ts.
They marched rapidly toward a field of turf, order in their ranks being
kept by their sergeants. These watched the flanks, and would not permit
any to straggle.

"Suddenly the army disappeared. There was no sign of an ant-hill in the
turf, but, after awhile, we detected a little hole. Through this the
ants had vanished. We supposed it was an entrance to their home. In a
minute they showed us that our supposition was incorrect. They issued in
a throng, nearly every one of them carrying a small black captive.

"From the short time they had taken, it was plain that they knew the
place and the weakness of its citizens. Perhaps it was not the reds'
first attack on this city of the little blacks. These swarmed out in
great numbers; and, truly, I pitied them. They did not attempt to fight.
They seemed terror-stricken, and made no attempt to oppose the warrior
ants, except by clinging to them. One of the marauders was stopped thus,
but a comrade that was free relieved him of his burden, and thereupon
the black ant let go his grasp.

"It was in fact a painful sight. The soldiers succeeded in carrying off
nearly five hundred children. About three feet from the entrance to the
ant-hill the plundered black parents ceased to follow the red robbers,
and resigned themselves to the loss of their young. The whole raid did
not occupy more than ten minutes.

"The parties were, as we have seen, very unequal in strength, and the
attack was clearly an outrage--an outrage no doubt often repeated. The
big red ants, knowing their power, played the part of tyrants; and,
whenever they wanted more slaves, despoiled the small weak blacks of
their greatest treasures--their children."

MICHELET

LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT

Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on.
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on.
I loved the garish day; and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel