The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-09-17
nv Alfred =. Horsley.

rose "What do you say to ride OH horse
back tomorrow, young ladies'? Don't
you think your cousins would like it,
Sarah?" EsB~
ayes, indeed" she said; "and it is such
pleasant road to the cliff. Belle has not
seen the cliff yet"
"very WELL" he replied; az know your
two horses are good under the saddle, and
will bring my Brownie for the third.
You had better take Brownie, Sarah; he
is used to you. And now really must
hasten away. Good night all"
And off he went. We prepared to go
into the house. ~
"He did not give me time to answer"
said Sarah, in her quiet way; "but have
no idea that / shall be able to go with you
tomorrow. And you shall ride Brownie,
Belle; he is Just the horse for you"
YOU'RE a good, amiable little thing,
Cousin SADIE p exclaimed Belle, joyously.
"That is Just what wanted Oh, how 1
shall enjoy riding with my handsome
Corydon! Promise me not to interfere,
Phene"
Sarah gathered up her work silently, and
went into the keeping room where her
mother sat. But Belle and went up into
our own room, took down our hair, and
had comfortable talk.
AZ like your cousin Sarah, Belle" said,
/" she is such harmonious person; she
don't jar on amy ones feelings"
"Oh no, of course not" said Belle; "Sa-
rah is good little thing, and have quite
an affection for her. But she is gray. Do
you know what l mean? Some people
seem gray all the way through-all mono
| tone on minor key--no warmth, no sparkle
in them; nothing to take hold Of Sarah
| is that way l never think about Sarah
there isn't any thing to think about in
her." a
| And Belle, with her shining blue eyes,
and hair ripping in waves all down her
shoulders, sprang up and danced about the
room like a bewitched Undine.
"I feel so full of life!" she exclaimed.
stopping breathles, her cheeks rosy-red
"And I'm tired, dear; I'm going to bed, !"
replied, feeling more and more the after
fatigue of travelling.
The next day was lovely, but 1 felt still
tired and had headache. 1t seemed to
me that to ride on strange horse that
day would be intolerable, and l told
Belle 1 would stay at home if she did not
mind
"No, dear, don't mind" she said gay
ly. "Corydon and can have good time
all by ourselves"
Corrydon came riding up to the gate
presently, leading lady's horse by the
bride, and Belle ran out to greet him, then
flew up stairs to put on her pretty blue
riding habit.
"But where are the other horses ?" asked
Mr. Brooks, looking surprised.
"Oh! Sarah and l are not going" l
said "She has to watch the bees, and l
am not well enough to ride to-day, SO l
shall keep her company"
Mr. Brooks actually bit his lips, and
looked gloomy
"Why, Phene Bennett" thought to
myself, "have you made a conquest al
ready? 1t can't be the man is disappoint-
Cd because 1 am not going" In the in
slant another idea struck me, and l looked
around for Sarah, but she was up stairs
making beds. She came to the window
when Belle was ready to mount. Mr..
Brooks scarcely noticed her, but assisted
Belle with the greatest care, paid her a
compliment on the way she held the reins
in her tiny, gauntleted hands, and then
away they rode, Bellies merry laugh float
ing back on the air.
went up to our room and tried to read
little, but the scent of roses and of new
ly-cut hay stole through the window, and
the blue birds and robins were singing, so
that was soon glad to lay down my book,
| for it was better to be quiet there and re.
ceiye rest into my soul. heard the bees
humming and buZzing among the flowers,
and wondered if Sarah was watching
them.
az believe will go down and study
into the nature of gray" thought, sud-
denly, and on the impulse went
You'll find her right out by the back
door, under the apple-tree," said Aunt En-,
when l inquired after Sarah.
So l went out exploring. can fairly
see it now, that fine old yard with its row
of fruit trees, and the little garden in the
corner Under the trees stood the hives
ten in q row, with the bees coming and
going, full of business and excitement
And near by sat Sarah with her work in
her hand, in her quiet, contented way,
seeming a natural part of the sunny morn
ing, the bees 'humming, and the sweet air.
"To begin WITH" l thought to myself
"you remind me of Isaak Walton and his
book, where he describes the meek who
| inherit the earth. You are inheriting this
morning. So far gray is good" II
"An end of this bench is all have to
won't you sit down?"
"DOn't call me Miss Bennett-rm
Phene," entreated. "Yes, I'll come there
in a minute; but 1 want to look at the
garden first"
For delight in old-fashioned gardens
and this was Just after my own heart The
beds had old fashioned pinks for borders
that double kind that fall apart, too fra
grant to live. Gillyflowers double and
sweet, poppies like great quadrupled roses
amaranths and "bottles," marigolds and
peonies; sweet peas and larkspurs there
were in plenty, and bed of mignonnette
Early asters were in bloom, and the
chrysanthemums were just beginning tC
bud. Then there was a useful bed, al
sweet and bitter herbs, and it seemed sc
good. Lavender and sage, rue and saffron
and dozen stalks of spicy fennel. l like
people who keep such gardens as thai
right along from year to year; they seem
to mean SO much more than showy city
gardens with hired gardeners.
pulled sprig of hearts ease, and wen
back to Sarah.
"What makes you have to watch the
bees all the time ?" asked. q.
"They are just ready to swarm" sht
said, in a tone that showed her interest
"and we have to watch where they go, o.
we may lose them. They might fly to thu
, woods or some other farm" =.
"Pretty little brown things, aren'
theyg" 1 said, after observing them
moment. p ~ l'1.
"Yes, indeed. Brown all busted will
bronze And such busy, cheerful littl'
creatures almost feel as if knew then
apart, and have names for some of them
There's Dot now!" she said, as tiny be-
poised itself an instant on her arm, ant
{ then flew off to the clover.
"Why, how splendid? I never knew
. you could make pets of them!" ex
claimed. "And here you sit these pleas
ant days getting the very heart ofthe sum
, mer into your head, while Belle and ! rusl
from place to place, and get dizzy ant
, tired, and don t know what we are about.
"Oh mol" she said, smiling. :" Jus
think how much you can get from ever,
place you go to. / vert on a journey one
to the mountains, and remember ever,
tree and cloud and the very roads W
went by, and the people we met, such dii
ferent characters! / felt rich when
came home with so much put safely, ava,
in my life to think of"
> YOU'RE a regular bee yourself" said
as watched some of the little winge,
things flying home with the honey the,
had gathered far away. go"
: "My flights were almost always lik
, Dots, then" she said; and her contente
look struck me more forcibly than evel
. "He always goes to the nearest flower,
a But honey is honey wherever we get it
l.. &c ID 81, 1t