Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-09-24

All that afternoon ho wandered
through the wood seeking happiness, but
finding none. He flew for refuge 70 the
birch tree, but tho bark had lost all its
old time sweetness. The sassafras root
which often had tasted like honey I'm his
mouth now took on the flavor Of worm
wood. AS ho retraced his steps TO the
stone wan where he had hidden his books
tho awful consciousness came TO him that
he would bo obliged TO tell No In order
30 escape q whipping Like thief In
the night he sneaked down tho steep hill.
side up which no had climbed 50 choerily
in the morning, and ave minutes later
entered the shanty. go downcast was be
and 30 furtive In manner that his moth
eTs attention was attracted 10 him. just
at this moment big humble beo wearing
black velvet vest with yellow stripes
blundered into tho room.
"Are ye sick, Mickey9' said his mother,
soiicitously.
"No; I'm not sick, mother" said little
Mike, "but mo toe Is hurtin' me-"
well, what makes ye act 30 quarc2-
THIS was uttered In such tone OF 30
hcttude and with 80 kindly look that
like Mikes eyes began to overflow as his
mother try to "sboo" tho humble bee
out Of tho room.
'Tm glad you're not wicked little
by, Mickey, like thin Doolans," con.
tinued Mrs. Finn. "If ye were I'd be
thinkin' that humble bee 'ud be afthei
stingin' ye. Shure that's fwhat humble
bees does bc doin-stingin' little b'ys
fur their sfnA"
Slap went tho end Of Mrs. Fnn's tassel
against tho wall and away sailed the bee
cat of tho window like an animated
jewel Of YET and amber.
Little Mike was oppressed with fears.
Tho haunting consciousness Of wrong
doing weighed him down like the guilt
d murderer. He felt a great load
taken of his conscience when tho humble
bee few out Of the window, for he DO.
ieved implicitly that tho insect had
flown into the shanty for tho purpose OF
singing him because no had played
hockey. lie busied himself about the
yard, milking the goat and chopping
wood Ho was 30 unusually jealous In
this work and 80 quiet that his mothers
suspicions were awakened.
"Fnix," said she, I'm afeerd me little
b'ys been up to mischief, he's actin that
Quare. Shure, he has berry stains on his
face, an tharo's no berries at school.
Musha. I'm afthsr thinkin' he was play.
In hookeyp
just then Mickey came into the shanty
with another armful Of wood. Hls
mother looked at him closely, unobserved
by tho boy, and saw that his knees were
stained with grass juice and that to the
back Of his Jacket clung some tell-tale
pine needles. But sbe kept her own
council and awaited Developments, satis-
fed that Mickey would confess his guilt.
Another armful Of wood had been
thrown under tho stove, and little Mike
looked up to catch the expected approx
ing glance OF his mother, when Mrs.
Finn cried In alarm;
"Luk out, Mickey; hero comes the
humble bee fur yes"
Again tho fears Of tho boy were awaA-
ened, and turning quickly he struck a
lTdutlC DfCW W tno Dtt. AulS eNfueuUy
apgered tho insect, for IL avoided the
blow, flew over tho boys head and stung
him on tho back Of tho neck. Having
punished tho truant and satisfied its
vengeance the humble beo flew ont of
tho door. AS Mrs. Finn bound handful
Of mud upon tho swelling wound little
Mike looked upin his mothers face, and,
with trembling voice fuD of remorse
and pain, said In a hoarse whisper
"M-m-n-otherr'
TYis. Mickey" said Mrs. Finn. know
Ing that tho time OF confession had
como Tho boy continued with quiveY-
ing lips:
IL know why the bee s-s-tung me. Be-
kase L bckaso - mother-I-I-I was
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
As no hid his face in his mothers dress
she stopped over him and her lips touch
ed tho bronzed, berry stained face In the
fond kiss Of forgiveness. As her warm
breath dried the brine upon his check
the humble bee was sucking honey from
q blue and white morning glory which
hung like an infant bell over the door
Ernest Jarrold In New York Even
ING Sun