Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-01-19

The scent OF ctoNeF otcoshS ~h~ a
grasses made his notrils dnste. and =
while the birds sang for him from
the trees the nodding buttercups and }.
daisies shook their heads at him and
seemed 20 say:
Little boy. you're playing hockey
When Mickey entered the woods
he Iav down upon the brown needles
At the foot OF the pine trees and
watched the butterflies hitting over
him on yellow wings. And as he lay
there the luxury of Incidence stole in
upon his senses and the gentle sough-
ing OF the pines feu with soothing
influence upon his ear. The drowsy
hum of bees and the inarticulste
voices of the wood lulled him 10
sleep. How long he lay there Mickey
could not tell. lie was rudely awak-
ened BY big black ant which had
crawled up his trousers leg, and
great yellow. hairy caterpillar cross
ing the bridge OF his nose. A he sat
up and brushed away these insects
cat-bird in a tree near by began 10
ieer at him with what TO Mickeys ex-
cited fancy were the words:
"Playing hockey! Playing hockey
In some mysterious manner glsdness
seemed 10 90 out OF the day for little
Mike at this cruel taunt. The odors OF
, the flowers were just as sweet as they
, had been before. the moss at the foot
, OF the pine trees was as vivid a green.
. the swallows dipped as gracefully over
: the field OF billowy wheat. but the
charm OF all this beauteous panorama
. was gone. His toe began 10 hurt again.
I'D nj NJ o.
Mickey plunged deeper into the woods.
>. At the foot of a big rock he found a
spring. Living at full length upon the
! sward he put ais lips down TO the wa
ted and drank deep Of the champagne
t, Of the woods. The reflection OF his face
A in the spring grinned sardonically a
d, him. And from the brown eyes shin
- ing from the cool depths came re
:. proachful glance which seemed TO say
N The leather strap is waiting for yo'
\, in the kitchen!"
r. All that afternoon he wandere
M through the woods seeking happiness
- but finding none. He few for refug
MI TO the birch tree. but the bark ha'
I'd lost all It's old-time sweetness. Th
he sassafras root which often had taste
he like honey in his mouth now took o
nd the flavor OF worm-wood. As he r.
no traced his steps to the stone wa
he where he had hidden his books the av
,ol full consciousness came 10 him that
iS would be obliged TO tell lie in ord
NO TO escape a whipping. Like thief
"a the night he sneaked down the sites
hillside up which he had climbed
.ur cheerfully in the morning. and n
,;u minutes later entered the shanty.
r. downcast was he and co furtive in ma
~ ner that his mothers attention was =
- tracted 10 him. Just at this moment
- big humble bee wearing black velv
20, vest with yellow stripes blundered in
NO the room.
,;s. Are ye sick. Mickey?" said
our mother. soicitously.
of NO; I'm not sick. mother" said
tie Mike. "but me toe is hurtin' me-
his well, what makes We act
kew quare?"
al This was uttered in such a tone
mid solicitude and with so kindly Il
., that little Mixes eyes began TO ov
,bs flow as his mother tried TO "shoo"
. ~ humble bee out OF the room.
,stv I'm glad you're not a wicked li'
hoi- boy. Mickey, like Thin Doolans," C
non tinued Mrs. Finn. If We were I'd
ool-i thinkin that pumoie oee Mou'"
wssi afther stingin' We. Shure that's "
he humble bees does be doin'-stingin'
tie boys fur their sins!"
bis Slap went the end of Mrs. FIJI
little apron against the wall and away sa
her the bee out OF the window like an
eavy mated jewel of jet and amber.
i'm Little Mike was oppressed v
hool. fears. The haunting consciousness
men wroug-doing weighed him down
par the guilt OF murderer. he re
little great load taken on his eonsci'
and when the humble bee flew out of
zach window, for he believed implicitly
tered the insect had flown into the shl
lcing for the purpose of stinging him
otted cause he had played hockey
slate busted himself about the yard, mil
) for the goat and chopping wood. He
ward so unusually Jealous and quiet In
he RI work, that his mothers suspie
laden were awakened.
sore "Faix," said she, I'm afeerd m
black tie boys been up to mischief, he's a
wall. that quare. Shure, he has
road stains on his face. an there's no be
at school. Mushs. I'm afther thil
the he was playin' hookey!"
racks just then Mickey came into
chool- shanty with another armfui OF ,
ne to His mother looked at him closely
ID his observed by the boy. and saw thu
rallied knees were stained with grass
the and that to the back Of his jacket