THE BROWN BEETLE UNDERTAKES A MISSION. II5

“The softest part of the cranberry bog,
remember, where the water is deepest. Lead
her well in.”

The wisp, as he floated away, answered : —
v

“Where the meadow’s soft and wet,
She’ll be ere morrow’s sun has set.”

“Who'll be?” asked the brown beetle to
himself. “ Some mischief is planned, and it is
evident they do not wish me to know what it
is. I will stay in the meadow all day to-morrow,
and find out what is going on. I hope they
are not planning to injure the hunter’s maid!
No, certainly it cannot be she, for every one
loves her. Now I remember that the blue
dragon-fly was very indignant with the rover’s.
maid, Wassa, but it would be too bad to play a
mean trick upon her, if she zs unkind to Mona
without reason. If she is envious of her,—
and she certainly is, — the unkind thoughts in
her breast will cause her more trouble than she.
can cause Mona. Yes, I will be on the watch,
and see if I can prevent the mischief.”

The blue dragon-fly did not see the brown:
beetle, and as soon as the wisp had departed,
she settled herself for a good long nap, so the