The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-09-09


There's Dot nowl" she said, as tiny bee
poised itself an instant on her arm, and
then flew off to the clover.
"Why, how splendid? / never knew
you could make pets of them" / ex
claimed. "And here yon sit these pleas
ant days getting the very heart Ofthe sum
mer into your head, while Belle and rush
from place to place, and get dizzy and
tired, and don know what we are about
"Oh mol" she said, smiling. "Jusi
think how much you can get from every
place you go to. | went on Journey once
to the mountains, and l remember every
tree and cloud; and the very roads we
ferent characters! | felt rich when
came home with so much put safely away
in my life to think of"
"You're a regular bee yourself" / said
as l watched SOME of the little winged
things flying home with the honey they
had gathered far away
my flights were almost always like
Dots, then," she said; and her contented
look struck me more fOrcibly than ever
" He always goes to the nearest flowers.
But honey is honey wherever we get it. v
And this is one of Bellies gray people
character to take hold of. Why, she is as
good reading as one of Auerbach's ro-
manceSi
MY headache is all gone," l said at
is great deal nicer to be sitting here by
the bee-bives than riding under the hot
sun with Belle and Mr.. Brooks | don't
like gentlemen very well; do yous /
think love makes three-quarters of all the
trouble there isl
"Why, no; l think love is the most
beautiful thing in life p she said, earnestly
but at the same time the color rose in her
face, and she looked slightly uneasy.
One of Bellies old maids | thought
again; and she sits here thinking love the
most beautiful thing in life!
While we were talking the hum and
buzz of the bees increased rapidly, and
there seemed to be a perfect cloud of
them issuing from one of the hives and
lowering over it. Some of them flew so
near their wings almost brushed my cheek,
and | started.
"They're swarming," said Sarah, in a
low, excited voice. Don't move quick
or act frightened; they won't hurt YOU
Oh, hope they will settle in our own yard
somewhere. Last summer one swarm
went mile of"
There was clatter of horses hoofs
down the road.
"There are Belle and Mr. Brooks" / ex-
claimed.
Sarah had risen and stood with one hand
resting on low limb of the apple tree,
while She looked first at the bees and then
at Belle in her pretty blue habit springing
to the ground.
Belle saw us, and came running round the
house with her little whip in her hand
while Mr.. Brooks fastened the horses.
ooh, We had such a splendid ride T" she
exclaimed. "But, mercy, how these bees
act Do come away; you'll be stung."
"Oh, no, Belle; they wont touch you
if you keep STILL" said Sarah. Weren't
you pleased with the cliff? 1t is so fine in
summer, with the laurels and rhododen-
drons all in bloom"
"Bees swarming, eh?' asked Mr..
Brooks, joining us; "Tll hive them for
you, if they settle soon, Sarah"
ooh, thank you," she said; Il was just
going to blow the horn for James; he is
down in the mead0w-lot. But if you will
do it, Hugh, you had better ask mother
right away for the gloves"
The flying and buZzing crew go fOrmid-
able that l was alarmed; they seemed to
darken the very air before my eyes.
go away, you wretch" cried Belle,
striking with her whip; "Oh, oh! I'm
stung! oh, they are killing mel"
"Sarah, Sarah" screamed Aunt En-
from the window "don't you stir hand
nor foot they're settling on your arm ;
Belle, run in here as fast as you can, and
I'll put some saleratus water on those
stings."
Poor Belle had been stung twice on her
lip. She was crying, and did not know
which way to turn, till Mr.. Brooks led her
into the house.
was trembling all over, for the bees
were on every side of me, flying toward
Sarah, and there was already quite a large
black bunch of them clinging to her
sleeve, as her arm rested on the apple
bOugh.
"rm sorry" she said, softly, "but you
had better not stir away yet, or it may dis
turb them, and you will get stung but as
long as you keep perfectly still they won't
harm you"
SO | stood, and thought of Joan of Arc,
and Pocahontas, and all the hcrOines
could remember, to keep myself from
fainting on the spot Mr. Brooks, with
his hands in great buckskin gloves, was
waiting a little way off with one of the
new bee all ready.
"It is fortunate l have on this loose
sacque," said Sarah, for | can slip my
arm out of the sleeve so easily, when the
bees have done coming"
/ looked ut her in admiration, as she
stood there so motiOnless in her graceful
posture, resting on the bough, her eyes
bright with excitement, and her cheeks
the loveliest pink, her lips just little
parted, and she without an atom of terror
almost tendcrly watching her pretty brown
bees rs they crowded to her.
1t seemed an age that we waited there
but at last the swarm had all settled, anC
Sarah confessed she was glad, for they
hung SO heavy on her sleeve.
"Tll take care of them nOw," said Hugl
Brooks, and he looked at Sarah anxiously
"you must be all tired out, dear Sarah
but if you can manage to slip your arm
out of the sleeve rs hold it, think yol
can get away safely"
The words "dear Sarah" struck me.
felt very much enlightened, and began I,
nfDve cautiously away, but | could no
help hearing him say, as he bent tOwart
her. releasing her arm from the sleeve
iDOut iitl llutt ~
long, and he certainly asked her somethin;
about love, and heard him say darling.
glanced back at her as reached tn
house, and she looked radiantly happy. /
he was Corydon she was Phyliis-evident
ly no one else.
In the kitchen sat poor Belle, her lip
swollen, and her eyes red with tears O
vexatiOn. But Aunt En- was bathing tn
poor lips with her famous salcratus water
and the pain was quite gone now, Bell
said. The swelling began to disappea
too, so her spirits revived, and we sat to
gether by the window watching Hug
Brooks hive the bees, with Sarah at hi
side.
1t seemed to take them long while
and when all was DONE instead of COMM
into the house they wandered slowly ava
down the lane.
"Oh, wait for me" called out Belle; I"
want to go to walk too"