208 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



ground under an old oak like this, when my curiosity was 

 excited to see one great fellow, about three inches long, 

 going by at a most rapid rate, quite unaccountable. I got 

 up directly, and went down to see whether he had got a 

 locomotive in him, or what; when, behold, a great long- 

 legged kind of wasp, that we have here, had mounted the 

 worm a-straddle, as we would a horse, and was riding 

 him to the shambles, intending, no doubt, to butcher him 

 about sundown, for supper. It was so curious a sight, 

 that I determined to watch the sequel, and see what the 

 wasp would do with his wormship. But I missed it; for 

 after riding several yards, he passed under a small tree, 

 and directly I heard a rustling in the leaves overhead, 

 and down dropped a lizard directly on the wasp and 

 worm, and knocked the rider heels over head out of sight 

 into the grass, and then gathered up the worm, and in 

 a half minute after had him up the tree, eating him at his 

 leisure, I suppose. This is the way with all nature — the 

 strong rob the weak, which are often sent supperless to 

 bed. I told the story to my family, and they laughed as 

 though they doubted, or disbelieved, the fact. This is a 

 trait in human nature, too. Facts are often doubted, and 

 fables believed. 



"Well, years after, my wife and I were sitting under 

 this very tree, when along came another caterpillar and 

 his rider. Now, then, let us watch this, and see what the 

 rider will do with his horse, said I. 'Oh,' she exclaimed ; 

 'but here comes the conquerer for the 'lion's share.' 

 And sure enough, like a hawk pouncing upon his prey, 

 down came another lizard. Ah, well then, let us watch 

 the battle, and see what the lizard will do with the spoil. 

 But we did not ; for while the wasp and lizard were fight- 

 ing for their prey, out came a toad from that very hole 

 there at the root of the tree, and, unobserved by either 

 of the combatants, hastily gobbled up the worm and 

 hopped back again to his hiding place, while the lizard 

 was running around like something half -crossed, or mad, 

 at the loss of his supper." 



