The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-17
Patty's swarm.

One day Patty ran into the house with
her yellow hair a-tumble, and her blue eyes
| sparkling with excitement.
" Mother, 0 mother /" she cried, her
little brown hands iiu.tering like the wings
of bird. "Thc bees are swarming."
" "Surc?" asked her mother, doubtfully.
For, you see, Patty was the least bit in
the world like the boy in the fable who
cried, "Wolfl wolff" when there was no
wolf. Not that she meant to be, so many
bees would fly about making such a buz-
zing in the warm spring sunshine, that
Patty was often quite certain that they
were swarming when they hadn't any idea
of it.
"And that is why Patty's mother asked
her, in that doubtful way, "Sures"
"Ycs'm,' said Patty, mcekly.
Her mother stepped to the door, True
enough, there was roar like that of a very
small waterfall in the air, and out over
the bcc-hives toated little black cloud.
81 do believe they are" she said. s:But
they're not all out yet, guess, and will
not begin " light fUr sums little Llulu.
Run down to Mr.. Jessop's, Patty, and tell
your father-no, IN go"-with a smile-
remembering that Patty had gone for her
father once before when the bees were not
swarming after all.
'May go out and watch 'cm, mother 2"
asked Patty, dancing heel and toe on the
white kitchen floor.
'Yes; put on Aunt Nabbys shaker and
don't og too near"
SO Patty got into Aunt Nabby's big
shakcr-bonnet, Which was 80 much too
large that you could not see her tie round
face, unless, feeling quite sure it was there,
you stopped IN; and the brown calico cape
almost reached the hem of her short
skirts.
Then Patty went out into the garden and
sat down on box by the cucumber bed.
She watched the dancing black swarm
until her eyes grew heavy. The sun shonc
brightly, the west wind blew about her
warm ana soft and fragrant. The buzzinp
of many bees grew louder and louder, until
it seemed to swallow up every other sound.
Then the zig shaker began to droop, and
that was all Patty knew until
Patty Patty, child don't stir for
This was what called Patty out of
dreamland, her fathers voice, deep and
hoarse.
At first she wondered where she was.
There was a ruar like distant thunder in her
ears.
Don't move, Putty dear. Don't lift
your head!" That was her mother. The
words sounded to Patty great way off,
and there was tremblc in them and q sob
at the last. What could it mean9
Patty was frightened, but she was a
brave little girl, and had always been
taught to obey. SO she sat very still, with
scarcely the quiver of an cyeld, and
presently she felt the big shaker gently
lifted from her head.
''All right /" said her father.
And Patty looked up with little cry to
to see the shaker-Aunt Nabby's shaker,
truly, but bigger than ever with that great
cluster of moving, buzzing bees hanging tc
it--disappear within an empty hive.
Then Patty aughcd. "Did they light
on my hcada' she cried, Jumping up,
"Whut funI'
But her mother took the little girl in hei
arms and carried her into the house, and
cried over her. Mothers are such quee,
people.
THAT shall be Patty's hive" said hel
father, coming in later; adding, with E
twinkle in his eye, 'I'vo heard Of bee ir
ones bonnet, but never saw so many bees
OF, a bonnet before" "Nor l." said Patt,
laughing still. 'They shall make mt
some honey to pay for that"