Meg was charmed when she got to the bee-hives. She had lately heard Marcus discoursing, in his most learned manner, as to the habits and peculiarities of bees, and she was curious to see these wise little insects in their own home. Hatty was glad to find her at last so absorbed as to be willing to be quiet a moment, and, a little relieved from her anxiety, she turned away to look at a curious plant that was growing in a small swampy place, into which the surplus water from the large back-yard was made to flow. The plant was, indeed, worth looking at; it was the pitcher plant, or side-saddle-flower,—every leaf of which is so formed as to hold water. She walked round and round it, looking into each pitcher-like leaf, and thinking of the wonderful variety which God has chosen to make even in the forms of the leaves, not to speak of the many-hued flowers. Turning accidentally towards Meg, Hatty saw her slender brown arms pushing with all their might against one of the hives, and it was evident from Meg’s determined air that she had made up her mind to do something—some mischief, Hatty concluded, of course, and hurried to the spot. She only reached it in time to see the hive tumbling over, while a swarm of angry bees came forth to avenge themselves for this overthrow of their home. The very impulsiveness of character, which made Hatty open to temptation from a hasty temper, now made her think and act quickly. She saw at once the danger that Meg was in, from the angry insects. It was but the work of a second for Hatty to throw her light shawl completely over Meg—the child’s straw hat—holding it at such a distance from her face and arms that the stings of the insects could not reach her. Then, with one hand, Hatty held her white sun-bonnet close together in front, while she extended the other, to lead Meg. Over Hatty’s bare neck and arms the bees now settled, and began to vent their anger in sharp stings that made her scream with pain. The cries of the children quickly brought Mr. Lee and Farmer Sparrow, who had been taking a survey of the place, together. Farmer Sparrow bade Mr. Lee keep at a distance, as soon as he saw, from the over-turned hive, and from the moving black spots on Hatty’s fair neck and arms, what was the matter. Mr. Lee found it hard to keep away from his children when they were in such trouble, but he knew it was best to obey. With a dexterous turn of the shawl, Farmer Sparrow shut the bees up in it, while he bade Meg run for her life. She needed no second command, and was soon sobbing in her father’s arms. The few bees who had escaped from the shawl settled upon Farmer Sparrow, but he minded them no more than if they were so many flies, for the sagacious insects knew him too well to sting him.