In the bright light of a beautiful morning, a little ant named Annie stood at the foot of a tall tree on Garden Hill, deep in thought. Winter was just around the corner, and the air began to turn chilly. Annie had already had her breakfast and was thinking about what to do next. “I must collect something to eat, or I shall soon be incapable of work,” she said to herself.
While Annie was pondering, several of her friends passed by, and she asked them where they were going. no one of them had seen anything that would be useful. Some morning she knew by experience that all the grain they found had been taken away. Many of them told her that it was no use taking the trouble to seek anything that morning, for they had heard that what they wanted had been done for and taken away. But, as Annie was determined, she told all her friends that if they liked to come with her, they might have a meal before the sunny day was over.
So Annie the Ant led the way to a little garden, and her friends followed as many as she could wish had come with her. When they got there, bright as the sun, sparkled the white, shining articles of food which had been spread in the path for birds, butterflies, and of course this little band of friends also. “This surely will not be much trouble,” said Annie to herself, and she said to her neighbors, “Come, I hear the common saying, Unity is Strength; let us work together.”
And so they did; and not one of all those little travelers failed to bear his or her share on this occasion. But an unfortunate accident soon occurred. A celebrated general was passing over the road, where the daisies were springing up on each side of the pathway. He happened to look downwards, and seeing what his men-at-arms were treading down, he gave the command to his trumpet-major to sound “Halt!” The word was passed, and the men came to a standstill. When on a sudden the general himself changed his mind, ordered his men forward again, the trumpet-man could not hear; however, the duty was performed, and then came a second “Halt!” so that the ant-men had to complete their journey by following to each other two what seemed to be absolutely opposite commands.
The general at last turned sharp round to the right. Annie had been in the front; she was now at the tail of the procession, and had given up all hope of collecting food: but presently one company came to a full stop; it was the one in which was that courageous ant who had colonelized that company, so we may say, who had induced others to follow him.
The colonel stopped his men, and desired that they should listen to the report or message, as it was called, which Annie had handed to him from the other company. The lesson she had to tell was the following: They had already a good store of food for their meals, but they wanted a mouthful or two in a place where the red-winged postman or bird with a black head often paid a visit. It was asked whether this little band of travelers would have the kindness and charity to help them in their distress. No sooner had Annie told her story from the drum of the colonel’s ear, than all present felt their hearts beat with good will, and answered cheeringly with one voice, “We’ll do it. Forward! March!”
When an ant speaks, there is always action; if there is ever monotonous preaching, it is amongst those who hear without putting their good lessons in practice. So Annie started again with her friends, and they all, without losing a minute or an inch of distance, disappeared into their ant-hole, near the roots of the tall tree in the garden.