VII. 



A BUSY CITY AND THOEOUGHFABB. 



Between a swampy woodland tract, and the 

 higher pasture lands, a half -tumble d-down wall, 

 with boards over the top nailed to the trunks of 

 trees that happen to grow on the line, makes a 

 convenient highway for a species of ants that 

 have nested in an old wild-cherry stump that 

 forms one of the posts. Hither I have come out 

 this afternoon to watch the passers-by, to observe 

 the manners and customs, the style of salutation 

 on the road, and the occupation of this intelligent 

 little colony. 



About sixty feet from the settlement is a small 

 water-beech tree that forms another post, and to 

 this many are directing their footsteps, or from it 

 returning to their domicile. There must be some 

 attraction for them in this tree, so I have taken 

 my stand in its shade to ascertain, if it is possible, 

 what it is. On the trunk some are going up, 



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