dentally 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.

"Stand quite still, child!" said Farmer Sparrow to Hatty, in a tone of
command. It would have been hard for Hatty to obey, covered as she was
with the tormenting bees, but for the belief that the prayer for help
that she had sent up to God in her distress was about to be answered.
One by one Farmer Sparrow picked off the bees with his hands, and
slipped them into the shawl, which he held like a bag. They seemed to
own him as a master, and not one offered him a disrespectful sting.

When Hatty was freed from her tormentors she was in a piteous pligh