Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-18

meut, she cTOS00Q 10 OUT Oh existence.
One bitterly cold morning last March,
Mrs. Fiedlec went shivering into the
dreary breakfast-room and prepared TO
light fire. As she did so she noticed
what looked ike the body of dead
wasp under the stove. The insect had
evidently erapt there to get the benefit of
the warmth from the expiring embers,
and Its life seemed 10 have gone ous with
the heat. Mrs. Fielder remembered read
ing somewhere that insects overcome by
cold were not necessarily dead, but mere
ly in state OF suspended animation. in
which they often remained for several
months, 10 revive "a soon as warmth,
natural or artificial, penetrated their tor
pidity. She determined TO test the sound
ness of this theory, and as soon as the
fire was aglow shs laid the wasp on s
piece Of note paper and placed It close
TO the stove.
Within ten minutes the insect began to
revive. The buibuous rear portion of its
body moved tremulously, the slender at
tachment at the waist reiaxed aud became
flexible. the belt assumed 8 more pro
nounced yellow color, and tbs big eyes
grew bright and bulged gratefully So
Mrs. Fielder. It was wocth many dead
wasps yet.
Mrs. Fielder RECALLED il With fruit. Jelly,
and, unlike the frozen serpent OF the
fable, 1t repaid its benefector with every
mark Of confidence aud affection. While
the cold weather lasted It's mistress had
to warm it into vitality every morning
but the sunny days OF April found It en-
ioyiag full health and vigor. When Mrs.
Fielder was in the room it passed much
OF It's time on her head, and always fed
from her plate or out of her hand. As
an especial treat it was occasionally al
lowed to aiight on her lips when she was
eating preserves. tt would take food
! from no other person in the house. Il
seemed 50 have forgotten that it had g
sting, and Mrs. Fielder forgot it too.
During the four naorths that it remain
cd in the hou,e it only left the breakfast
room once. 4 tramp at the hail door,
objecting TO the peucity OF brandy in q
piece OF mince pie that Mrs. Fielder
had given him, was loudly insolent in his
denunciations OF her qualifications as
pastry cook. Mrs. Riedier's husband was
absent, and she was very much frighten-
ed, but the wasp dsrted to the rescue. II
stuGg tbs fellow behind the ear and chased
HIN across the street. It hunted him
so far that it could not immedia, ely find
its way back, and after twenty four hours
had passed Mrs Fielder proposed to of
fer reward for its recovery. Her hus-
band, however, objected. on the ground
that Vesper, as his wIfe's pet was called,
was not the only wasp in the neighbor
hood, and, stimulated by the hope of
gain, every boy in North Bergen would
bring singing insect TO the door, and in
all likelihood leave it there whether II
vas the right one or not. No reward was
offered but on the second morning after
the visit of the tramp, Mrs. Fielder found
Vesper waiting for her in the room. It
had returned in the night and squeezed
its way through the keyholes. II eyinced
extravaganza JOY at seeing its mistress,
and consumed large quantity Of apple
butter for its breakfasts.
But on Friday night the wasp's fate
found il. The family had retired, and
Mrs. Fielder was IN her room when she
recoilected that she had left her gloves on
the table down stairs. Actuated by
fatal spirit of tidiness she went down to
get them. She found them readily, rs she
knew she should. What she did not know
was that the wasp vas In one OF them.
Recognizing IN the covering something
very sugg estive in the hand it loved so
night. AS she went toward the door Mrs.
Fielder mechanically drew on the already
Occupied glove. Vigilant as watchdog
the wasp was wide awake and prepared
for action; but it lacked the canine power
of Distinguishing individualities in the
dark, and, rnistaking its mistress for an
intrusive stranger, it stuug her iercely on
the palm Of the hand. Mrs. Fielder
screamed, and in the agony Of the mo-
ment she forgot all about Yesper. She
supposed that some andonosticated in
sect was in her glove, and she conYulsive-
ly clinched her fingers. When the family,
aroused by her cry, went down with lights,
Vesper was III the throes of death. It's
eyes, as they sought hers, were filled with
an expression which she interpreted as
meaning that it's only regret at that mo
ment was for having wounded the kand
that had so befriended il.