On a warm summer afternoon, in the heart of a busy little ant colony, sat poor Annie the Ant with a heavy heart. All around her the other ants were running to and fro busily at work, carrying grain and leaves, and making ready for the long winter days that were now so near at hand. They were working hard for the little ones who were still in the nursery. They had no time to look for their friend.
Annie sat on a small mound that was just outside the entrance to the ant-hill. She was too shy to try and help her friends, and it seemed to her that no one missed her. Tears rose to her eyes as she realized how little she was cared for, and she thought she would go away into the woods and never come back to the ant-hill. But just as Annie was trying to make up her mind to do this a little ant came out of the hill with a twig that was almost as heavy as she was. She had to stop many times to rest, but still she pressed on until she stumbled before Annie, and dropped the twig, saying, “Dear me, how tired I am! I must sit down and rest a little.”
As she rested, she could not help noticing that Annie was crying. So she pushed up against her and said in the friendliest tone, “Is anything the matter, dear friend? You seem very sad.”
But poor Annie cried only the more. So the little ant continued, “‘Tis very sad, indeed, to see you crying. Is there anything I can do to help you?”
“Oh, it is too late,” sobbed Annie. “I shall never be wanted anymore. I wanted so much to help the others today, but I was afraid and did not try. And now they are nearly done with their work and have no more need of me. No one cares whether I go or stay. I am sure I shall not be missed.”
“But, dear friend,” said the little ant, “it is never too late to help others, and if you want to help us, we shall be very glad to have you do so. We are all very tired, and we should like to have a little change in the work. Help us in this way: take an end of this twig and help carry it to the hill while I go back for the other end.”
Annie brightened a little at this, and soon she and the little ant were carrying the twig to the hill.
“What a pity,” said Annie, as they entered the ant-hill, “that there is only one of these twigs. I shouldn’t have tried to help today if I had known this. I could help you carry many twigs.”
The little ant smiled. “Don’t you know,” she replied, “that there are many more where this one came from? The woods are full of them.”
Annie turned to go, but the little ant said: “Please come back, and next time you come I hope you will bring some friends with you.”
Annie promised she would, and went off to the woods as fast as she could go. There were, as the little ant had said, many twigs ready to be brought to the hill, and Annie lost no time in getting back as quickly as she could with yet another little ant to help her carry what she had secured.
When she got to the hill, she called to her little friend to come out, and then they worked till it was quite dark, besides being so tired that they could hardly stand. But they had much to give the little ones that night.
The next day they went again, and the day after, and continued to do so till the hill was full of everything needed for the long winter days that were now coming so quickly on.
Annie had now gained confidence and friendships, and that shy little ant was as well-known to the others as any of them. One and all came to thank her for what she had done, but it did not seem to affect her at all. She went quietly on, doing what she could, only taking care in future not to let the others work alone when there was anything to be done.
It really does not take much to be kind and helpful. A little attention at the right moment often brings happiness to others, and we should forget our own troubles when we see someone else in distress.