g, which he
consented to do, and we started.

It was but a short way across the Common, and ours was a solemn,
silent procession, and I must have appeared like a very culprit.
On nearing the house, Deacon Flagg said he would first enter and
inform sister White of our business, and return when she was
ready to receive us. He returned in a short time, with a longer
face than before, and as he approached us, clasping his hands,
he said with an agonized tone, 'Dear brethren, Oh! it is all too
true! Satan entered her heart,--she coveted the honey,--and
fell.' A groan of holy horror came from all the good old men. It
was not necessary for us to enter the abode of wickedness, he
said, for she would confess all.

The whole proceeding had been a mystery to me, but I soon
learned that the next day after hiving the bees, Deacon Hubbard
had sent a large pan of honey to sister White's house, intended
for me, but she gave us boys a little for a few days and put the
rest away; or, as she afterwards said, she coveted it, and said
nothing to me about it; and I should probably have known nothing
of it had it not been for a disagreement between herself and
daughters about a division of the honey, which finally got to be
a church matter.

Deacon Hubbard insisted on my going to dine with him; so, with a
parting shake of the hand with the other four venerable men, we
started for his house. Such a feast as dame Hubbard had provided
on that occasion boys do not often see; substantial food enough
for half a score of men, aside from the pies and plum pudding
which made their appearance in due course; and in front of the
dish assigned to me was a dish of the purest honey. After dinner
Deacon Hubbard took me to see his bees, and explained many
things in relation to them curious and instructive, promising
more information on the subject if he could prevail upon me to
remain in G---- till the next morning. The fatigue of the long
ride that day, and my desire to see a little of the 'Training,'
decided me to remain over night.

In the morning my horse was fresh, having been well taken care
of by my friend; so, after a hearty breakfast, I bade adieu to
the good couple, with a pleasant recollection of their
hospitality and kindness. When ready to start, dame Hubbard,
with the best intentions, b