The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-06-07
THE Ant UNITE

among the branches and sang 10 one an
other their sweetest songs On d project
ing bough d finch had comfortably set
tied himself and was whistling with
the utmost nonchalance the sole number
contained in the poor rascals repertory.
re was q rare delight indeed 10 q
der through this natural LONELINESS aft
err leaving scarcely two hours before
the sitting atmosphere OF arailway car.
And the pathway through which / loi-
tered i'm happiest mood was q narrow
one. The. highway indeed would have
conducted me more quickly Co the de-
sired haven, but ON this most magnii-
cent summer day / very naturally chose
the longer walk through one OF the most
beautiful bits Of forest in the neighbor-
hood
Suddenly the sunshine glinted more
brightly through the trees. Il must be
that / was approaching a clearing, and
in truth a few more steps brought me to
an open place, which spread itself out
like an island i'm the heart OF the wood.
Near the edge of the clearing knelt a
man who was industriously filing a
sack. Could 1t be earth that he was
scooping up and for what purpose?
stole earer That which the man
was gathering was the peculiar nest of
the wood ant, cunningly put together
from bits Of plants and pine needles.
All this the man put into . wire sieve,
through which the ants and their white
Larvae fell into the sack.
GOOD success?" said ], with friendly
greeting.
The ant hunter looked up and pushed
back q little his old felt hat. Then he
said: sIt will do, sir. There isn't any
: body in the neighborhood who cares to
be o rival in the business"
"Indeedl Has any one any objection
to it?'
Him; yes! The work makes look
sor' said the ant hunter, and his eye
ran over his own shabby exterior.
He wore a dirty and ragged brown
coat, was barefooted, and pressed upon
his frouzy head was o crumpled hat OF
doubtful color. Between his teeth ht
held a short pipe, the rndely fantastic
head of which he might have carvet
! himself. The old stump must have beer
. the dearest thing he called his own, fol
even when he spoke it did not leave hi
] lips.
had never before seen an amt hunt
er, although he is a characteristic fea
r ture of the Alps, SO I sat down upon tn
a stump of a tree to watch him work.
"You won't see anything veTy re
markable. !" said he, shaking the sieve
r ''My work is simple enough"
He spread out a linen cloth, fastene'
down its four corners with wooden pin
and surrounded the whole with pin
branches; then he took the sack an,
4 shook its contents out upon the cloth
:, Immediately the lively little creature
u seized their babies and sought to hid
Is them among the sheltering twigs. There
4 upon the ant hunter brushed these twig
with q coarse rag, and the ants RENAME
ii hanging to the twigs, while the larvi
d lay clearly distinguishable upon th
Or cloth spread out below.
" my crop Ia gathered for today, sal
he, thrusting his booty into the sack.
"And does this business make you
! living?'' I asked.
ooh, it'll dol The dealers pay 10
Is pretty well, and the amount I need *
INV living Ge did not finish the ser
:. tence, but a sad smile fitted over b
face.
While his work had been going 9
his pipe had gone out, and he drew q
z. now a closely tied tobacco pouch
was empty. I could see that the ol
y, man was greatly disappointed, and thi
~ after his hard work he had counted ul
ON this modest enjoyment. Help. HOY
ever, was at hand, for although !
ce smoker myself ! always carry tobact
with me on these mountain excursion
:. Ii liz an .'open sesame when even Il
IL Jingle of coin is ineffectual-no AlpiI
to shepherd can resist it. Such a packet
nh took from my pocket now, and openir
it offered IL to the ant hunter.
~, Here liz some. Try il and see ii
nd suits YOU"
70 What had I done? The man stood
- though transfixed, his eyes staring.
shudder ran through his body.
d "Sirr'' he burst forth, but exciteme
te, would not let him proceed further.
&c Take 1t, I beg of youl'' said /
Upon this q curious change car
ell over his countenance. A suspicio
M moisture appeared in his eyes. Ills bt
om rose and fell. and involuntarily
stretched out his hand for the htt
packet.
"Sir," he faltered- ''Sir, excuse n
but it is fully 10 years since o hum
al being has offered me q kindness.
"You-ayoid p~eople?'' said !, RI
picked
''Qr they me-which amounts TO
same thing, " said he bitterly.
fol looked narrowly ut him. I'll dropT
his eyes
"But they are righti' he went On,
IL talking TO himself. 1T Ii indeet
disgrace to associate with d jailbirdi'
He stopped AZ though he expected
TO order him OH. He waited In Va
4nu however, for though astounded 81
Will disclosure ] said not o word.
the whether one became such throE
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