Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-06-22
THE ANT HUNTER.

Int uIlntSt NLlC SbAt lliAllbNA
contained in the poor raScal's rcpCrtory-
1t was rare delight indeed to wan
der through this natural loneliness aft
or leaving scarcely two hours before
the sitting atmosphere of 4 railway car.
And the pathway through which loi-
tered in haPpicS: mood was y narrow
one The highway indeed would have
conducted me moro quickly to the de-
sired haven. but on this most maCnifi-
cent summer day very naturally chose
the longer walk through one of the most
beautiful bits of forest i'll the neighbor-
hood
Suddenly the sunshine glintcd more
brightly through the trees. 1t must be
that was approaching n clearing, and
in truth few moro steps brought me to
an open place, which spread itself out
like an island in the heart of the wood.
Near the edge of the clearing knelt
man who was indUstriously filling a
sack. Could it be earth that he was
scooping up and for what purpose?
stole nearer. 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 a little his old felt hat. Then he
said: at will do, sir. There isn't any
body in the ncighborhood who cares to
be n rival in the business. -
Indeed! Has any one any objection
to it,"
HIM; yes! Tho work makes one look
So" said the ant hunter. and his eye
ran over his own shabby exterior.
He wore dirty and ragged brown
coat. was harefooted. and pressed upon
his frouzy head was a crumpled hat of
doubtful color Between his teeth he
held short pipe, the rudely fantastic
head of which he might have carved
himself The old stump must have been
the dearest thing he called his own, for
even when he spoke it did not leave his
lips,
had never before seen an ant hunt
CT, although he is n characteristic fca-
turc of tho Alps, so sat down upon the
stump of a tree to watch him work.
You won't see anything very re-
markablc" said he, shaking tho sieve
MY work is simple enough.
He spread ont n linen cloth, fastened
down its four corners with wooden pins
and surrounded the whole with Pine
branches; then he took the sack and
shook its contents out upon the cloth.
Immediately the lively little creatures
seized their babies and sought to hide
them among the sheltcring twigS. There
upon the ant hunter brushed these twigs
with 4 coarse rag. and the ants remained
hanging t. the twigS, while the Larvae
lay clearly diStinguishahlc upon the
cloth spread ont below.
My crop i gathered for today, said
he. thrustiuE his booty into the sack.
And docs this business make You a
liviu-:" l asked.
.'Oh. it'll do, The dealers pay me
pretty well. and the amount l need for
my living He did not finish the sem
| tenCe, but n sad smile fitted over his
face.
While his work had been going on
/ his pipe had gone ont, and he drew out
now closely tied tobacco pouch. 1t
was empty. I could SEQ that the old
man was greatly disappointed, and that
after his hard work he had counted up
on this modest cnjoymcnt> Help, how
ever, was at hand, for although no
smoker myself 1 always carry tobacco
with mo on these mountain excursions
| 1t Is an "open sesame" when even the
! Jingle of coin i incffectual-no Alpine
shepherd can resist il. Such packet l
took from my pocket now, and opening
! il offered is IN the ant hunter.
Hero is some Try it and see if it
suits You
What had done? The man stood as
though transfixed. his eyes staring y
shuddcr ran through his body.
"Sirl" he burst forth, but excitement
/ would not let him proceed further.
Take it, beg of you" said L
Upon this a curious change came
over his countenance. 4 suspicious
moisture appeared i'll his eyes His bos-
ON rose and fell. and involuntarily he
stretched out his hand for the little
packet
Sir, " he faltered. Sir. excuse me,
but it is fully - years since a human
being has offered me q kindness.
''You-avoid people," said ], per
picked.
OR they me-which amounts TO the
same thing" said he bitterly.
looked narrowly at him. He dropped
his eyes
but they are rightr' he went on, o.
If talking to himself. 1T is indeed g
disgrace to associate with a jailbird"
He stopped rs though he expected mt
to order him off He waited in vain.
however, for though astounded at his
disclosure 1 said not word
Whether one became such through
his own desert or If he be really bad
man no one ever takes the trouble tc
ask 1t is enough that he has worn the
striped jacket He must be rascal"
lyon have really experienced this
yourself?'' asked
What, 1? Do you really think so
sir? Ha, ha, hav' His laugh was forced
and shrill Suddenly his manne:
changed.
Forgive me, sirP' said he, with sur
prising quietness. 1.-The miserable bust
ness belongs to years gone by. Ineve1
like to stir it up, but Us you have beer
so kind l would not have you get 1
wrong impression Of me- so listen ant
despise me If you can"
He packed up his implements, threw
his sack over his shoulder and starteC
on his way.
I'm bound for s >" said 1. EAR,
you going the same way?'
1.-The same, sir, whichever way yor
go. l am eyerywhere-or rather, no
where-at home"
We walked ON and soon entered agar
the magnificent wood. But its beaut,
found me Indifferent now. / was all alb
sorbed in the mysterious man at m!
side, whose eyes Were fixed intentl,
upon the NOISY earth.
You were going to tell me your sto
~" said ]. taking up the conversation
where we had left off