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, brought me a large pail of honey, wishing I would carry it home to my parents, but as it was impossible for me to carry it on horseback, I had to decline.

    It was near noon the next day when I reached home, and my first
    greeting from my father was, ’Well, Gilbert, now let me know
    about the scrape you got into last summer in G——.’

    I told him all I had learned about the matter, to which be
    expressed his pleasure that it was no worse, and gave me much
    good advice as to the future.