The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-11-22
t,er This raised end 1 large black ant

Fred, .'there'll be fun"
And sure enough the spider soon
gave signs of having spied this tempt-
Ing dinner. The ant apparently did
not see the spider sneaking toward
him. When the spider had reached
a point almost foot away from the
ant. he stopped and seemed to look at
his prey for several minutes. Then he
ran backward some six or eight inches
legs these spiders can run backward
as easily as forward-and made a wide
detour. coming toward the ant from
another quarter. But when he was
again within foot of his prey he stop
ped and looked. as general might
look through his fieldglass to find the
best point of attack upon an enemy.
Then the spider backed off as before
and made another detour. Thus he
continued making a scalloped course
around the ant until he came to the
point where the stick was imbedded
In the earth. Then he crawled upon
the stick. which was broader than his
body, and began walking up 1t toward
the elevated end under which the ant
was working so busily that he did not
seem to suspect the presence of a
dreadful enemy. Every now and then
the spider stopped and seemed to Fred
to peep over the edge of the stick to
make sure of the ants position AS he
neared the point directly over the ant
he crept with the utmost caution, and
at last. when he had made ready, by
fastening an end Of web securely to
the stick these spiders do this SO that
they may climb back If need be-. he
settled himself several times as cat
settles herself fora spring, and quick
as fash was upon the unsuspecting
ant. graphing him tightly in his long.
hairy legs.
The struggle that followed was dis
appointment to Fred. The great bulk
of the spider completely covered the
ant from view. and after few slight
upheavals, as ii the ant were making
his last desperate effort to free himself
from the merciless grip. all became
quiet. For as much as half an hour
the boy watched the insects, for he
wished tC know what the spider was
going to do with the ants carcass.
And as boys generally sympathize with
the under dog. so Fred sympathized
With the poor little ant. He could not
nelp atimirina the shrewd generalship
Of The spldel but it seemed mean
soil Of thing TO pounce on the ant from
thus vantage point without giving him
the least chance to save himself, and
beS.d the spider was more than ten
.inlrs as big as the ant. Fred was now
soiry that he had not pushed the spider
off and given the ant a chance to stand
up for a fair tight OF at least to have
try at IA foot race.
After long. long time the spider be-
gan to loosen the murderous grip in
which he had held his prey, and as the
long hairy legs Strengthened away Fred
knelt down close and got peep under
the spiders big body. The ant was lying
fiat upon it's back. Farther and far
Their the spiders legs spread until they
met above his back. Fred had never
before seen spider do this. so he bent
down closer to see what it meant. Then
the strangest thing of all happened
The spider. with all his eight legs
raised above his back. rolled over on his
side. and Fred saw not only that he
was dead. but that the ant had cut
him open and scooped everything out
of him. leaving only the empty skin in
the outward form of a spider. So. aft
er all. the boy had wasted his sympa.
thy on the poor little ant. who seemed
to be amply able to take care of him
self. And when the little black fellow
began dragging the great hulk of the
dead spider across the road. over the
mountains and through the valleys
made by hoofs and wheels. Fred's adj
miration for . the ants enormous
strength was aroused. and he said to
himself:
Gee! If could lift load like that.
could walk off with house"
Then be added. well. the ant has
got his Thanksgiving dinner all right"
And this brought back to his mind the
thought Of his own errand, SO he set
out again for the market. But. though
he did not think he had spent much
time watching the ant and the spider
and though he ran as fast as he could,
the market was closed for the day
when he reached it.
1t was long. unhappy trudge back
home for Fred. He did not take the
short cut. for he was in no hurry to
face the wrath that he felt awaited
him there. But as be came up the al
ley and climbed the back fence he saw
something which made him wonder.
There was the whole family in the
back yard aud Dennis strutting about.
tied long by one leg to the clothes post.
Mr.. Slawson was digging worms. which
Robbie was feeding to the turkey,
while the women stood looking on.
Fred could not understand 1t at all.
On his slow way home be had consid-
cred many different excuses. but when
he saw the cheerful faces in the back
yard be forgot them all. AS he slid
down from the fence he was greeted
with laughter. and Robbie came run
ming toward him. shouting:
"Oh. Fred. pa,ain't going to kill Den
nisv'