20 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan. 1. 



eluded my search it seemed to come to me like 

 a flood of light from above that, if I would take 

 the place of the Neo-a-ho-a and wait here, the 

 object, would come to me. and for many years 

 I have waited. Of this world's goods I had 

 plenty, and now as medicine man I would try 

 to lead the whole tribe up to such a moral 

 height as their natures and surroundings would 

 permit. The moment was ripe for a change. I 

 had but to put in my sickle, and reap. 



"After much ceremony in removing the sacred 

 snakes from the little bee-cave, and burying 

 them with Neo-a-ho-a, I found that, in substi- 

 tuting a swarm of bees as an object of worship, 

 I had an excellent foundation 

 from which to lead up to Chris- 

 tianity. Here in this little in- 

 sect-community I found indus- 

 try, cleanliness, love, fidelity, 

 order, providence, alertness, pa- 

 triotism. The fathers of the 

 tribe were slow to give up their 

 old traditions; and to please 

 them I still wear the regalia; 

 but to the younger members of 

 the tribe I have thoroughly in- 

 culcated Christianity. How T 

 have succeeded you have in part 

 seen at Sacramento, where their 

 conduct was far better than that 

 of many of their white brothers; 

 and as the weeks roll by you will 

 learn much more." 



"And you are tl^p bad man of 

 Crystal Mountain!" said Fred. 



" I am the bad man of Crystal 

 Mountain," replied the doctor, 

 with a sad smile. 



" In the matter of good morals 

 and good works, doctor, you 

 remind me of my good friend 

 Prof. Buell." 



"Certainly he is a kindred 

 spirit; for whenever you men- 

 tion his name my heart warms 

 toward him. I believe you said 

 he had an invalid daughter. 

 What was the nature of her 

 disease ? " 



Fred hesitated a moment for a reply, and, 

 with an evident effort, he said, "Doctor, she is 



"Strange— strange!" said the doctor; "and 

 that name Buell comes up every time. If it 

 were Bull, plain Bull, I believe the mystery 

 would be solved." 



Then the doctor walked back and forth across 

 the room with head bowed. At length he stop- 

 ped suddenly, and said: 



" Fred Anderson, did you ever hear the name 

 of Adrietta mentioned by the Buells ? " 



"I never did," replied Fred. 



" Let me tell you, Fred Anderson " — 



Here the doctor was interrupted by the rat- 

 tling of gourds without, and, hastily donning 

 his regalia, he said, "Surely I had forgotten 



'y-ypOfft4^y^^ 



" Sure, sure, that is grievously unfortunate; 

 and, Fred, what is the young lady's given 

 name?" 



"Her name is one among thousands; it is 

 Alfaretta." 



"Alfaretta! did you say Alfaretta?" shouted 

 the doctor, springing from a recumbent position 

 in his easy-chair. "Alfaretta, did you say?" 

 grasping Fred by the shoulder. 



" I certainly said so," replied Fred, with evi- 

 dent alarm: " her name is Alfaretta Buell." 



our evening council. As this council pertains 

 to your advancement, Mr. Anderson, you will 

 have to remain here. My helpers will bring 

 you your supper, then you can rest; and do not 

 be surprised if I tell yon that we start for the 

 bee-ranch at midnight." 



"After the last few days' experience I will try 

 to allow nothing to surprise me," replied Fred. 



"Good I good!" said the doctor, with unusual 

 warmth as he grasped Fred's hand, and then 

 immediately left the tent. 



Fred, not being fully recovered from his re- 

 cent illness, sought his couch early; but for a 

 long time he lay awake speculating upon the 

 episodes of the afternoon, and especially upon 



