Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-09-05

out OF which the glass enabled
him to see bees passing in
streams. This decided the point !;
and putting aside all his imple-
ments but the axe, Buzzing Ben
now set about the task OF telling
the tree.
STRANGER" said Gershom, when
lie Bourbon had taken out the
first chip, "perhaps you'd better
let me do that part OF the job. l
shall expect to come in for a share
of the honey, and I'm willing to
'arn all / take. was brought up
on axes, and jack-knives, and SIGH
sort OF food and can cut or whittle
with the best chopper, or the neat
est whittier, in or out of New
England"
"You can try your hand, IL you
wish it," said Ben, relinquishing
the axe. III can fell tree as well
as yourself, but have no such
love for the business as to wish
to keep it all to myself"
"Waal, / can say, like it." an
swered Gershom, first passing
his thumb along the edge of the axe
in order to ascertain it's state:
then swinging the tool with view
to try its hang.
81 can't say much for your axe,
stranger, for this helve has no
tarve tot, to my mind; but, SIGH
as it is down must come this elm,
though ten millions OF bees should
set upon me for my pains"
This was no idle boast Of War
ing's. Worthless as he was in
SO many respects, he was remark
ably skilful with the axe, as he
now proved by the rapid manner
in which he severed the trunk of
the large elm on which he was at
work. He inquired of Ben where he
should clay the tree" and when it
came gathering down, it fell on
the precise spot indicated. Great
was the confusion among the bees
at this sudden downfall of their
long cherished home. The fact was
not known to their enemy, but
they had inhabited that tree for
long time; and the prize now
obtained was the richest he had
ever made in his calling. AS for
the insects, they filled the air in
clouds, and all the invaders deemed
it prudent to withdraw to some
little distance for time lest
the irritated and wronged bees
should set upon them and take an
ample revenge. Had they known
their power, this might easily have
been done, no ingenuity of man
being able to protect him against
the assaults of this Insignificant
looking animal, when unable to
cover himself, and the angry little
heroes are in earnest. On the pres
ent occasion, however, no harm be-
fell the marauders. SO suddenly
had the hive tumbled, that it's
late occupants appeared to be as
founded and they submitted to
their fate as men yield to the
power of tempests and earth
quakes. In half an hour most of
them were collected on an ad-
jacent tree, where doubtless a con-
sultation on the mode Of future
proceedings was held, after their
fashion.
The Indians were more delighted
with lie Bourdon's ingenious mode
Of discovering the hive than with
the richness OF the prize while Ben
himself, and Gershom, manifested
most satisfaction at the
amount of the earnings. When the
tree was cut in pieces, and split,
it was ascertained that years of
sweets were contained within it's
capacious cavities, and Ben esti-
mated the portion that fell
to his share at more than three
hundred pounds Of good honey
comb included-after deducting
the portions that were given to
the Indians, and which were abb
stracted by Gershom. The three
last, however, could carry but
little, as they had no other means
of bearing it away than their own
backs.
The honey was not collected that
night. The day was too far adj
vanced for that; and lie Bourbon
certainly never was name less
merited than this sobriquet, as ap-
piled to the active young bee
hunter-but, lie Bourbon, to give
him his quaint appellation, Of
fered the Inequalities of his own
cabin to the strangers, promising
to put them on their several paths
the succeeding day, with agood