The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-15
a BEE STORY.

How Johnny Knew What to Do, and How
He Put His knowledge to Practical Use.
Johnny spied it first, one sultry Sat-
urday afternoon, coming straight across
the tops of the plum-trees in the gar
den-a wavering little black cloud.
"What is it?" he cried. "How funny
it looks! Oh, what is it?"
Johnny was out on the veranda.
Uncle Lewis was there, too, reading in
the hammock, with his feet hanging
lazily over, and grandpa was doing
off in his armchair.
But at Johnny's excited exclamation,
Uncle Lewis pulled in his feet and shut
his book, because Johnny was always
seeing something worth while wanting
to know about; and grandpa opened
his eyes, and tried to look as if he
hadn't the smallest idea of going to
sleep.
"Therer" cried Johnny. ''See, it's
almost over our headsm
ITS heat in the air." said Uncle
Lewis. why, no!n he added quickly.
"Why, Johnny, it's a swarm of run
away bees! wish they'd light; then
we'd hive EN-, and get some honey"
Johnny was a funny boy. Uncle
Lewis, who liked to tease little boys,
called him Student john and The
Learned Blacksmith" and good
many other names, because he was
always porting over books and papers
that were not story-books and papers
at all.
just at this minute Johnny puclered
up his mouth into a round 0, and gave
little surprised whistle, and darted
into the house like a small whirlwind.
In o good deal less than a minute he
was out again, with his drum slung
across his breast, and the drum-sticks
in his two brown hands, and away he
went on a run through the orchard,
after the little black cloud, beating
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.!
"What is that youngster up to now?"
said Uncle Lewis, and he spilled him
self out of his hammock, and clapped
on his palm-leaf hat, and followed
after.
He knows what he's doing-that
boy does" said grandpa, meaning
Johnny.
But he took his cane, and put on his
hat, and followed Uncle Lewis across
the orchard.
And pretty soon they both came to
where johnny was standing still, near
the farther line of the orchard, with
his cheeks red and his eyes shining,
beating steadily away at his drum.
I've got 'em!" he CRIED his voice
fairly trembling with excitement and
delight. ''See, grandpa! see, Uncle
Lew ~
Sure enough, there was a black,
hanging cluster on low apple-bough.
"Hooray, my boym cried Uncle
Lewis, throwing up his hat. Good
enough !"
well done !" said grandpa, patting
Johnny's head.
I'm get an empty hive over to Mr..
Carroll's-he keeps bees, >" said Uncle
Lewis, How'd you know about it,
johnny"
II read it, said Johnny, laughing
up in Uncle Lewis face; "about if you
pound on any thing loud enough so the
bees can't hear their own noise they'll
light. SO Idid-and I'm awful gladm
Well, Uncle Lewis got one of Mr..
Carroll's empty hives; and Mr.. Car
roll himself came over and hived
Johnny's swarm for him.
ITS good ONE said he, ''and will
make you lots of honey"
"I'll keep it for you said grandpa
to Johnny; land all I'll charge'll be
what honey we eat"
So grandpa kept the swarm; and I
am afraid if were to tell you just how
many swarms of bees there are in
grandpa's orchard from that very one,
and just how much money Johnny has
put in the bank from the sale of bees
and honey, you would say it was fish
story instead of story about bees.
But there are a good many swarms,
and it is good deal of money-for Il
little boy to own YOUTHS Compan.
ion.