human
Well, it is an old story. Ever since the world began the strong have oppressed the weak,--and ants or men, for greed or gold, will do their neighbors wrong.
gpt
Well, said Mollie, as Miss Ruth laid down the last sheet of her manuscript,
human
What I want to know, said Susie,
gpt
That is easily managed,
human
A nest is taken up with a quantity of the earth that surrounds it, then it is cut down from the top--as you would halve a loaf of bread--and the divided parts are placed in glass cases made purposely to receive them. Of course, the little people are greatly disturbed for a time, and no wonder; but they soon grow accustomed to the new surroundings and go on with their every-day employments as if nothing had happened. The sides of the case make a fine firm wall for their city; they are furnished with plenty of food and building material, and soon they can be seen busy at work clearing their streets, building houses, feeding the babies, and quite contented and happy in their glass city. If, after months of separation, an ant from one half of the divided nest should be put into the other he would be recognized at once and welcomed with joy; but if a stranger were introduced he would be attacked and probably killed.
gpt
We had a great time with the ants at our house last summer, said Eliza Jones:
human
Why not? Mollie asked.
gpt
Can't they swim?
human
Ours couldn't; lots of them fell in the water and were drowned.
gpt
Ants are usually quite helpless in the water, Miss Ruth said,
human
It's all wonderful, Susie said.
gpt
It seems as though they must think and reason and plan just as we do. Don't you think so, Auntie?
human
Indeed I do, Susie. One who has long studied their ways ranks them next to man in the scale of intelligence, and says the brain of an ant--no larger perhaps than a fine grain of sand--must be the most wonderful particle of matter in the world.
gpt
But they can't talk, Auntie?
human
I am not so sure of that. Their voices may be too fine and high-pitched for our great ears to hear. I fancy there is a deal of conversation carried on in the grass and the bushes and the trees, that we know nothing about.
gpt
How funny! What did you mean, Auntie, when you said the queen laid off all her flounces and furbelows.