I took up the chip on which the three I have particularly described were struggling, carried it into my house and placed it under a tumbler on my window sill in order to see the issue. Holding a microscope to the first-mentioned red ant, I saw that, though he was still gnawing at the near fore leg of his enemy, having severed his remaining feeler, his own breast was all torn away, exposing what vitals he had there to the jaws of the black warrior, whose breastplate was apparently too thick for him to pierce; and the sufferer's eyes shone with ferocity such as war only could excite. They struggled half an hour longer under the tumbler, and when I looked again, the black soldier had severed the heads of his foes from their bodies; and they were still hanging on either side of him like ghostly trophies at his saddle bow, still apparently as firmly fastened as ever; and he was endeavoring with feeble struggles, being without feelers and only the remnant of a leg and I know not how many other wounds, to divest himself of them; which at length after half an hour more he accomplished. I raised the glass and he went off over the window sill in that crippled state. Whether he finally survived that combat, and spent the remainder of his days in some Hotel for Invalids, I do not know; but I thought that his industry would not be worth much thereafter. I never learned which party was victorious, nor the cause of the war; but I felt for the rest of that day as if I had had my feelings excited and harrowed by witnessing the struggle, the ferocity and carnage, of a human battle before my door. -Henry D. Thoreau, From Walden. HELPS TO STUDY 1. Read as quickly as you can the entire selection to get the swing, the movement of it. If it interests you, can you tell why? What has Thoreau put into it to stir your interest? 2. Read again, if necessary, and give a name to each paragraph, or a combination of two paragraphs, thus: a. The Combat of Ants b. A Race War-the Blacks and the Reds, etc. 3. Thoreau keeps up the spirit of war by introducing names from history. List the names and indicate the nation at war, as, red republican, and black imperialists—France, French Revolution. 4. Find some interesting situations happily expressed, as, "in a little sunny valley amid the chips," "to return with his shield or upon it," etc. 5. Use your dictionary for difficult words, as Myrmidons, tenacity, etc. Find words with com as a part, as, combat, etc. THINGS TO Do 1. Observe ants at work, at war, and write a report on your observation. 2. Make a flat glass enclosed case for ants. Read Nature Study and Life by Hodge to find out how to make it. 3. Investigate the life history of an ant. Make a report to your classmates. Other Selections: The Ants' Sunday Dinner, H. H. JACKSON; Ants of the Tropics, South America, CARPENTER; King Solomon and the Ants, WHITTIER; The Nightingale and the Glow Worm, CowPER; The Discovery, SMEDLEY. THE FIRST STEAMBOAT Elsewhere in this book is a poem entitled "It Couldn't Be Done." Read it to see if it applies to Robert Fulton. To Robert Fulton goes the honor of having invented the first steamboat. This was in 1807. The boat was launched upon the Hudson River and named the Clermont. Her trial trip was from New York to Albany and required thirty-two hours. Steamers to-day make the hundred forty-mile trip in less than six hours. The best account of that historical event is given by the inventor himself. He says: "When I was building my first steamboat, the project was viewed by the public at New York either with indifference or contempt, as a visionary scheme. My friends indeed were civil, but they were shy. They listened with patience to my explanations, but with a look of incredulity on their countenances. I felt the full force of the sad words of the poet: 'Truths would you teach to save a sinking land? "As I had occasion to pass daily to and from the building yard while my boat was in progress, I often loitered, unknown, near the idle groups of strangers gathered in little circles, and heard various inquiries as to the object of this new vehicle. The language was uniformly that of scorn, sneer, or ridicule. The loud laugh rose at my expense; the dry jest, the wise calculations of losses and expenditures; the dull but endless repetition of "The Fulton Folly!" Never did an encouraging remark, a bright hope, or a warm wish cross my path. "At length the day arrived when the experiment was to be made. To me it was a most trying and interesting occasion. I wanted my friends to go on board and witness the first successful trip. Many of them did me the favor to attend, as a matter of personal respect, but it was manifest they did it with reluctance, fearing to be partakers of my mortification and not of my triumph. "The moment approached in which the word was to be given for the vessel to move. My friends were in groups on the deck. There was anxiety mixed with fear among them. I read in their looks nothing but disaster. I almost repented of my efforts. The signal was given, and the boat moved on a short distance, and there stopped and became immovable. "To the silence of the preceding moment now succeeded murmurs of discontent and agitation, and whispers, and shrugs. I could hear distinctly repeated, "I told you so-it is a foolish scheme. I wish we were well out of it." I elevated myself on a platform and addressed the assembly. I stated that I knew not what was the matter; but if they would indulge me for a half hour, I would either go on or abandon the voyage for that time. "This short recess was granted without objection. I went below and examined the machinery, and discovered that the cause was a slight defect in a part of the work. This was soon remedied; the boat was put again in motion; and continued to move on. All were still incredulous; none seemed willing to trust the evidence of their own senses. "We left the fair city of New York; we passed through the romantic and ever-varying scenery of the Highlands; we beheld the clustering houses of Albany; we reached the shores; yet, even then, some of the passengers shook their heads. It was doubted if the trip could be made again." HELPS TO STUDY —Robert Fulton. 1. Robert Fulton was not writing for boys and girls, but aided by the dictionary, you can get the meaning of his sentences, and the thought of the paragraphs. Find the meaning of words in Italics: indifference and contempt; visionary scheme; look of incredulity on their countenances; wise calculations; mortification and not triumph; abandon the voyage. 2. What was the attitude of the public, and of Fulton's friends toward his project? Read any one sentence which you think proves your statement. 3. Describe the launching of the boat. THINGS TO Do 1. Read "The First Steamboat" in Days and Deeds of a Hundred Years Ago, and compare the two. interesting? Which gives more facts? Which is more Other Selections: Same Story, Any American History Text. |