GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 1. 



He gave me his card, and, wilti " good-day," 

 walked away. 



'•Now, he is a daisy. Yes, sir; if all of my 

 customers were like that." 



But I noticed the address was that of an old 

 customer. After all, the sign had not brought 

 this one. 



I had just ri'ai;hed the baby when another 

 knock. .\ Gernian this time, with a large sack 

 of beeswax. He said he wished to sell. But 

 Mr. , I knew, didii't want it. 



" Vel, I leaf it here; he take it." 



He put the sack down, and asked questions 

 about the sign and honey. At last he went 

 away. Not another customer came that eve- 

 ning. I felt glad. 



The following morning I was hoping no one 

 would come, when, rap, rap! and there was an 

 old man with a ten-pound lard-bucket. He 

 came in, and told me how much he paid for 

 honey during the war. He at last told me he 

 wanted honey, but wanted to taste some of it 

 first. I went into the kitchen. He followed, 

 and sat down. I gave him a " taste." He 

 thought it was not as good as honey he bought 

 during the war, and we asked too much for it. 

 He said he would take ten cents' worth. When 

 I weighed it the bottom of the bucket was 

 scarcely covered. He seemed content to sit and 

 talk. 



" I can't waste my time," I thought. I pro- 

 ceeded to skim my milk. Then he gave me 

 full directions how to make butter, and also 

 gave me all the " inside secret in raisin' bees." 

 Yes, he was very wise. 



I had finished my milk before I opened the 

 door for a little boy who wanted honey for his 

 ma, who had a bad cough. I filled his cup, 

 and he departed. After receiving another lec- 

 ture from the man in the kitchen I found he 

 was really going to leave. Then I found a little 

 time to get dinner. I was trying to finish 

 washing the dishes, when I heard a knock. I 

 hastened to the door. Four ladies, handsomely 

 dressed, stood on the porch. 



" Will you come in ? " I asked. 



" Yes, thank you, we have time," one said. 



They filed into the parlor. When they were 

 seated they began to talk. Yes, they were very 

 talkative. At last they decided to buy a fifty - 

 cent bucket of honey. It took them just one 

 hour to decide. Oh how glad I was when they 

 went away! 



I had just put the baby to sleep, when knock ! 

 knock! It was for two young women this time 

 that I opened the door. They had such merry 

 laughing faces I said, real pleasantly, '* Come 

 in." 



In they came, and sat and talked until sun- 

 down; but they bought two bits' worth of 

 honey. I laughed as they rode away on their 

 donkies; but my head ached so bad I concluded 

 I was tired of selling honey. 



The next morning I found I was sick. My 

 husband went for a colored girl. When she 

 came I said, " Millie, do the best you can." 



After a good nap I felt better. I thought I 

 would go to the kitchen; but while I hesitated, 

 there was a knock at the door. 



"Go quick. Millie," I said to the girl. She 

 obeyed, and came back followed by the strang- 

 est looking woman. She stood staring at me. 

 Millie looked at me and grinned. 



" Go.id-mortiing," I said. 



After a little she said, "Mornin'! are you 

 sick ■? " 



■■ No, not much." I answered, smiling. 



She was very slender; her face was small, 

 and had a pinched expression. She wore an 

 old-time short-waisted calico dress. She wore 

 a hat— ah that hat! It was almost as large as 

 a peck measure. I never did see any thing like 

 it before. It seemed to be made of shucks. It 

 was lined with green silk, and the outside was 

 loaded with green ribbon and bright flowers, 

 with huge bows of bright-yellow bunting. The 

 poor little head looked miserable under that 

 hat. 



" I come to git some honey, fur I seed you 

 had some to sell. I wuz goin' by, an' I jest 

 thought I'd get some. I live 'way up in the 

 forks of the river. I'd like to get some honey 

 if ye'll let me have a bucket to put it in. I 

 don't want but a dime's worth." 



On she talked in a queer, squeeky voice. 1 

 wondered if she would ever stop. She told me 

 —I think she exhausted her supply of words— 

 that she had determined in her mind she would 

 get a bucket. I at last said: 



" Go out to the honey-house; and if Mr. 



is there, ask him about it." 



She went, but she bought a bucket and the 

 honey. She came back through the house. 



"1 got me some honey. I jest thought I'd 

 come back an' see if you knowed of anybody 

 what wanted work done, i don't want hard 

 work, though." 



" I will let you know if I hear of any one who 

 wants you," I replied. " Did you say Mrs. Beat 

 or Miss ? " 



" I'm a young lady— that Is, I ain't married 

 yet, but guess I am old 'nough, though." 



With a few more explanations she then de- 

 cided to go. 



"Fo' de Ian' sake! did you eber see de likes 

 obdat?" Millie said, laughing. 



" No, I never did," I answered. 



The following day I was myself again, and 

 was determined not to feel worried. I was 

 making my light bread, thinking how brave I 

 would be, when bang! bum! bum! some one 

 was trying to knock down the front door. I 

 tried to get the dough off my hands. Open 

 went the door. In came that horrid old man, 

 carrying his fruit-jar half full of honey. 

 " Gracious! what can he be bringing back that 



