4 ABOUT ANTS. 



the ground; the corn curls its green blades^ 

 and turns blue; the portulaccas shut their cups; 

 the pansies hang their heads ; even the giant 

 sunflower droops his broad leaves, and the cab- 

 bages perspire. It is too v^arm to work, or to 

 read, or to play. The boy has exhausted all 

 his own plans for fun, and in despair asks his 

 mother, " What shall I do?" 



ril tell you what to do. Find an ant-hill 

 in some shady place, where the sun will not 

 burn your back, lie down upon 3^our face, and 

 watch it. You have passed such a thousand 

 times, without knowing what curious things 

 could be seen there. The little fellows worked 

 all the morning, and brought up out of that 

 hole in the middle, all the grains of sand that 

 you see piled around in a tiny, circular fortress. 

 One by one they brought them out and laid 

 them in their places. Now they are thoroughly 

 warmed by the sun, and they are carrying 

 them back again, into the rooms which they 

 have excavated below. If there is a flat stt)ne 

 near, turn it over, and you will quite likely 



