MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



greatly afraid of bees, but was completely 

 cured of her fear by the following incident. 

 A swarm having left a hive, I observed the 

 queen alight by herself, at a little distance 

 from the apiary. I immediately called my 

 little friend, that I might show her this im- 

 portant personage; she was anxious to have 

 a nearer view of her majesty, and therefore, 

 having first caused her to draw on her gloves, 

 I gave the queen into her hand. Scarcely 

 had I done so, when we were surrounded by 

 the whole bees of the swarm. In this emergency 

 I encouraged the trembling girl to be steady, 

 and to fear nothing, remaining myself close 

 by her, and covering her head and shoulders 

 with a thin handkerchief. I then made her 

 stretch out the hand that held the queen, and 

 the bees instantly alighted on it, and hung 

 from her fingers as from the branch of a tree. 

 The little girl, experiencing no injury, was 

 delighted above measure at the novel sight, 

 and so entirely freed from all fear, that she 

 bade me uncover her face. The spectators 

 were charmed at the interesting spectacle. I 

 at length brought a hive, and shaking the 

 swarm from the child's hand, it was lodged in 

 safety without inflicting a single sting." 



As I begin the story, there is a tear in the 



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