1898 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



179 



" C-a-n I b-o-r-r-o-w y-o-u-r w-h-e-e-1- 

 b-a-r-r-o-w ? " ' 



Mr. K. didn't hear; he lowered his hand, 

 and, with a piston-valve action on Gabrielle's 

 neck, the squalls inimediatt-ly stopped. 



" Now, neighbor W., say that over again." 



"Can I borrow your wheelbarrow tomor- 

 row ? ' ' 



" Ye3, if that is all; you see I am very busy; 

 good day." 



Mr. K. had a real contented smile while he 

 caught another fowl and took up his line of 

 march to the bedroom ; but be I ore he even 

 entered the parlor Mrs. K. shouted, ' Gsorge, 

 why, oh ! why did vou choke poor dear 

 Gabrielle?" 



George disappeared again with a contented 

 smile, and grateful for the blessings of good 

 health ; but he remarked, as he strode along, 

 that he didn't see but a crick in the back was 

 as mild as a cramp in the leg. 



Several more pets were brought in, in rapid 

 succession, the last time a fowl in each hand. 

 They were all choice pels, and must not be 

 sacrificed. 



Then there was another parley. " Poor 

 George!" said Mrs K., "I am so sorry for 

 yon; wh}' didn't I think of that before?" she 

 suddenly exclaimed, as a new idea came to 

 mind. "There's a hen, George, that I never 

 took much of a fancy to; she has long wattles; 

 and when she runs ihey go dip-flop, flip-flop." 



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"no, GEORGE, YOU MUSTN'T KILI. POOR MOLLIE." 



But Mr. K. was holding another fowl for 

 Mrs. K.'s inspection. After a moment's con- 

 templation which gave Mr. K. some hopes 

 that he had at last found the acceptable fowl, 

 Mrs. K. smiled and exclaimed, " Why, George, 

 that is Dom Pedro; take him right back; we 

 can not spare him." 



Mr. K. about this time felt like holding a 

 parley, and, said he, in a conciliatory tone, 

 "Now, Mrs. K., couldn't you get into this 

 little rocking-chair and let me carry you to 

 the kitchen door, thereby avoiding all of this 

 travel ? ' ' 



"No, no, George," said Mrs. K., earnestly; 

 " it would strain your arms and back. You 

 know, George, you are subject to cricks ; you 

 must be very careful of your health ; for if 

 you are sick I don't know what I should do. 

 I am sure you will get the right one next time. " 



George went out with a more contented 

 smile this time, and a lighter step. This 

 would surely be the last time. To his eyes, 

 all of the hens had long wattles; and when he 

 had trotted them around the yard a few times 

 he found that all of their wattles flip-flopped ; 

 but he selected one, and started on his usual 

 journey when one of the hens that he had just 

 chased hopped up on a box, and crowed. 



"Well, there I by Jupiter," said Mr. K., 

 with vehemence. He instantly dropped the 

 hen in hand, and, after a little chase, caught 

 the impudent crower, and with quickened pace 

 entered the house; and before he entered the 

 bedroom he shouted, " I have caught her this 

 time, Mrs. K." 



' ' No, no, George ! that is not the one I 

 meant; that's Susan B., the strong min — " 



"Susan B!" and Mr. K. said it with the 



