nge part of the story is this," continued their
good-natured uncle: "sometimes the rain gets into their granaries, and
wets the grain. But as soon as the sun comes out again the industrious
little fellows carry out their stores, seed by seed, and lay them in the
sun to dry. They then carry them carefully back again, except those that
have sprouted and been spoiled. These are left outside."

"Don't they husk their grain?" asked Harry.

"Yes. They carry the husk and all other refuse out-of-doors, and pile it
up in a heap on one side of the clearing. Is that all, Harry?"

"But you haven't said a word yet about what these seeds are stored up
for. Do they eat them during the winter?"

"Very likely they do, though they have never been observed at their
winter meals. Ants usually sleep through the cold weather. But a warm
day is apt to waken them, and there is little doubt that they take the
opportunity to make a good dinner before going to sleep again."

"But how can they eat such great seeds--bigger than themselves?"

"They don't swallow them at a mouthful, I assure you. They seem rather
to rasp them with the rough surface of their tongues, getting off a fine
flour, which they swallow eagerly, together with the oil of the seed. I
have nothing further to tell you about them just at present, except to
say that these are not comfortable ants to meddle with, for they sting
almost as sharply as a bee."

"Then I don't want nuffin at all to do with 'em," cried Willie; "cos I
was stinged with a bee once, and I don't like bees."

"I am ever so much obliged, Uncle Ben," said Harry. "Come, Willie, let's
go play now, for I know we've been a big bother."

"Maybe you has; I ain't," replied Willie, stolidly, as he followed his
brother, leaving Uncle Ben with a very odd smile upon his face.

A ROYAL THIEF.

In the summer weather
Kindly, gen'rous Night
Flings upon the thirsting grass
Dew-drops cool and bright.
There they lie and sparkle
Till return of Day;
Then the Sun--a royal thief--
Steals them all away.

[Begun in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 37, July 13.]

THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN NAVY.

BY BENSON J. LOSSING.

CHAPTER IX.

Between the war of 1812-15 and the civil war, 1861-65, our navy had very
little to do in actual warfare. It was sometimes called upon to assert
the rights and dignity of our government in foreign ports, and during
the war with Mexico it assisted in the captu