreme ignorance of his i questioner in matters apicultural. "Wa'al," said the owner, perceiving a means of vengeance, " I 'ouldn't swear to 't. Maybe they-m vull, maybe they , b'aint. Better zee." ) The bailiff hum'd and ha'd, and ' then suggested that the peasant should , enlighten him on the ways and means of making the test. "Wa'al. d'ye zee. if the queens be there they'm vull. If they b'aint, then t'other way." " But how am I to see if the queens are there?" "Wa'al, d'ye zee, I'll shake they hives, and t' bees '11 come out. Do ye watch ca reful-like, and if ye do zee a biggish bee with a long body and thick head, that's th' queen. But mind and watch careful." 1 The innocent bailiff (if it had not bpen told in Court one would have doubted the .story) actually agreed to the proposal, and took up a position a few feet in front of the first hive. The. rustic suppressed a terrible desire to ; break into a mighty laugh, went behind the hive, and shook up the bees. What followed may be as well imagined, as described. The luckless representative of justice fisd a few minutes later covered with stings and pursued by roars of laughter from his "stupid" victimiser. The matter, of course, came into Court, where the pefiisant was accused of " impeding an officer of the Crown in the pursuit of his duties." But the peasant replied, " Wa'al, d'ye zee, I didn't tell they bees to sting 'un, did