50 
UNDER THE PLANTAIN LEAF 
down to us a drop of honey, which 
we quickly swallow.” 
“How strange! I should think you 
would be very fond of this little 
aphis, since it is so helpful to you.” 
“We are very fond of the little 
creatures,” said the ant. “We look 
after them as closely as we do after 
ourselves. We protect them from 
their enemies in many ways. We 
also take care of their eggs, carry¬ 
ing them into our nests and out 
again according to the weather, just 
as we do with our own eggs.” 
“Since you do all this, I am sure 
that you pay for the honey you use,” 
said the wasp. For, you see, 
although the wasp is considered a 
sharp and unpleasant creature to 
