males, and the males are larger than the workers. The latter are sometimes called neuters. Like the workers among the bees, they are imperfectly-developed females. In time the female loses her wings, either tearing them off herself, or allowing them to be torn off by the workers.]

LESSON XCIV.

THE WONDERS OF ANT-LIFE.

1. These are some of the many wonderful things about ant-life, which Uncle John told the children, when they were assembled, in the evening, around the table in the dining-room.

2. "From the time of Solomon," said he, " ants have been noted for their industrious habits. But it is only those known as workers that are industrious; the others are as idle, and as lazy, as the drones in a bee-hive.

3. "As soon as the first rays of the morning sun, in summer, fall upon an ant-hill, those workers that are on the watch at the doors of the dwelling run below, and arouse the sleepers.

a

4. "Then the working ants pour forth in crowds, when those among them that act the part of nurses may be seen carrying, in their jaws, the little grubs, and also the cocoons, just as the cat carries her kitten. These are left a short time in the sun, to be warmed; then they are carried within doors, when the little helpless grubs-the babies of this large family-receive their morning meal.

5. "You may ask what they eat, and how they are fed. The nurses feed them with the sweet juices of plants, which the nurses themselves have swallowed; and they put this food into their

mouths, just as the pigeon, or the dove, feeds its

young.

6. "But this is not all that the busy workers have to do. They must gather all the food, not only for themselves, but for the lazy winged ants also. And, besides, they must see that the eggs, the little grubs, and the cocoons, are kept just warm enough all the time. If it be a cold day, they carry them down into the lower chambers of the dwelling; and in warm weather they bring them into the upper rooms.

7. "But these workers manage to get some time for play also; for on fine sunny days they may be seen in crowds, running about on the outside of their nests, patting one another with their feelers, rising upon their hind feet, and wrestling, pretending to bite, but never injuring one another when in play.

8. "Although ants kill, and feed upon, most

kinds of insects, there is one kind which they treat in the most friendly manner. These are the little insects commonly known as plant-lice, on whose bodies may be found a sweet juice called honeydew, which the ants are very fond of. Here is a

picture of two or three

kinds of these insects, with their friends, the ants.

9. "The ants often climb the highest trees, and

search for these little creatures among the leaves; and when they find them they caress them tenderly, patting them gently with their feelers, and sucking the honey-dew from their bodies. They never harm them in the least.

10. "But I have something quite as curious 'to tell you about the wars of the ants; for some kinds of the ants go out in plundering bands, and make war upon their neighbors for the purpose of obtaining slaves.

11. "They do not carry off full-grown ants, however, but only the little grubs, or infants. These they carry home, and treat with the kindest care; but when they are grown up, they are kept as workers, and they do all the household drudgery in their new homes. They seem to work very willingly; and they even help fight the battles of the colonies to which they belong. They never seem to dream that they were stolen!

12. "But ants sometimes make war upon one another for the purpose of conquest, and to get possession of the dwellings of their neighbors. I will give you an account of one of their battles; although you yourselves may see something of the wars of these insects, if you will look carefully for the ant-hills in our pine-woods, almost any pleas ant day in the latter part of summer.

13. "The battle which I am going to tell you of, was between two nests of brown ants on the one side, and five nests of black ants on the other.

14. "First, the brown ants came down from their hills, and took their places on the plain, in a

single line of battle. Then the much more nu merous, but smaller black ants, marched down from their hills, and took their places fronting their enemies, in three lines of battle; but on their right wing they had a body of several hundred warriors, and on their left wing a mass of nearly a thousand.

15. "Soon the fighting began, and the battle was carried on with great fury on both sides; for the jaws of the ants are powerful weapons. Soon heads, and headless bodies, and torn-out feet and legs, could be seen lying all over that little battleground.

16. "After nearly two hours' fighting, in which great numbers were slain, the battle ceased; when all that were left of the brown ants fled. Then the black ants took possession of the dwellings of their enemies, carrying along with them their wounded fellow-soldiers."

17. The children were very much interested in what Uncle John had told them about the ants: it was all new to them, and so wonderful, too! "These," said he, "are only a few of the strange things that are now well known about these curious insects. Thus every part of God's creation is found, when we examine it closely, to be filled with wonders! Even an ant-hill is a little world within itself!"

a Co-COON', see page 170.

b FEEL-ERS, called an-ten'-no; the two long, movable organs on the heads of most insects.

C PLANT-LICE. Their correct name, in the plural, is aph'-i-des; singular, a'-phis. There are many species of them.

[LESSON XCIV. continues the history of ant-life. The labors of the ants in taking care of their young. In addition to what is here mentioned, the little eggs, grubs, and cocoons, require to be kept constantly moist by

the saliva of the workers; otherwise they would dry up, and perish. The ants at play. The aphides, or plant-lice. Plundering expeditions of the ants, to provide themselves with slaves, or workers. Their wars for conquest. Account of a battle. Every part of creation filled with wonders.]

LESSON XCV.

THE CHILD'S PRAYER.

1. Into her chamber went
A little girl one day;
And by a chair she knelt,
And thus began to pray:
"Jesus', my eyes I close',
Thy form' I can not see';
If thou art near me, Lord',
I pray Thee, speak to me."

A still small voice she heard
Within her inmost soul:
"What is it', child'? I hear;
I hear thee-tell me all'!”

2. "I pray Thee, Lord," she said,
"That Thou wilt condescenda

To tarry in my heart,

And ever be my friend.

The path of life is dark'

I would not go astray':
Oh, let me have thy hand,
To lead me in the way'!"

"Fear not'; I will not leave
Thee, little child', alone."
And then she thought she felt
A soft hand press
her own.

3. "They tell me, Lord, that all
The living pass away':
The aged soon must die',
And even children may`.