Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-05-22
THE ANT HUNTER.

| n ucuCtous hr<hut&S P1Nonh ~
wocds Tho sparrvws fitted In and on
among the branches and sang TO ono IN
other their sweetest songA On . prutect
ing bough q finch had comfortably ct
tied himself and was whistlin9 will
the utm~t nonchalAncc tho sole numbc
contained I'm the poor rascal's rcpsrtory
II was y rAc delight indeed 90 wan
der through this natural lovelincz aft
CT leaving scarcely two hours brfor'
the sitting atmosphere of arailway car
And the pathway through which loi
tcrcd In happicst mood was narrow
one The highway indeed would have
conducted me more quickly 10 the dc
sir~i haven. but On this most magnin
cent summer day very naturally chos'
the longer walk through one of the msI
beautiful bits of forest In the ncighbor
hood
Suddenly the sunshine glinted NOR,
brightly through the tr~c~ II must b
that was approaching . clearing. and
In truth few moc steps brought me Il
an open place. which spread itself ouI
like an island In tho heart VI the wood
Near the cigc IL the clearing knelt 9
man who was industriousiy nlling .
sack. CouA II tc earth that he wa
scooping un and Tor what purpo~c'
stole nearer. That which the mar
was gathering was the peculiar nest Of
the wood ant. cunningly put togcthci
from bits of plants and pine needles
All this the man put into wirc sieve.
through which the ants and their white
larys fell into tho sack.
"Gocd sucs~s,'' said I. with friendly
greeting.
Tho ant hunter looked mp and pushed
back n little his old felt hat Then he
said, 1T will do sir. There Isn't any
body In the ncishborbood who carrs ID
b. rival In the business F"
"lndcd' Has any ons any obtsctiou
90 ity''
"Ilm; ycs' Tho work makes one l'ok
.o''' Said the ant hunter. and his cye
ran over his own shabby exterior.
lie worc dirty and ragged brown
cat, was bacfcotci. and pr,~scd upon
his frvuxy bead was . crumplcd hat Of
doubtful color. Between his teeth he
held q short pire. the rudcly fantastic
heal ~ which he might have carved
himself The old stump must have bcn
the ,iear-t thing hc called his own. for
even when he spoke Il did not leave his
lipS
hal never before sscn an ant hunt
er. although he Is n characteristic fca'
turc ~ the hlIs. ~ I sat down upon the
stump of irc 90 watch him work
"YOu won't sc anything very To
markablc. " said he. shaking the sieve
"My work l. simple enough F"
He spr,ad out q linen cloth, fastened
down it, four corners with wooden pins
and surrounded the whole with pine
branches; then be took the sack and
shook its contents cut upon the cloth.
Immediately the lively little cr,atur>
s.ired their babies and sought 20 hide
them among the sheltering twigs There
upon the ant hunter brushed thee twigs
with cosrse rag. and tho ants remained
hanging to the twigs while tho laryr
lay clearly distinguishable upon the
cloth spread out below.
my crop is gathercd for today" said
he. thrusting his i"oty into the sack.
"llnd dos this business make you q
liyings" I asked.
"Oh, it'll do, The dealers pay me
pretty well. and the amount l need for
my living lie did no, finish the sen.
teno,. but q sad smile fitted over his
face
While his work had been going On
his pipe hal gone out. and he dew out
now a closely tied tobacco pouch IL
was empty. could 500 that the old
man wns grcatly disappointed. and that
after his hard work he hal counted mp
on this modest enjoyment Help. how.
ever. was at hand. for although mo-
smoker myself always carry tobacco
with me ON the.e mountain excursions
II IL an ''open sesame" when even the
Jingle IL coin l. inefYectual-no Alpine
shepherd can rcsist H. Such u packet ]
took from my pocket now. and opening
IL offered IL 90 the ant hunter.
"iiere Is some Try Il and sc II 10
suits you
What had done' The man stood ~
though uanSiixci. his eyes staring A
shudder ran through his body.
"Sirr' hc burst forth. but excitement
would not let him proved further
Take IL. beg % youw said l.
Upon this q curious change came
over his countonance A suspicious
moisture appeared In his eyes His bos-
ON rue and fell. and involuntarily he
stretched out his hand for tho little
packet
"sir." he faltercd. "Sir. excuse me.
but Il IL fully ~ years since . humS,
being has offered me kindne~S
"You-avoid pcopler" said ]. per-
picked
"Or they me-which amounts TO the
same thing, said he bitterly.
looked narrowly at him. He dropped
his eycS
"But they are rightr' he went On, ~
u talking To himself. 1T is indeed q
disgrace 10 associate with jailbirdv
He stopped as though he expected the
20 order him on. He waited In vain,
however. for though astounded at his
di.cls.ure I said not n Wurti
"whether one became such through
his own desert or II he be really bod
man no one ever takes the trouble %
Ask. Il IL enough that he has worn the
striped jacket He must be rascal |"
"You have really exprrienced this
your-elff" ! asked.
"what, II Do you really think 90
air, Ha ha hal" His laugh was forced
and shrill. suddenly his mannss
changed
"Forgivs ma siri'' said he With sur
pstxing quietneaA Tho miserable busi
n.s.s belongs to years gone By. Ineve
like 10 stir Il up bus - you have bee'
% kind would mot have you go
wrong impression Of me- ~ listen an'
despise me II you can"
He packed up his implsmsnt@ threw
his sack over his shoulder and starts'
ON his way.
"I'm bound for g." aid L "Ar
you going the Same wsyr
.sThe same, dr. whichever way 20
20 I am everywhsrv-oe rather. no
whcre-at home"
We walked On and soon entered agai'
the MAGNIFICENT wood But IT. beeuf
i aa~-..s. r~sa all Al