Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-08-22

At this moment the little cause of
trouble appeared in the open door
way. Her straw hat had fallen off, her fair
pretty kair hung about her face, and
she held quantity of bright flowers in
her apron. A great ray of sunlight
came in after her, and the bees buzzing
about, seemed to think that they had
by no means lost their right to the
pretty blossoms.
Aunt Polly, how many bees you do
have r. said little Gertrude.
Yes, child, they are very trouble
some," with sigh.
&c think the king of the bees lives
here, and all his people come to see
him. See, they won't go away at all, u
as she brushed away an intrusive black
buzzer.
"Take care, Gertrude, they will sting
you p exclaimed Miss Hepzibah.
go no, they won't! [ amt afraid of
them. 1 know where they all live, too"
"Iivel What do you mean?' They
come from the woods and the neigh
bors."
40 no, they DON'T" opening her eyes
in astonishment; "why, don't you know
that they all live here, in your house p
"What nonsense, Child" cried Miss
Polly.
80, 1 know they dol have seen
them. Come out here and will show
you."
Wondering, and yet willing to humor
the child, Miss Hepzibah took Gertrude's
hand and went out into the porch. The
child pointed up in triumph. There
don't you see how the bees are flying in
and out of those holes just under the
roof? that is one of the ways they get
into the house, and there are ever so
many more of their doors above, on top
of the roof, and o, Aunt Hepzibah,
there's honey in there [ have seen it;
lots of honey Couldn't we get some
out? it would be so nice for teal
| Miss Hepzibah stared up, shading her
said, bees in myriads were flying in and
out under the heavy moul ling OF the
old roof Was it true, and did the bees
really live in the house? At this mo.
ment John Wilson, who had made
friends with the little stranger, came
down the street and was called in.
"John, do you really think the bees
live in the roof, as Gertrude says?"
The young lad looked up with clear,
bright eyes.
".It seems very much like it," he
said "but it's easily found out"
And suiting action to word, in an
other moment, despite Miss Hepzibah's
remonstrance, he was swinging himself
up by the pillar to the roof.
{" L should think they did live here |"
he cried out presently. "Why, there
are ever SO many holes where they are
going in and out of the house ~ Then,
after a moment, "and 1 can see the
honey, too, as Gertrude says. 1t must
be packed away between the two stories.
Piles of it, too, guess. But 1 can'tsee
how much, there are SO many of these
troublesome fellows about"
He swung himself down again, Ger
trude jumping about and clapping her
hands in delight, Miss Hepzibah look
ing half puzzled, half pleased.
81 tell you, Miss Hepzibah," he said,
'there is fortune up there. You
know keep bees myself, SO 1 know a
little about them. Those bees must
have been making honey in there be-
tween the stories for years. And now
all you have to do is to swarm them
away into proper hives and then take
up the floor and see what you can
} find"
The suggestion, strange and even
star ling to the two ladies at first, be
came gradually a welcome one. John
; Wilson, in his leisure time, came ano
!; swarmed the bees away into long row
of comfortable hives neatly arranged a
the bottom of the garden. And then
5 amid the breathless excitement of al
l interested, the floor of the entry VI
stairs was lifted.
What strange sight was presented
e Liquid gold encased in snowy cells
a Pounds and pounds of the most beauti
" full honeyl Some of it damaged, o
$ course, but the rich deposits extended
L back among the old rafters, shown.
the labors of score of generations c
r bees. Carefully removed, the brigh
e combs were placed in boxes and take
away to be sold.
'r "Two hundred dollars worth,' sal
r, John in delight, "and hives enough t
rs supply fine quantity of honey anothe
y, year. Gertrude and L will take care
e them"
And SO it proved a golden harvest ft
d. the two ladies and a source of incon
Y. for them in the future.
he "God has been very good to us, Poll
to since we took the little orphan" sal
Miss Hepz;bah to her sister, in the qui
IN of their own room.
sd "And the bees are not nearly
Ia troublesome as they used to be-" sa
TX practical Polly.