The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-08-12
A Rumpus and a Riot.

true, tells what happened because one
old turkey gobbler was too curious, and
wanted to know, you know.
Never was there a more peaceful
scene. The old farmhouse drowsed in
the morning sun the little breezes had
forgotten to rufie the leaves the brook
slipped along without murmur there
was never quack or cackle in the
barnyard ; and everything and everybody
seemed to be sound asleep, from grandma
in her rocking-chair to the grand old
shepherd dog winking and blinking at his
post between the beehives.
Then it entered into the mind of an
inquisitive old turkey to explore one OF
the beehives. Plunging his long neck
into the hole by which the bees enter, he
took survey of their domain. Whether
his glance was considered impertinent or
not, we shall never discover but, some
way, it awakened the anger of the bees,
who at once began a savage attack upon
him. The innocent turkeys of the flock
who CHANGED to be near shared the fate
OF the guilty gobbler, and it seemed as if
the bees Of all the hives agreed to give
the turkeys a sound stinging. In mo-
covered with bees.
The turkeys were so tortured by the
stings of the bees that they hoped,
jumped, flew, rolled, and made every
kind of noise of which they are capable.
Many other fowls being in the yard, the
bees were carried among them by the
turkeys, and by them to the dog. He
finally became so panied and enraged
that he jumped as high in the air as his
chain would allow: he rolled, barked,
trothed at The mouth, and it seemed as if
he would become rabid. The men OF the
family We al off in the lots. The large
dinner hor2y'as blown. The nan Of the
house ran he lily, covered himself with
shawl, gree his way to the dog, cut
the strap thai was around his neck (not
waiting to rnbuckle it), and the dog,
Shep, ran into the kitchen, nearly COW
cred with bees. High-wine," made
from app e-juice, was poured over him.
This stupefed the bees for time, and
they fell to the floor.
1t would be impossible to give any
idea of their numbers, but they were
many. The good farmer, his wife, and
the hired woman killed all the bees that
had been on the dog. Then Shep was
put in the cellar, where he conld get cool;
for his flesh all over was hot with stings
The chickens being covered with
feathers, they did not suffer so much as
the turkeys; but these, having their
heads and necks bare of feathers were
easy prey. 1t was not long before the
bees had the whole yard to themselves
One turkey was found nearly dead 1t
was carried to the piazza; and, while some
one was trying to relieve it Of pain and
save its life, the bees smelled it, and
pounced upon it. It tapped its wings.
rolled off the piazza, and was dead. A
bird in the top of tree near was at
tackled, and few away in torture.
1t being wash-day, the servants tried
to hang the clothes Oh the line They
drove them into the house. The farmers
wife went out and tried to hang up the
clothes, but they attacked her. They
seemed determined to have no living
thing around but themselves. 1t was
almost noon before one piece could be
hung up. The grass as well as the air
was full of bees
The next day, the dog was very sick
His head and eyes were greatly swollen,
but the probability is that he will get
well. Only one turkey died the rest
seem to have recovered, but they keep
far from the house and bees The cat
evidently understood the situation at the
beginning, and ran to an upper room and
MD under the bed.
The panic is happily over, and peace
once more reigns in the farmers yard.
Harper'S Young Folks