GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jax. 15. 



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Fred's brief glimpse of 

 his surroundings he 

 looked anxiously for 

 Dr. flayden, but he 

 was not visible. Im- 

 mediately upon being 

 blindfolded he was taken between two stalwart 

 Indians and started toward the fire. Fred be- 

 gan to have some doubts about the doctor's 

 sincerity, and for a moment thought he was to 

 be burned and tortured in true Indian style. 

 He remembered, however, that he had told the 

 doctor that he felt equal to any emergency, 

 and remembered the doctor's cordial indorse- 

 ment of it, and he took courage. Instead of 

 being led into the flames he was led past them, 

 and soon knew from the contiaed air and echo- 

 ing sounds that they were in a cave or subter- 

 ranean passage. 



The Indians commenced a low chant, and at 

 the same moment Fred caught a low murmur, 

 evidently from a distance. At first it sounded 

 like the rustling of dead leaves in the wind. 

 As they marched it grew louder until it sounded 

 now overhead, now at one side, and then the 

 other side; and Fred, forgetting himself, shout- 

 ed, " That's a swarm of bees," and assayed to 

 pull the bandage from his eyes; but strong 

 hands held him. His senses were all alert now, 

 and, feeling that no injury had come to him 

 thus far, he quietly submitted to the ceremony, 

 and thougnt that, if he was in a place where 

 bees swarmed in the night, he could indeed 

 endure any thing to be introduced into such a 

 place. 



The march continued, and soon the swarm- 

 ing sounds were left behind, and became faint- 

 er, and finally died out altogether. While his 

 thoughts were dwelling upon the reality of the 

 swarming sound he sensed the approach to 

 open air again; but before he could fairly real- 

 ize that fact, he was suddenly backed against 

 an obstruction that sent his feet into the air, 

 and an instant after it seemed that he was fall- 

 ing head first into space. But, no! there was 

 something under him. He was sliding swiftly 

 down a smooth trough-like surface; and before 

 he could realize much, his position had chang- 

 ed; his head was up now; next he was standing 

 on his feet. 



" Hah, hah! by golly I bet you's scart. I bet 

 you nebber rode dat way befo', and nebber want 

 to ride dat way agin. Ain't dat so?" said a 



voice, as the owner of it aided Fred to a stand- 

 ing position, and jerked the bandage from his 

 eyes. 



"Wh— where is Dr. Hayden?" said Fred, in 

 a sharp tone, as he regained his breath and his 

 senses, and saw before him a happy negro. 



"Dr. Hayden? Dr. Hayden? don't know de 

 man: 'spect you must hab taken de wrong road 

 — ha, ha, ha I But I 'spect you want to see 

 medical man Neo-aho-a— medical man am all 

 right; want to see de gemman ?" 



" Yes, I do," exclaimed Fred. " I shall call 

 him to account for my treatment for the past 

 few hours."' 



"Ha, ha, ha! well, now, dai's a good joke- 

 call de medical man to 'count! Ha, ha! call 

 him to 'count when he's all "count and you's no 

 'count; but, see here, my honey; befo' we argufy 

 any further we want to start dis business right. 

 'Low me to introduce myself. My name is 

 Samuel Johnsiug. I'm called Sam for short." 



Fred looked at the negro before him, and saw 

 a young fellow who was thoroughly permeated 

 with happiness. It shone out of every feature. 



'* Well, you are a happy fellow," was Fred's 

 involuntary exclamation. 



"For gracious, of course I is; what ye spose 

 I's here for, any way? and, Mr.— Mr. — my name 

 is Samuel Johnsing, Sam for short." 



" Excuse me, Mr. Johnson; my name is Fred 

 Anderson;" and they shook hands. 



" Fred for short, I 'spect," said Sam. 



" You have it," replied Fred; " but I want to 

 see the doctor." 



" Now, Mr. Fred," said Sam, familiarly, " de 

 medical man am in his cabin, and don't 'low to 

 be disturbed till mornin'. I 'spect you's tired 

 too. I know from 'sperience dis inishatin' into 

 de happy valley am very 'zaustin'. Oh! no, no; 

 you don't need de medical man. You need 

 rest. Come dis way an' I'll show you de camp 

 dat'll be your home;" and Sam led the way, 

 humming a lively air. 



" I declare, Sam, you are happy, and I begin 

 to feel happy myself. Does this valley make 

 everybody so happy?" said Fred. 



"I d'know how it'll 'gree with you; but I's 

 always happy; 'spect I's built dat way. Don't 

 cost no mo' to be happy dan to be sad; no mo' 

 to be sweet dan to be sour; and don't cost so 

 much to smile as to cry. De good book say, 

 'joy cometh in de mornin',' an' I's one ob dat 



