410 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



good observer, for this point has attracted the atten- 

 tion of naturalists. It would really seem that the skill 

 of an experienced joiner had been brought to bear upon 

 this leafy tube." 



"How are the pieces held together ?" asked Abby. 

 " I don't see any seam — I don't mean Hugh's sort, 

 but the kind a seamstress makes. There's neither 

 sewing nor pasting visible. Are the seams inside ?" 



"Now you have raised the point which I had in 

 mind at the outset when I spoke of the doubtful claim 

 of the leaf-cutter bee to a place among Tailor Insects. 

 In point of fact there is no sewing here at all — not a 

 thread used. The leaves are held in place by the 

 natural spring of the leaf alouo. Here are a glass 

 lamp-chimney, a pair of scissors, and some bits of 

 paper. AVho will try her hand at building an artificial 

 bee's nest ? Miss Abby volunteers ! Very well, Penn 

 may help you if he will, and see how you two will get 

 along at the mimic work of nest-making." 



The Mistress cast a sly glance at the Schoolma'am, 

 whose pink cheeks reddened as she shook her head 

 threateningly at me. Aunt Hannah looked up quickly 

 from her knitting, and shot a disapproving glance 

 across the table. It would have been an angry glance, 

 perhaps, if the good lady could have nursed wi-ath, for 

 the growing interest that Penn Townes took in the 

 Yankee maiden was a sore trial to her. xVbby was, in- 

 deed, all that her mother love could ask for her son, 

 with one exception — religion. How could she bear to 

 have her only child " turned out," deprived of his birth- 



