44 



THE AMERICAN BEE-EEEPEB, 



February 



nntary thoughts without even prema- 

 turely attempting to solve it within my- 

 self or committing my reflections to 

 ■writing. Long and patient preliminary 

 investigation was the unconditional pre- 

 requisite to success. 



"No matter how urgent the necessity 

 for action, I must always give my brain 

 its time to relax from fatigue or strain 

 and await the recurrence of a feeling of 

 both physical and mental well being 

 and contentment before writing for pub- 

 lication. My most valuable ideas have 

 presented themselves in the morning on 

 my awakening from a refreshing sleep, 

 but the favorite period for them has 

 been while I was seeking relaxation by 

 roaming slowly over picturesque hills 

 or through wooded parks in the bright 

 sunlight. The slightest indulgence in 

 alcoholic beverages sufficed to banish 

 them from my grasp. " — Baltimore Sun. 



A SURPRISE PARTY. 



The village of Meredith was seven miles 

 from the Darrinpion homestead, and it 

 was quite an evint in tlie lives of the 

 Darrington women when they could man- 

 age to secure a horse to take them so long 

 a distance. 



There weve other farmhouses near, to 

 be sure, but Mr. Darrington was opposed 

 to "havin his wife and darters gad about 

 to all the neighbors," and everybody fell 

 into the habit of letting the Darringtons 

 severely along. 



One morning, when Mr. Darrington an- 

 nounced his intention of driving to the 

 village, Kate timidly ventured a request 

 Ihat she be allowed to accompany him. 

 Her uncle John kept a store in Meredith, 

 and she had not seen that store for ten 

 months. 



" 'Tain'tnec'sary, " the father answered 

 testily. "If you want anything, lUl get 

 It. You've got enough work to do in the 

 bouse without gaddin around the town. 

 I'll stop at John's store, and if his wagon 

 is comin past here this mornin I'll order 

 him to stop with a kit of groc'ries. Rob 

 ain't aoin todav. It;il. take nio ^tm r<ni- 

 sarncd long at the blacksmith's." 



Just before dinner Uncle John's wagon 

 ■topped with the groceries. Sophie was 

 opening the basket to put the things away 

 when she noticed some writing on the 

 brown paper that was laid over them. 



"Why, what's this?" she cried. "Father 

 Bcems to have sent us a note." 



''Well, what docs he say, child?" asked 

 her mother anxjc^uslv- ' .Readitontlnnd " 



But before ohe could Begin Kate and 

 Mrs. Darrington looked over her shoulder, 

 and this is what they saw: 



"go around and inwiteall the nabors to 

 spend the evenin with us, and we'll have 

 a genwin Surprise Party, don't forgit 

 tom's folks, can't you make some cake?" 



"What can have come over father I can't 

 Imagine," said Mrs. Darrington, looking 

 bewildered, "but we'll have to do it, as he 

 says so." 



When Rob was informed of this new de- 

 parture of his father's, he joined with the 

 rest in being both surprised and delighted. 



"To think of him even asking Tom's 

 folks that he hasn't spoken to for the last 

 five years! Tom's a nice fellow and ain't 

 to blame for that quarrel. But I wonder 

 whatever possessed father to do this." 



"I just wont out and told the man to 

 tell Uncle John and the folks to be sure to 

 come up toiHght, " said Kate, entering the 

 room at that moment. "Of course father 

 must have asked them." 



"Why, yes, it's more'n likely he did," 

 assented her mother, "and, come to think 

 of it, wasn't it sly of father to leave Rob 

 home to do the inviting and not say a 

 word about it?" 



"Yes, and sending all the groceries, 

 too," added Kate. "Father was very 

 thoughtful." 



That evening as Mr. Darrington was 

 driving up the lane toward the house he 

 was startled by hearing the unusual sound 

 of laughter coming therefrom. He looked 

 up and saw to his astonishment that the 

 whole house was illuminated. 



What could it mean? He left the horse 

 standing by il^^ shed and hurried to the 

 front door to solve the mystery. When he 

 entered, he felt that he must certainly be 

 in dreamland. 



His daughters were radiantly beautiful 

 In dresses of pure white — he had forgotten 

 until now what handsome girls they really 

 were — and his wife, in her neat black silk, 

 was a wonuin of whom one might be 

 proud. Even Rob looked more genteel 

 than he had looked for many a long day. 



Here was his own household openly dis- 

 obeying his commands, and yet they came 

 to him as brave and smiling as if he had 

 never forbidden them the pleasure of hav- 

 ing company. But it must have been a 

 hard hearted man indeed who could fail to 

 find enjoyment in it. 



And who was that coming toward him 

 with outstretched hand? Could it really 

 be Tom Doane, the one who had vowed 

 that he would never speak to Joe Darring- 

 ton again? Yes, it was no other than good 

 old Tom, and he was making the first ad- 

 vances, in spite of his vow. 



"Howdy. Joe? Seems nateral, don't it?" 



"Yes. I must — I must sav." stammered 



