Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-11
CUTTING A BEE-TREE
''spalc Description Of an Old.Tlms Vlr-
Sinia Sport.
ATTACKED BY THE SnHGIHG BEES.
eaoens Disrcgarded Warming
sKe Randolph's Ride on Rowena
with Honey Bucket.

WV bitc tslukSt "a lcW npuiS
a.'Ve IRON tho historic city OF Winchester.
A'ohg the driveway. at the front Of the
'es'ae''ee' Is a row OF tall cedars. and
~ e"e rear Is a grove OF towering oaks.
when stand as giant sentinels guarding
.''e study. where was penned Surrey OF
Eas'es Nest" Lord Fairfax. or Master
vi Sreenway Court" and "iIilt 10 Hilt,"
LOT uhis was the home Of Pages III Gle.
John Esten Cooke.
hoong Randolph during the long sum-
mer days delighted TO 20 out into bower.
ABOUT which had grown the woodbine and
rafasing rose end there. with his bright
eyed cousin Evelyn, TO read the "Stories
Oh the Old Dominion" AS he read OF the
exploits or the knights OF tho Golden
itorseshoe, no seemed 20 forget even the
angel at his side, Tor he was thinking OF
the excitement that might be found in
the Wild and weird woodlands that
bounded his eastern horizon.
That afternoon Cyrus. the old family
servant Of tho Cookies. had ridden over
TO Wildwood. Il picturesque village a few
miles distant ia order To set the daily
mail. On his return he handed Page
letter.
HE HAD A SCHEME.
He broke tho seal. and found that II
was from his friend. Tom Nelson, who
lived on the east bank OF the Shenandoah,
seven miles north OF Berry's Ferry as it
IS now called. where young George Wash
ington had crossed while on his way TO
Grcenway Court TO make arrangements
with Lord Fairfax about surveying the
latter's lands IN Northern Virginia The
gist Of Toms episue was that Ills friend
should come at once, as ne had scheme
on hand which he knew any lad WITH
Randolph blood coursing IN his VEINS
would enjoy.
he at once ordered the stable-boy TO
bring his fcct-footed Rowena from the
pasture. While she was being rubbed
down anu saddied. Page donned his
riding-suit. swung his huntng-horn across
hs shoulder, and blew long blast for MS
hounds. and in a short while was head
ms for the river.
The sun sim hung above til tegn
hills when Rowena's t,l.o W.f- Wet
by the waters Of the sipciy 7E-nandodh'
on he rode up the T.At bank oil Inc
stream. which was lined with tail reeds
bending willows. and aged sycamores'
and wandered ever and aron what the
scheme was that Nelson now had Oh
hand. Twilight had come. and as ne
drew near 70 Bowling Green De heafd
Tom with his violin vlaying AUD Lang
Sync." while the whpp0orwlii ana Greal
owl were making the WY behind nm
sound as ghostly as appears a d.sscctng
hall by the pale light of the moon
HAD a BEE TREE.
II am delighted. Randolph sai",'ei-
son. as he rraspci his friends hano'
That Won have come. ! heard you say
last session al the Varsity that You h"I
Il great desire to help 10 take bee-tree
have found one. and ~ tomorrow morning
nv starlight we will coli Oh the busy little !
animal of which both Virgil ana Homer
delight 10 speak. Walk in. The bell mas
lust rung for tea, and ! know you feei
IKE refreshing the inner-man after your
long ride"
A. Page stepped into tho long dining
hall the family was awaiting his COM
ing Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. the synonym
u hospitality. cenialn'ss. and culture.
we're the first TO welcome him. There |
stood Toms sisters May ana Louise.
who during the past two sessions lad
baen In Germany and France studying
music and art, but they recognized nm
with no cool -Parisian bow or fHih- /
avenue touch OF knuchle ana thumb buI
with a warm grasp Of the hand ana a
few ftlv-chosen words. seemed to says
stay just so long as you can, ana go
only when YOU must" Hugh and East /
ham. the brothers Of Tom, gave him a /
whole-souled reception. such as boys az |
ways know how to extend to each other.
Tea being over, all retired 10 the draw |
tng-room where with music from the |
plano-forte, violin. and mandolin, the eve |
ming passed away even "as comes ana |
goes a pleasant thought.
OFF FOR THE TREE.
They retired early. and the next morning !
Mt 3 o'clock were aroused by the whrring /
OF their alarm-clock. They went down. I
and old Uncle Reuben was already up /
and had their horses saddled. They /
mounted and were off for the bee-tree. I
Uncle Reuben, with an axe on hi3 /
shoulder took nigh cut threw de feels" |
and when the young men had tied 'the:r |
horses at the foot OF the mountain and !
reached the oak. about which the buzz /
OF bees could now be heard chips were !
RAPIDLY flying from the trunk Of the tree. |
The thousand and one tapers of night |
which had burned undimmed in the fre,- !
coed dome of the universe for myriad |
OF decades had not yet been turned down. !
and by their pale light, augmented by the !
glare Of the lghtwood-torch, the young |
royers prepared for action
THE FIRST STING.
Finally the oak fell with crash. and
Tom Page. Hugh. and Eastman at once
went 20 work Uncle Reuben sounded the
tree with his axe. and then cut a hole
where he thought the bees were col
al nf
inserted and set on fire 90 smoke the
bees from their home. Zach lad held III
his hand a small bunch of oak branches,
which he kept constantly revolving ABOUT
his head. Eastman wNs stanuins hopiy
20 his post until "a bee got up ies VI
his trousers. and then, with sap ana
yell like a Comanche. he was Oh 10 par 70
unknown 10 the honey-makers- BOYS
he called, II consider prudence the petler
mart Of yalor' and I now see where fai-
sfaff was right. / intend TO say amen,
however. every time you KNOCK uo""
one Of those msolent bees. ,
Uncle Reuben, after cutting "a
oneninss In the tree. split OF the 'oP
section. and there lay the money IN IT'S
,tcbness and beauty. Long knives were
al once brought into action. anu tne
bsayily-laden comb was transferred "
~assels which had been brought Tor that
purpose. x,rc,rr,,
ANOIttEtN NiNf'-"
y,,s, then Uncle Reuben who mad been
,.c,,rp quietly on his axe handle, whhe
g. others were removing the Money
teean 10 kick and run worse than a
cotton plantation mule. -, ~
.uhst - the matter%' asked Tom.
,,,o was convrlsed with laughter. Why
,s.ss my H." yelled the old negro, "dars
"a d,,zen bees rite up my brttches legs
"a away he went down through the
,Ansa' rapping himself and. perhaps |
- ,or,nentors at every jump. The work |
a., the tree was now finished ana the |
snres survivors started for their horses. |
On the way they We're joined by East
VAN and Uncle Reuben, who looked as
~ he had lost his only friend and had
buried his last hope.
whcn they reached their steeds, Page |
.rd Tom persisted In taking their buckets
~ honey on with them. Il tell you. Mister |
sr,rn. " nut Ina Uncle Reuben. "dat dar liz sum |
be1.s In dem buekits. Oars boun ter be.
n dey duz git hole OF dat skitt'sh boss
a Mister Randolphs St Will be gud-by
Erranerrnan an bunny. Hunny on de gen.
norman an de geDnerman on de bunny. |
an time you strike Dc groun' YOU won't