Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-05
rose into the tree ton.

rose into the tree top.
"He's goin' & git up into the open
air" said Uncle Eb. But I've got his
bearin's, an guess he knows the way
all right"
We took the direction indicated for a
few minutes. and then Uncle Eb let out
another prisoner. The bee flew of a
little way and then rose in slanting
course to the tree tops. He showed us,
however. that we were looking the
right way.
"Them little fcllers hev got good
compass" said Uncle Eb rs we follow.
ed the line of the bees. 1T pints home
ev'ry time an never makes n mistake"
We went farther this time before re-
leasing another. He showed us that we
had borne ont Of Our course little. and
rs we turned to follow there were half
dozen bees flying around the box as if
begging for admission.
Here they are back ng'in," said IN
Gle Eb, "an' they've told a lot O. their
cronies bout the man an the boy with
honey"
At length one of them few over our
heads and back in the direction we had
come from.
"Ah. ha," said Uncle Eb. ITS a bee
tree, an we've passed 1t, but I'm goin'
{ keep lettn' 'em in an out. Never
heard @ u swarm O. bees goin' fur
away, an 80 we mus be near the
clearin'."
In little while we let one go that
took road OF its own. The others had
gone back over our heads. This one
bore of to the right in front Of us. and
we followed. l was riding in the bas-
ket and was first TO see the light Of the
open through the tree tops. But
didn't know what il meant until
heard the hearty hurrah of Uncle Eb.
We had come to smooth footing In a
grove Of naples, and the clean trunks
stood up as straight as n granite col
umn. Presently we came out upon
wide fields Of corn and clover, and as
we looked back upon the grove it had
a rounded front, and think Of 1t now
rs the vestibule Of the great forest.
ITS regular big tomb" said Uncle
Eb, looking back over his shoulder into
the gloomy cnvern Of the woods.
We could see log house in the clear.
ing, and we made for it as fast as our
legs would carry us. We had a mighty
thirst, and when we came to little
brook in the meadow we lay down
and drank and drank until we were
fairly grunting with fullness. Then
we filled our teapot and went on. Men
were reaping with their cradles In q
field of grain, and as we neared the log
cabin woman came out in the door.
yard and. lifting a shell to her lips,
blew blast that rushed over the clear.
Ing and rang in the woods beyond It.
A loud halloo came back from the men
A small dog rushed out at Fred
barking. and, suppose, with some lack
OF respect for the old dog laid hold OF
him in a violent temper and sent hin
away yelping We must have present
ed an evil aspect, for our clothes wert
torn and we wero both limping Will
fatigue. The woman had q kindly FAC,
ind, after looking at us moment
came and stopped before me and helt
my small face in her hands. turning i
SO she could look into my eyes.
You poor little critter," said she
"where you goin'?"
Uncle Eb told her something about
my father and mother being dead and
| our going west Then she Rugged anL
kissed me and made me very miserable
l remember, wetting my face with hel
tears, that were quite beyond my com
prehension.
"Jethro" said she as the men cam,
into the yard, II want We t. look at thi
boy. Did ye ever see such cunnin
little critter? Jes' look at them brigh
eyes" And then she held me to he
breast and nearly smothered me and be
gan TO hum bit Of an old song.
Yer full O. mother love-" said he
husband as he sat down on the gras
u moment. Lost her only baby, an
the good Lord has sent no other
swan, he has got purity eyes. Jes' n,
blue as a May flower. Amt We hungry
Come right in, both O ye, an set dowI
t the table with US"
They made room for us, and we sa
down between the bare elbows of th'
hired men. remember my eyes came
only to the top of the table, so tn,