Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-02-02

and, as they were very polite and gentle
manly boys, the girls were glad to count
them among their number.
Tom and his friends walked faster
than the girls, though they did not
mean to; for, while the latter stopped
to pick dainty flowers by the roadside,
the boys went galloping after squirrels
or birds, until they were almost out of
sight. They always came back to report
their adventures, however, which were
very interesting to listen to-
At last, when they had started off in
full chase after q woodchuck, one of
the girls suggested that they should
Sit on the grass and rest little. While
looking about to select comfortable
place in the shade, they heard the boys
shouting;
ooh, girls. girls hurry. quick
come. :"
How they RAM fast as the boys
ever did, L assure you. Upon reaching
a turn in the road, they saw their
friends looking very attentively at
something. "What could it be- they
asked themselves.
The only thing visible at first was the
stump of tree which had been cut
down for some weeks; bnt closer in
spection showed this
Two armies of those great black ants
whose bodies look like three balls stuck
together had evidently disagreed about
their boundary-lines, or some other
equally important thing, and had de-
clared war. Selecting the top of this
old stump for the battle ground, they
had placed themselves opposite each
other.
As they could not use guns and
swords, they fought, as we should say,
and-to hand :" but, as they would
express it, "leg- to-leg.n
When two came in contact, each
would stand up on end, and oh! how
they would tear and bite. There was
no such thing as letting go until one or
the other dropped down dead or was ut
terly disabled. Sometimes legs would
be torn of, and often they would be
quite dead.
And what Go you think became of the
poor little things when they reached this
state. DO you suppose they we're left
to be trampled on by the military! By
no means.
Behind each army We're about ten
ants, who composed an ambulance
corps. When one Of their friends was
overcome, two brave little fellows trot-
ted out rs fast as their legs could carry
them, and, dragging the helpless sol
der behind the ranks, laid him down
to rest, A few Of them died. but gem
orally they got better, and looked as if
they might bo again restored to their
families, quite strong and well. 1t
does not take 50 long for an ant to re-
cover from broken legs as it does for a
man. Perhaps it is because they are
not obliged to HAYS doctor.
ooh, Toni" said Mamie, "don't
you wish Mamma were here to see
this
Eyes; but, heighho. look at that
little fellow give it to that big one.
Don't he pitch in like everything,
though Z" was Toms only reply.
And so the battle waged for half an
hour, and still the victory was unde-
cided
The children were very anxious to
see the end of the trouble; but distant
mutterings of thunder had been heard,
and the ladies thought it best to hurry
home before the rain should come.
SO into the carriage every one was
packed, and Mamie and Tom reached
home just as the big drops began to
fall
Glow luckyit was," said Tom, "that
we took the left road, or we never
should have seen that jolly fight
eyes, indeed" answered his sister.
81 wouldn't have missed seeing 1t for
anything. I don't think it was jolly
fight, though. 1t made me feel dread
fully to see them tearing each other to
pieces So
Yes, that was awful; but then it
was very interesting to watch them, ]"
said Tom.
You may be sure they found plenty
very much interested to hear all about
the ants; but she said, as Mamie did,
that it seemed dreadful TO think of them
hurting each other SO badly.
ut is no worse than boys do, said
Tom. "There's fight at school al
most every day.
ANTS know no better; but boys do, :"
said Mamma. 81 hope my son will
leave such things to creatures without
reason, and will settle his quarTels by
kind words and deeds.
Perhaps come of the children who
read this story will think it too wonder
full to be true; but | must tell You that
she who writes the account saw the bat
tie herself, many years ago.