The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-19
Ghildren's Column.
PattY's Swarm.

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One day Patty ran into the house with
her yellow hair a-tumble and her blue
eyes sparkling with excitement.
Mother, o motherl she cried, her
little brown hands futtering like the
wings of bird, 1.-The bees are swarming.'
" Sure 2" asked her mother, doubtfully
For, you see. Patty was the least bit in
the world like the boy in the fable who
cried, wolf Wolff" when there was no
wolf. Not that she meant to be- but so
many bees would fly about making such
buzzing 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 in that doubtful way,
"Sure? 2"
Yes'm said Patty, meekly.
Her mother stepped to the door. True
enough, there was roar like that of a
very small waterfall in the air, and over
the beehives foated little black cloud.
81 do believe they are" said she.
"But they're not all out yet, guess,
and will not begin to light for some little
time. Run down to Mr. Jessop's, Patty,
and tell your father-no, I'll 60, 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 EN-, mother?'
asked Patty, dancing heel and toe on the
white kitchen floor
yes; put on Aunt Nabby's shaker,
and don't go too near"
So Patty got into Nabby's big shaker
bonnet, which was so much too large
that you could not see her little round
face, unless feeling quite sure it was there,
you stopped and peeped in; and the brown
calico cape almost reached the hem of her
short skirts.
Then Patty went 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
shone brightly the west wind blew about
her warm and soft and fragrant The
buzzing of many bees grew louder and
louder, until it seemed to swallow up
every other sound Then the big shaker
began to droop, and that was all Patty
knew, until
Patty Patty, child Don't stir for
your life?"
This was what called Patty out Of
Dreamland, her fathers voice, deep and
hoarse.
At first she wondered where she was
There was roar, like distant thunder
in her ears.
Don't move, Patty dear. Don't lift
your hand !" That was her mother
The words sounded to Patty great way
off, and there was a tremble in them,
and sob at the last. What could it
mean?
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 culver of an eyelid,
and presently she felt the big shaker
gently lifted from her head.
AL right" said her father.
And Patty looked up with little cry
to see the shaker-Aunt Nabby's shaker,
truly, but bigger than ever with that
great cluster of moving buzzing bees
hanging to it-disappear with an empty
hive.
Then Patty laughed did they light
on my head p she cried, jumping up.
what fun !"
But the mother took the little girl in
her arms and carried her into the house
and cried over her. Mothers are such
queer people.
"That shall be Pattys hive" said her
father, coming in later; adding, with a
twinkle in the eye, 1--we heard of bee
in ones bonnet, but [ never saw so many
bees on bonnet before"
" Nor l." said Patty, laughing still
They shall make me some honey to pay
for that. - Youths Companion.