40 
with the Anemones ; and the bees say they had 
rather come here to sip honey from my lips, for 
they are often driven from the-garden. Why are 
they driven from the garden ?” 
“ Because they sting,” said little Mary. 
“Do they,” said the Violet, “ and what is that?” 
“ They hurt people,” said Mary. 
“ They never hurt me,” said the Violet. “ Per¬ 
haps they are obliged to sting, if people hurt them ; 
for they are so small that they would easily be killed 
if they did not defend themselves. They have a 
great deal of work to do, and if they hurt any one, 
I think it must be because they wish to finish it.” 
“ Yes,” said Mary, “ God gave them their sting 
to defend themselves, and they never use it for any 
other purpose. The point is so very fine, that we 
cannot see the end of it unless it is put under a glass, 
which makes things look hundreds of times larger 
