A TOUR TnROUOH A TEXAS ANT-HILL. 275 



destroyer ! He must have got this hint of exter- 

 minating emmet cities by raining fire and brimstone 

 upon them, from the story of Sodom and Gomorrah ! 

 But see ! here is a conlirmation of your account of the 

 location of gates at distant points ; our Texas artist has 

 put httle putls of smolve curling up from holes way out 

 here in the field." 



" Does the machine work satisfactory ?" asked Hugh. 



"Eeally, I cannot tell you, though I tried to ascer- 

 tain that fact. But, if you have a mind to experi- 

 ment, note the advertisement : ' Price, for Farm-Eight 

 and Machine, all Complete, $20.' " 



" Ther's nothin' to expurmint on," answered Hugh, 

 laughing, '" aroun' this ole farm, 'eejit mole runs and 

 a few rat holes aroun' the barn ; an' I reckon it iid 

 hardly pay to import a colony uv cuttin' ants jest to 

 expurmint on them.'''' 



" I am sure that I wouldn't begrudge the money," 

 said Aunt Hannah, " if the inventor would guarantee 

 that his machine can smoke out our red house-ants," 



"Red ants, Aunt Hannah !" exclaimed the Mistress. 

 " You surprise me ! I thought there wasn't enough 

 encouragement in the way of stray crumlis of any sort 

 around your house to justify even a red ant in venturing 

 upon the premises." 



"Catherine Mayfleld," responded Aunt Hannah, 

 with a little show of warmth, "■' thee must know that 

 the matter of dirt has nothing to do with the presence 

 of ants. They are tidy creatures enough and know 

 how to pick up a living is the tidiest housekeeper's cup- 



