The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-06-07
The Boy Who Loved Beasties.

THOMAS Edward, the SUBJECT OF the
memoir, who from his earliest boyhood
had so great love for all living things
that he was continually getting into
trouble in pursuit of nevis, frogs, rats
and birds.-ED. TRANS.
On one occasion he got some boys to
accompany him to wood at Polmuir,
about two miles from town, on bird
nesting expedition. While they we're
going through the wood, little separated,
one of them called out, "A Dyke, Dyke,
stickin' on a tree, and made O. paper"
A Dyke was regarded as glorious Cap
ture, not only tor the sake OF the honey,
but because of the fun the boys had in
skelpin' out the bees. Before they had
quite reached the spot, one of the young
est boys yelled out, so, I'm stung, I'm
stung!' He took to his feet and they all
followed. After they had run some dis
lance, and there being no appearance OF
foe, a halt was made, and they stood
still TO consider the state of affairs. But
all that could be ascertained was, that
the Dyke was on a tree, that it was made
of paper, and that it had lots of yellow
bees about 1T.
This so excited Toms curiosity that he
at once proposed to go back and take
down the paper Dyke. His proposal was
met with decided refusal; and on his
insisting upon going back, all the other
boys ran away home. Nothing daunted,
however, he went back to that part OF
the wood where the Dyke had been seen.
He found it, and was taking it from the
under side of the branch to which it was
attached, when bee lighted upon one of
his fingers and stung it severely. The
pain was greater than from any sting
that he had ever had before. He drew
back, and sucked and blew the wound
alternately, in order to relieve the pain
Then he thought, "What can l do
next!" There the Dyke hung before
him. 1t was still in his power to remove
tiff he could. To leave it was impos-
sible. Although he had nothing to de-
fend himself from the attacks, nor any
thing to put the Dyke into when he had
taken it down, still he would not 60 with
out it. His bonnet could scarcely do.
1t was too little and too holey. His
stockings would not do, because he
wished to take the Dyke home whole. A
thought struck him. There was his
shirt! That would do. He took off his
Jacket, and disrobed himself of his shirt.
Approaching the tree very gently, though
getting numerous stings by the way, he
contrived to remove the Dyke from the
branch to which it was hanging, and
tucked it into his shirt. He tied the
whole up into a sort of round knot, so as
to keep all in that was in.
1t was now getting quite dark, and he
hurried away with his prize. He got
home in safety. He crept up the stair,
and peeped in at the key-hole to see that
the coast was clear. But no. he saw his
father sitting in his chair. There was
an old iron pot in recess on one side OF
the stair, in which Tom used to keep his
numerous things" and there he de-
posted his prize until he could unpack
in the morning. He now entered the
house as if nothing had happened. Late
AS usual, Tom," said his father No
further notice was taken. Tom got his
supper shortly after, and went to bed.
Before getting into bed, he went lit
tie out of the way to get undressed, and
then, as much unseen as possible, he
crept down beneath the blankets. His
brother, having caught sight of his nudi-
ty, suddenly called out, "Eh, mother,
mother, look at Tom he hasna gotten
his sark." Straightway his mother APP
peared at the bedside, and found that the
statement was correct. Then the father
made his appearance. where's your
shirt, sir2" IL dinna ken" what
dinna kent" addressing his wife
"Wheres my strapl" Tom knew the
power of the strap, and found that there
was no hope of escaping it.
The strap was brought. "Now, sir,
tell me this instant, where is your shirts''
ats in the bole on the STAIR go and
get it, and bring it here Immediately"
Tom went out and brought it, sorrow
fully enough, for he dreaded the issue.
"And what have you got in itf' "A yell
low bumbees' Dyke" "A whatl" ex
claimed his father and mother in "A breath.
"a yellow bumbees' Dyke" "Did l not
tell you, sir" said his father, ''only the
other day, and made you promise me,
not to bring any more OF these things
into the house, endangering and modest
ing US as we'll as the whole Of our neigh
borsa Besides, only think of your strip
ping yourself in q wood, to get off your
shirt to hold bees bykew
"But this is new ane," said Tom; cts
made o. paper" made o fiddle-sticksr'
INA, I'll let ye see it," "Let it alone;
l don't want to see it. Go to bed ut once,
sir, or shall give you something (shak-
ing his strap that will do you more good
than bees bykesr'
Before the old couple went to bed,
they put Toms shirt into big bowl,