The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-09-17
sARAH,s HoNEY.BEES.

us I. ana now Will uniuSuullllCi CiooC az
hand, the city heat growing intolerable,
and my trunk already packed for a start,
I was left absolutely aimless, nowhere 10
go. So wrote to Belle, and in two days
had her answer. :,
"Do come down here with me-" she
wrote: "it's desperately lonely, and I'm
DYING for the sight of friend There is
actually nothing to do, and no one to speak
to !: so YOU can imagine my state OF mind.
Otherwise. the al. is lovely, the scenery
perfect. and it's funny little old humdrum
Village, lust such as you like. I've spoken
to Aunt EN- about it, and she wants you
to CONF; so hurry, do, and you needn't
bring any fine dresses, for you won't wear
. them / Just keep on my camisole from
morning till night and hum an, non
qiunge,' and stare at the roses. l eat bread
and milk and go to bed at half past eight.
Just the thing for you, Phene dear, SO
come and get recruited"
/ decided that should like it; so re-
packed my trunk, putting in fewer dresses
and more books, thinking Belle and L
could read to each other Under the trees,
and Just week from the date of her letter
the old yellow stage-coach left me at the
farm house gate 1t was great comfortable
looking house, painted red, with butternuf
trees in front, and lilac and rose bushes.
And there was Belle running down the
path to meet me, while handsome, stall
wart Young man stood in the door looking
after her. Camisoles and simplicity, indeed!
Bellies hair was crimpcd and puffed three
inches high, and she had ON her white al
paca and turquoises Belle was blonde, and
always looked prettiest in white and blue
She kissed me on both cheeks, and then
danced little waltz ahead OF me, as
walked up the path with my traveling-ba
A moment more and she introduced MIR.
Brooks" to me.
"My new friend, Phene Latest but not
least!" she said, with coquettish air;
and the gentleman, bowling, made few
pleasant remarks about my journey, then,
with the excuse that he was sure we
would wish to be alone together, he bade
US good afternoon and departed.
/ caught Bellies hands, and made her
look straight in my eyes.
"What mischief are you in now, deary
1 asked.
"Oh. don't pinch |" she cried, laughing,
"don't you think he's nice! call him
nv Corydon; and now don't you begin to
firt with him, love, for he's my special
property"
Alum p said 1, az wonder what Archie
Russell would say?" o..
81 haven't accepted Archie yet" said
Belle, defiantly; "and who knows but
what should like to live in the country
after all? Don't you think COrydon has
fine eyes, Phene? but maybe you didn
notice"
mo, l didn't" answered little short
ly, quick to foresee that Belle and l were
not to have such long, indolent, dreamy
talks and readings under the trees as had
imagined For fiirtations put everything
out of tune.
But Belle only laughed, and led me of
up stairs to large, pleasant, least cham
ber," that we were to occupy together.
She flew around in her most winsOme
way, helped me off with my cumbersome
dress, seated me in little low rocking
chair, and taking down my hair began to
brush it out for me in our old school-g girl
fashion, while she chatted about all the
city news.
By and by her aunt En- came in to see
me and make me welcome. She was a
nice old lady, with shrewd, honest eyes,
and liked her in moment.
"Where's Sarahs" asked Belle.
"Oh, Sarah's out watching the bees" }"
said Aunt En-. "We're expecting every
minute when they'll begin to swarm. And
| must go right away to see after the milk ;
so you won't see me again till supper's
ready"
And away she went, full of housewifely
cares.
"Your cousin Sarah ?" 1 asked, vaguely
remembering that / had heard cousin Sa-
rah mentioned some time or other.
"Yes," said Belle. "All the rest of
Aunt Ems daughters are married, all but
Sarah"
ais she nice and prettys" asked, with
some curiosity,
"Why, l don't know" said Belle, laugh
Ing carelessly. "Yes, Sarah is good, very
good in her way. She's as much as twenty
five years old, going to be an old maid, you
know, and she is good and quiet in her
| little way; and she makes the butter, and
watches the bees. That's all there is about
Sarah. Have you seen Archie Russell
since came away, dear? And did he
ask about me!
So we went back to our city gossip, and
only finished when the call to supper was
heard. Such supper such bread and
butter such fruit, and cream, and honey
while Aunt EN- kept Up little friendly
talk about her Attorneys and her currant
ielly, and Sarah with preoccupied all
said she was glad the new hives had beer
sent up from the store that afternoon.
liked Sarah, she looked so gentle, so Little
self-asserting; it seemed as if she had
grown up in her way of life as naturally
and contentedly as the lilac bushes in
theirs, and as firmly rooted. Going to bt
an old maid! / wondered why, for in
those.days had not learned what beauty
NAV lie in the lives of the unmarried.
@Come," said Belle, springing up from
the table" come, Phene, and put some
rose-b buds in my hair, for CeEydof will b,
here this evening" almost know HI
will" ..sf
So we went out in the front porcl
while Sarah and her mother cleared tn,
table and washed up the dishes.
"How did you get acquainted with Mr.
Brooks. Belle ?" l asked, as / fastened ,
pink bud in her light puffs.
"Why, you know, wrote you ther'
was nobody here to speak to-" she an
swered gayly," and / felt like WASTED
sweetness and so lonesome. And WASH
il queer. he came to call on Aunt En- th'
yery day after sent my letter. | suppos'
he heard somehow of my being here. H'
was away on business all the week before
so couldn't come sooner, he said. Ant
now he has been here four times, and
think he's splendid. He isn't very easy Il
flirt with, because he's so honest, L sup
nose; but 1 mean to have him dead In low
with me before go home"
"And what then ?" asked shoult
think you'd be tired of getting yoursel
into scrapes, Belle.
She began to sing, "Oh, l won't be
num-" and we sat in the door looking dow
the path. What a dear, old-fashlone'
place it was! A "live-forever grew on
side of the steps, and bush of southern
wood the other. There were cinnamon
roses and damask roses along the renee
and the clover grew deep and ricn al
J over the yard"
"He's coming" whispered Belle, an,
Mr.. Brooks walked rapidly down the road
apparently with no intention OF stopping
. till Belle called and asked him ifhe WASH
coming in.
az was going to the village, but this
nlcasanter," he said, opening the little gat
and coming up to us "Miss Bennett,
hone YOU are pleased with your first after
noon here. How are your aunt and cousin
Miss Rileyf Ihaye not seen them oday,
aOh. they are out in the kitchen" sal
Relic. raising her smiling blue eyes to hi!
"Isn't it lovely here at this hour, MI
RrooksS Every day after tea come her
! tn watch for the evening-star. See, ther
II 10 now. lust over those clouds. Ism
| Venus beautifuly"
Mr.. Brooks seemed to think that Venu
Z ,oas beautiful, and sitting down by us h
, appeared quite ready to join IN Bellies iivt