The Press., 1883-07-19
lContributed.] , , SUMMER EXCAVATIONS.


 The M M- high school is out for the summer vacation, and my considerate par ents have packed me off to Uncle Henry's farm among the Berkshire hills, partly be- cause it's good healthy place, and still more partly because 1t seems so much of 8 1 help to Aunt Rebecca to have me to s'srun errands and help round. ; '''
 The men have been getting in the hay from the Potash" lot, and the other day Aunt R. sent me up at about 9 9. m. with , the lunch. s.,.,, 6....,.s-. .I...., Round the road to, the Potash" it's 8 mile and a hall, but Aunt R. said it was only 8 few. steps across. as.slf5... si I concluded to go s'across," and, after minute directions, walked away down the path, leaving zAunt Rebecca standing in the doorway, waving foury hand, and saying, 'Keep right up the hill by the big butternut You cannot miss the way" = But I did, and became hopelessly bewil- dered in what seemed an interminable ex- tent of stunted birches. Here l wandered up and down the paths that crossed and re-crossed each other in every direction, till I reached small opening where a number of diminutive young cattle were luxuriating on Canada thistles, sweet fern and other delicacies which the place af- forded fs-5: ' ''%.''f '''>~ 7-' v t...
 Now I am in great fear of strange cattle, and the sight of these filled me with ter ror The creatures, themselves, seemed somewhat stirred up, but showed no inten- ton of leaving. t l I dared not run for fear of pursuit. At last, cautiously picking small dry branch from the path, threw it1at the animal nearest me. The creature looked at me mildly, but did not retreat. As there ap peared to be no offence taken, grew bolder, and, not seeing any more sticks about, took off my sun hat and launched it at the beast with considerable vigor, at the same time shouting mot very lustily- 1 ''Go long go long r The effect was mag ical. The hat scared aloft like thing of I life. The eyes of the whole company were turned upward toward its graceful and extensive gyrations, and, as it appeared about to descend, they gave a simultaneous bawl, elevated their tails and gallopped off.
 Again l journeyed, and, presently, reached fence, which concluded to fol low, hoping to find my way to the field
 Such achase that fence1ed through swamps, bushes and brambles It finally degenerated to tumble down wall which bordered small turnip patch. After climb ing over this and crossing 8 ploughed field, came out on little knoll overlooking a l farm house. s}s.l $ h5sat Surely that roof and the tree shadowing I 1t were familiar, and there was no mistak- ing aunt Rebecca's stately and energetic figure moving toward the house with a basket of clothes i I stayed behind 8 tree till she went in, then crept down to the road below the house, and, at ten minutes to eleven, a tired, hot, tattered, mixture of woe and shame e-facedness reached the Potash" ] sat down in the shade of an elder bush to rest, and presently cousin Ted invited me out to see him stir hay. s,.. followed along in the soft sward, till a peculiar buzzing, which apparently pro- ceeded from moss covered bog, attracted my attention and Ted was called back to see what it was. .n-9t .-
 "Bees P screamed he, as an object about as large as 8 snipe came up through a small opening in the moss and struck me
 between the eyes others followed in
 quick succession, and, before we could re-
 treat, had gone up my sleeve, down my neck, and under Ted's blouse, with fren.
 Zy born of madness ;. a.
 Ted gave 8 series of yells that would have done credit to a Sioux. and ran of up the hill, most of the swarm following l him, while I returned to the shade of the elder bush to mediate, from whence looked out and saw him rolling over and
 over down the hill to end the labors of the swarm in his jacket ..,.s ..,,.... We rode home to dinner on the hay rack, solitary bee keeping up low bug zing under my dress lining ''
 Ted will probably be 'tlaid up" for some time to come. .4.." -.....-.. .:...5.. I sit under the grape vine in the back yard, listening to the gentle drop of the rose-bug on aunt aRebecca's sun ,bonnet } which she had kindly lent me, my hat hay ing become somewhat dilapidated by its adventure in the wilderness, and by turr or two under the horse -rake-one of my eyes is totally blind, the other is quite
 useless -5.l. ,}r<.'% " . The family speak words of comfort, an6
 promise to go over to Tadpole pond fishing
 "after having. J.1.E. l IT. will bo ram ano bo1.ad tbat opa If 4bt