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saw how busy everyone about her was, she began 

 to wonder if she could not help them in their labors. 



An ant had stopped close by to arrange some 

 cocoons. 



" Can't I help you?" asked Nipper. 



The other looked at her. " Why yes," she said 

 after a moment, " if you are strong enough, but you 

 have been out only a little while." 



" I feel quite strong now." 



" Then you can help arrange these, if you like." 



Nipper cheerfully set to work. At first she felt 

 rather numb and weak, but as she moved, her 

 strength began to come to her, and soon she was 

 running about as briskly as any of them. 



After a while Nipper noticed that there was a 

 difference in the cocoons. Some were like the one 

 from which she had come ; some were larger ; and 

 others were of a brown color. 



A little later, from one of the larger of these she 

 helped to draw forth an ant quite different from 

 herself ; one much bigger ; it was red, too, and had 

 strong, fierce-looking jaws. 



Wondering, but without saying anything, she 

 helped in unfolding its legs, and making its toilet. 

 It seemed quite helpless. 



