Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-09-05

Keeping him long enough to get him impatient
Of this spent up Utica" Phelim gently lifted up
one corner Of The hat and released him in the
expectation that he would take direct flight
towards the hive, and he would thus be enabled
TO find its exact locality The bee, bewildered,
circed around and about for few seconds
then took his course towards large poplar me
fifty yards distant. Phelim took bee line for
the tree, and on reaching it, as soon as he had
looked up, commenced capering and dancing,
and shouting, not exactly Eureka dOmicHium
dpU" (dog Latin and monkey Greek mixed,)
but "Be Dad, and I've found the bae tree and
the baes, an its myself will have the swate hon
ey for the axing'
Indeed, and we are sorry TO record it, the
sight Of the bees and the long heart-urned (po-
etlcal, quite) desire of owning ''jist sich'' made
Phelim even more crazy than the "bust-head"
had done, and he started off in long lope for
his house TO get the necessary articles for catch
ing the swarm. In short time he returned
with wife, children. and other household uten-
sis, such "chist 10 put the baes in and tin
pans aud kettles to beat and make a noise with,
to distract the bees and keep them from observ-
ing the movements of Phem while engaged in
the operation of hiving them Phclim, with
"chlst' strapped to his back ascended the tree,
while the rest of the family piled arms and legs,
and voices below, in the endeavor to create such
a harmony as would sooth the insects into sub
mission to his Inecoming exertons. He slowly
approached them, and had almost gotten into
reaching distance, when the shaking of the limb
caused to come forth several begerent men,
bers of the fraternity, who forthwith attacked
and compelled him to retreat towards the body
of the tree, grasping branch with one hand, and
fighting furlousy with the other.
"Bridpet sure an tLpy are the uurtiest haes
/ you ver lad your two eyes on. with grey backs,
and white faces and big bodies; indade, an
they u make power Of honey"
Says Bridget: "Phalim, dear, an you had
beither come down. If the baes show so much
resentment, and may be they are not baes, after
all"
Says Phelim: "Sure, an don't know baes
whin see EN-, an do you think my own mith-
er's son would hack out from parcel of little
cowardly crayihurs in the first intintion? Och
darling, an We had betther be kaping civil
tongue in your head, and not be throwing out
sich imputatons forennst rale Irish eintle-
mans honor, or its meself that'll be batting the
breath out ofye when get down.
Again Phelim approached the bees. and this
time a large number pitched in TO him, and
such paving. and scratching, and slappnc, and
fighting. and yelling and cursing, and scream
ing. both IN and under the tree. was never before
seen or heard since Mike Hooter fout the bar"
Phellm's blood was up, and true to his purpose
and nothing dauned by the formidable array of
fierce and relentless enemies, who filed his eyes,
iniruded themselves into his nosrils hung upon
his lips, aud clustered in his hair he determined
TO adopt more summary mode OF procedure
SO throwing off the ''chist,' and digging the
bees from his eyes he drew out his knife and
npe1 haoEino tba l.n,l r
natey between himself and the tree. till il was
severed, and bees and Phelim all came TO the
ground together. Bridget Immediately threw a
cloth around the "bae's nest and then ran to
the assistance of her fallen lord, who was rear
ing and Kicking like young colt, and scream
ing louder than wild cat or steam engine
"Phalim, do they bite hard?" saws she.
Faith an if they have baes in hell, it's me-
self thai1l be getting religious right Of" " answer
ed Phelim.
The bees, seeing more tender meat close by.
flew at Mrs Bridget. Her bonnet was used
with dirciul effect for few seconds, but with
augmented ferocitv they continued the attack.
"Howly st. Paihrick purtect me Och, mur-
ther! Phalm, an he's bit me on the mouth !
Help help Phalim; they're bitn me on the
legs
Her shawl was dropped, hooks in dress torn,
her loose dress came off, and the last seen of
Mrs. Bridget was AS she turned the corner, half
denuded' and with hair streaming to the winds,
on her way home.
Phelim, to the glory of the Green Isle be it
said, still fought on, and not until the last out
SIDE foe was vanquished did he cease to worry
81 Pathrick with prayers, the devil with impre-
cations, and the bees with blows. With ewes
halt closed, lips big enough to cut Frenchman
"blisteak' from, and face swollen out of all
comeinesS and proportion, Phelim presented a
most unique and laughablc spectacle. Though
the victory was hardly won, he regarded himself
fully compensated for his labors and pains, for
he could hear the buzzing of his captives within
the cloth so opportunely used by Mrs. Bridget,
and he knew they were fine fat ones. that would
be sure to garner up large store of sweetness
tor himself and family, and then reasoned "no-
body can stale them for they bate the Upton
Slasher for hard knocks all to pieces"
Phelim shoudered the cloth, and homewartl
he'd When he had gotten there, and himself
and Bridget had administered mutual consolation
tor their sutierings, glorifcaton for their sue.
cess, and application 10 their smarts, he started
out in search of his friend George, who would
assist him IN safely disposing of the precious
treasures. George 'came, saw, said d few words
and collapsed" Those few words seemed to
nave udSicdl eHect, Tor fnellm seized the
cloth, swung it about his head, and then with ev-
cry exhibition of frenzy threw it on the ground
and stamped fnriously upon it. Never was rage
so unabounded, He cursed George, whipped
the children, threw couple of stones at Mrs
Bridget, broke up the cupboard, smashed the
plates and crockery ware, drank quart of 'bust.
held,' and went to bed abusing honey, baes, and
{ the world generally.
Phelim arose in the morning fully cured Of bis
mania for bee-huning, and proceeded sobery
10 town to resume his work. The adventure
, had spread far and wide, and every one tina,
met Phelim laughed at his appearance, and ask
ed him about the bees. With face most unnatu.
, rally large, and still smartng with its wounds
joined to his disappointment, after so much Sc,
we're labor, it may be presumed he was not in
the most amiable humor, and the running fire OF
taunts and interrogatories that assailed him on
every side only added fuel to the flame. Says
Patrick O'Rourke
"Phalm, what's the matter wild yez? Is II
) fraeknowedgy or baeknowledgy you've been
studying, that you've got yer head in that fix?
Ye must have been baedeved in guide fash
un."
Faith, an you're catching cowld," answers
Phelim, savagey.
"Phalim, sure an you're baeside YOURSELF