The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-09
BEE HUNTING ON
The CHICKAHOMINY.
"a Great Cyprus Tree Filled
With Sweetest
Honey. H A[ p

PROVIDENCE FORGE. VA. Oct. s.
4 Everyone that has ever fished or hunted
on the Chickahominy river can easily
testify TO the impenatrability o. the for
es;s that bound the river on either side
from source 10 mouth and also to the
grandeur of its trees that stand silently
along the margin. for, unlike the talking
oak To no one do they ever give or re-
ceire counsel, for II they should no doubt
hey could relate some Interesting stories
Il OF the cscapadcs of Captain John Smith
and old Powhatan.
t 9It was one OF these forest kings that
figured III the little anccdotc I am about
Ito relate. was sitting one evening
\ las. autumn under the big willow oak on
3 the hin there. The valley Of the river
was gorgeous In its fall dress and the
air that came Up from the low lands had
n decidedly frosty tinge. although there
had not been enough frost to make the
leaves fall. The sun had just dropped
+ behind the horizon, and j was. thinking
of retiring to more comfortable quar-
tors in the house when Buck. lean,
lank. ,ingainy negro boy, who was man
of all work about the place, camo shamh-
5 ling along the wel-worn path and drop
ped down on one Of tho big roots OF the
old tree very much as six feet OF rope
might have settled down. Buck though
70 unganly, unsightlv, and altogether so
the renowned name OF George Washing
ton, but owing to his big wall eyes he
had been grotcsuuely named Buck pr
Buckeye and this appelation had follow
5 ed him TO his dying day.
Mars Jack, no commenced, glanclng
longngly toward the rvor, don't You
4 want to go wild me en- Peter one night
y TO TEX a bee tree down dar in de swamp?
A bee tree said. rather surprised.
You don't know where there Is any bee
tree. 81 $5
Vas. sar does; dar Is one right down
\ dar on de river Jest a #leetle dis side OF
dat big poplar tree, indicating with his
Il long black finger. jes chock full Of honey
III can smell 1t by de time I gifts dar.
II Knowing Buck said. by way Of bring
q ing out little more proof, ! doubt II
2 YOU know a honey bee from a. wasp.
Hi! exclaimed the lanky negro start
i ing up. Amt SEQ dem honey bees
a. gwin frum Miss LicS's flower garden,
"a and ANTI see dem gwin from de red
clover patch. and ain'tsI see dem gwin-
frum every which away to dat tree, en-
don snyI don't know honey bees from
E. wa sscs. X
Well, Buck, 1 said, seeing he was get
ting so excited. i will so with you pro-
viding YOU guarantee plenty CT honey.
This vas on Wednesday, and by Satur-
M day night Buck had made every arrange
put everything OF until Saturday nigMt;
X they seem to think 1t the most propitious
: Of all nights.
In the meantime my cousin had come
from RICHMOND for few days hunting,
/ and finding this novel entertainment
y booked for Saturday night he decided
Ito go, SO, at the appointed hour. Just
ut dark, Howard and / Joined the two
negro youths, who We're well equipped
for the expeditions. being armed with
axes, buckets llghtwood. and other num-
erous and sundry. articles.
Ss II was lovely autumn night. No
j moon, but the air had just enough frost
\ in it& 10 make the stars twinkle glorl-
cusly Every leaf and every blade Of
grass was laden with the sparkling dew.
+ and the atmosphere that waited up from
\ the valley was rich with the fragrance Of
wild grapes and maturing nuts. ,,e
crossed 4 marrow bridge that spanned
X an impetuous little brook, and turn
{ ing to the left, we followed It's course
Ito the river. Buck was acting as guide
&saDd in his haste to reach the spot no lost
& his way In the painless swamp. and
while he and Peter plundered up and
4 down trying 10 locate the bee tree, How
{ ard and seated ourselves on a moss
covered log and waited for developments
Peter who all along had been a little
5skeptical, now commenced to taunt Buck
by telling him he didn't believe there
i was any bee tree there.
#s Is gwin home, he said, case I don
believe dar Is any bees down hore no
+ way. Ell Is harngry enaI's feared down
here in dis swamp.
BY this time Bucks wrath had risen,
4 and, turning on Peter like a young pan
ther he bawled
What you feared Of, you, fool Niger;
EFF hea air nor word bout being fear
ed I'll TEX dis ak en- bust 20 hnde open
en- duck you down here in dis river. en-
den ! reckon .iyau be skeered sho. Nut