Outside, the sun shone and through the windows the flowers breathed a
wonderful fragrance; but he no longer wished to go out, for he knew
there only awaited him terrible traps and dangers. He worked sometimes
in his garden, or wrote in his diary, or went over to the window to look
out sadly between the flower pots to the wide world beyond.
One day, as he was standing on the window ledge and looking into the
garden, he perceived on a fuchsia near the window a beautiful, red
ladybird with shining wings, crawling on the blossoms and looking
sideways at him. His Godmother had been away since early morning and he
knew that she would not return until evening, so he was very lonely
there all by himself.
The lady-bird opened its wings and flew over to the window. Alighting on
the edge it started to crawl along, all the time looking towards Tom who
thought to himself: "What is that gentleman looking for and does he know
me?" But the lady-bird coming to him said, "Good morning Little Tom. How
are you? I am very pleased to find you. I am Seven Spot from the
lady-bird kingdom on the forest pool. We all thought that you had
perished with the others in the terrible flood."
Little Tom was surprised to learn that this gentleman knew him so well,
but he did not wish to inquire how it happened; so he replied that he
was very pleased to meet Mr. Seven Spot, as he had no companions at all.
They talked together for some time. Seven Spot told him all about the
forest pool and how beautiful it was; and Little Tom, on his part,
confided to his new friend his various adventures. Seven Spot listened
attentively; but also seemed to have something on his mind. Presently he
invited Tom to visit the lady-bird kingdom; but Tom declined, as he
wished never again to act contrary to his Godmother's instructions and
make an independent excursion into the great world.
Seven Spot persisted, but when he saw that Tom would not be persuaded,
he said: "My dear Tom, it is true that you suffered very much when you
came out; but that is because you live with human beings and do not know
your true place in life, nor your own friends. What kind of a life have
you among humans? Although your Godmother loves you, you are neither her
child nor her friend. Your real life is among the gnomes, but, since
there are none left, you should dwell with their good friends who are
like you in many respects. They will welcome and honor you. With them
you can live in peace and happiness, and who knows if you might not find
among them some one dear to your heart? But if you do not wish to go, I
will fly back to my people and tell them that my mission was in vain."
After this long speech, Mr. Seven Spot raised his shells indifferently
and aired his wings; but he did not fly away. Instead, he lighted on the
pistil of the fuchsia and started to crawl slowly into the blossom.
Little Tom was greatly surprised at what he had heard. Who had sent this
messenger and who was thinking of him? He begged Seven Spot not to go
away, but to tell him everything he knew. Seven Spot smiled.
"Do you think, Little Tom," he said, "that I would dare to enter the
dwelling of a human being without reason, unless I felt sure of finding
you here? Friend Mirmex told me about you on the meadow, where with his
workmen he is collecting stores of grain. Then, someone else whom you
know very well told us about your past life in the realm of the gnomes.
We asked Mirmex to find out how you are living and what you are doing.
So, while you were sleeping in the night, his workmen found a way to
you, looked over everything very carefully and made a report to us. We
realized that you would not find your happiness with human beings and we
have, therefore, decided to ask you to come to us and rule over the
lady-bird realm on the forest pool, since your own kingdom has perished.
If you do not wish to accept, we shall all be very sorry and, later, you
will recognize that your decision to remain with humans was not to your
advantage and somebody will cry for you."
Little Tom was very curious to know who would cry for him and his heart
was torn with the hope that he might see again one of his own people.
Perhaps, after all, he was not alone in the world, but he feared that he
might be terribly disappointed. He begged Seven Spot not to torture him,
but to tell him who was expecting him. That gentleman only replied that
he could say nothing further, as he had given his word of honor, but
that Tom should go with him and see for himself.
[Illustration]
Tom felt as if on thorns. He said that he could go and see, but to
remain was impossible, as he could not bind himself to do that.
Moreover, he did not know how to get to the wood. Seven Spot was pleased
to see that Tom was yielding and said, "Only prepare your things and
dress in your finest clothes. In a few minutes, I will return, and you
need not bother about your transportation." And off he flew.
Tom at once set himself to pack his tiny hand-bag. Then he put on a
beautiful suit of green and belted his sword about him. When he was
ready, he was impatient to leave. He had barely completed his
preparations however, when Seven Spot appeared at the window.
Little Tom, snatching his bag, ran to him at once. There, on the ledge,
he saw a gorgeous dragonfly with golden eyes, slim, blue body and
transparent rainbow wings. Tom was a little embarrassed before such a
magnificent creature; but Seven Spot, without any hesitation, placed
Tom's bag upon the dragonfly and told him to get on its back. In a
trice, they were flying like a shot through the warm, summer air.
Such a wonderful journey it was, under the blue sky, over the broad
stretches of land, high above the earth. The dragonfly, as if not
feeling the burden, sparkled and glistened in the rays of the sun, while
above them Seven Spot was flying in great circles.
Tom was intoxicated by the swift flight through the beautiful sunshine
and the fresh breeze, which, far below them, rippled the sea of grain
into little waves. Over the slope they flew, across the fields and into
the cool twilight of the forest, among the pine trees and the beeches.
Under the thick, quiet arches of the leaves, Tom looked around in
surprise; but the dragonfly winged his way unerringly, deeper and deeper
into the wood, until they came, at last, to the valley where, beyond the
ferns and the colts-foot, shone a dark pool covered with yellow and
white pond lilies.
There the dragonfly settled into the cool moss. Tom stepped down, but
before he could turn and thank this kind friend, the dragonfly had sped
up in the air like a colored spark and disappeared among the yellow
candles of the cat tails.
It seemed to Tom as if he had landed in some magic kingdom. All about
him were growing gigantic willow-herbs with thick bunches of little red
blossoms, broad crowns of yellow lettuce and water crow-feet on thin,
spreading stalks, with their tender little heads sparkling like white
flames. Everything was radiant, glittering with bright colors, and
perfumed with the sweet odors of the forest.
When Tom turned around, he found Seven Spot standing beside him. He
invited Tom to come with him, saying that all the lady-birds were
waiting. They went under an arch of green leaves and through a lofty
green palace to the sprays of sweet-smelling mint by the water. On the
leaves of the mint, were sitting, side by side, hundreds and hundreds of
lady-birds, in colors of gold, brown, violet, red and yellow. All
crowded forward to see the guest, whom they greeted with cheers.
Little Tom was led by the crowd to the shore of the pool, where a great
water-bug waited. Tom sat on this smooth, shiny back, and off he went
like a shot over the water to a broad water-lily leaf, where a grand
banquet was prepared. The lady-birds flew ahead and, lighting on a leaf,
waited for him, their brilliant colors looking like a border of
sparkling gems. When Tom arrived, Seven Spot stepped out from the crowd
and welcomed him with a touching speech.
[Illustration]
"Prince Tom, be welcomed to our Lady-bird Kingdom. Long have we waited
for you and now respectfully beg you to be our king, rule over our land
and take for your wife the true comrade of your youth, who, at the time
of the flood, was visiting us and so was saved."
As soon as Seven Spot stopped speaking, the water lily opened and out
stepped a golden haired girl in a violet dress. "Chrysomela" cried Tom
and ran to her with open arms.
"Long live our King, Little Tom!" was shouted on all sides in a loud
chorus, while a great crowd of golden flies flew around and around the
pool and a merry choir sang to celebrate the fete.
Tom was quite beside himself with happiness. The sad past faded away
and he saw only before him the goldenhaired girl, who smiled at him from
her blue eyes. They held each other's hands and talked and talked, until
Seven Spot interrupted them to ask them to sit down to the banquet and
accept the homage of their subjects.
[Illustration]
The banquet was magnificent. Stuffed tiny snails, salad of flower
tendrils, a giant whitebait born by four cooks on a dog-rose leaf, mint
candies, and, for drinking, blackberry wine drawn directly from a great
berry standing on the edge of the leaf.
When they began to feast, beautiful music sounded. It was the famous
Gnat Quartette, two gnats playing violins, a small cicada, the cello and
a wood-bee, the bass viol. Joyous strains rang through the warm summer
air. Presently, a swarm of gnats hovered over the water close by,
dancing a graceful ballet; and, when they had finished, there came a
dragonfly who gave an acrobatic performance with giddy jumps and dizzy
whirling.
The rest of the kingdom of the lady-birds were sitting all around the
shore of the pool on mint and ferns, cheering and shouting with joy. On
a fallen trunk by the water, sat a sedate group of water-bugs chewing
young tendrils and nodding approval with their beards.
By the time the celebration was finished, evening had come and a serious
brown water-bug came up to invite them to visit the wood-bugs mines. In
a long procession, they followed him to a powerful, old beech, where he
conducted them through deep, long corridors to a hollow in the tree
arranged as a beautiful hall, in which Little Tom and Chrysomela might
have their home. Tom was wondering how they could live there without
furniture or utensils; but when he stepped inside, he was struck with
surprise.
The great hall was lighted from above by dry wood, which glowed with a
subdued, blue light showing all his own furnishings from Castle Easter
Egg, neatly arranged around the walls; all the drawers were in the
cupboards, all the utensils were there, not even a cup was missing.
By the entrance stood Mirmex, with a whole regiment of his ants. He
said, "I welcome you to your new kingdom and ask you to be our good
neighbor, as we used to be with your father."
When Tom had flown away to the lily pond, the ants had moved all his
belongings and arranged everything in the new palace. They knew very
well, when Tom had seen Chrysomela, that he would not return to his
Godmother.
Tom thanked them all very heartily and Mirmex asked him to visit their
Black Town on the morrow, which he gladly promised to do, remembering
how his father had planned to send him there to learn how to rule a
kingdom.
After all had said good night, Little Tom and Chrysomela remained in
their new home while the crickets under the beech sang them a serenade.
In the morning, when they came out of the old beech, they were greeted
by a choir of crickets whose music rang clear to the tops of the trees.
Already, Mirmex and some of the ants, were standing before the entrance,
among them a brilliant, green rose-bug for carrying Tom to Black Town.
[Illustration]
Many onlookers stood about. The Lady-birds greeted their new king, while
snails on the mushrooms stretched up their heads, so that they, too,
could see what was going on. Golden flies crowded around in swarms,
while on the path stood a line of wood-bugs as a guard of honor.
After saying good-bye to Chrysomela, Tom went down to the moss and
greeted his friends the ants. Chrysomela was very sad that he was
leaving her so soon and almost wept. She was afraid that she might lose
him again, as they were so alone in the great world; but Tom soothed her
by saying that he would surely return the next day, and that he was
obliged to make this visit to their neighbors to honor them and fulfil
his father's wish.
Then they arranged with Seven Spot where they should meet him and Seven
Spot proposed that, immediately on his return, Tom and Chrysomela should
accompany him to inspect their own kingdom.
When all preparations had been completed, Tom, in full armor, jumped
upon the rose-bug, the noisy trumpets of the gadflies sounded and the
great procession started for Black Town.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER EIGHT.
THE ANTS' TOWN.
LITTLE TOM GOES INTO THE CITY OF THE ANTS.
MIRMEX TELLS HIM ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF THE ANTS.
THE WELCOMING. THE WALK THROUGH THE CITY.
THE WORMS AND THE CHRYSALISES.
MIRMEX TELLS ABOUT THE REDHEADS AND THEIR
SLAVES.
THE DESERTED CITY.
THE STORE-HOUSES, THE STABLES, THE HOT-BEDS.
* * * * *
The procession went on through the silent wood and the morning mists.
Thousands of dew drops sparkled like diamonds in the moss. Overhead hung
branches of billberry heavily laden with dark fruit, while, on either
side, bright red berries peered from the leaves. After they had passed
the moss plain, they came upon gigantic rocks strewn along the pathway
of the ants in the dry spines. They crossed by these stones over little
valleys and passing across tree roots, came to a clearing on the border
of the Ants kingdom.
There was a great crowd of ants waiting to welcome them. An old ant
greeted Tom in the name of the whole community and, thanking him for the
honor of his visit, placed himself in front of the procession, which at
once began to move along the broad path.
Tom noticed how the surroundings immediately changed. On all sides, were
gangs of diligent workers, crossing or walking along the path, pulling
beams, stones and dead flies, hurrying in their work and paying no heed
to the procession. The nearer they came to the town, the greater became
the crowds, while the path broadened and was hard, level and free from
all obstructions. Presently, it opened into a broader clearing, from
which moss, grass and sticks had been cleared away. In the background,
appeared a great mound known as Black Town.
On the way, Mirmex sat with Little Tom on the rose-bug and explained to
him how the town was founded. First, a sheltered location was chosen
under a tall pine tree, in the clear sun, but with the branches serving
as a protection in case of rain. Then, paths were laid out in various
directions where there was plenty of building materials, while
messengers were sent out to explore the broader country beyond where one
could find precious grains of grass or hunt green bugs. To such places
they at once laid out the shortest paths, stamped hard and made
perfectly smooth, tore out all the roots and built bridges over the
marsh and other inaccessible places.
While Mirmex talked, he became very affable. Tom listened to him most
attentively and while he did not understand everything that was told
him, nevertheless, he recognized that there was a great difference
between the realm of the ants and that of the ladybirds. The latter were
living a carefree life, dancing and making merry the whole day long,
while the ants had a very strict discipline, divided their work
carefully among themselves and made provision for the welfare of their
descendants and for the protection of the town.
Tom decided that, on this visit, he would merely look over their
arrangements, and, later, would return to them with Chrysomela, in order
to study their methods of administration, so that he could apply them in
his ladybird kingdom.
Finally, they arrived at the level plain before the town, where the
noise of the working ants did not cease. The entire surface of the town
was covered by workers, running and building, while there was a constant
crowd carrying burdens through the gates of the town. Tom noticed a
strong perfume that seemed to come from the town itself. After he had
dismounted from the rose-bug, he was led through a broad corridor within
the ants mound, where in a low, but solidly constructed hall,
refreshments had been prepared, consisting of grass grains, delicious,
palatable bulbs that seemed to melt on the tongue, and sweet juices of
which Tom had never seen the like, but which tasted very good to him.
[Illustration]
According to their habit the ants ate so rapidly, that Little Tom could
hardly keep up with them. After they had finished, Mirmex asked what he
would like to see first: The building, the division and character of the
daily work, or the storehouses. Tom replied politely that everything was
of interest to him and that he would leave the selection to Mirmex's
judgment.
They took leave of the others, who were becoming anxious to return to
their work and then Mirmex said, "First, I will show you what is most
precious and dear to us and our future generation".
They walked through a long corridor, deep in the town. In the darkness,
Mirmex ran along confidently, only here and there touching the walls,
while Little Tom was obliged to grope his way. He was hot and the strong
fragrance was almost overpowering, while every now and then he bumped
into workmen hurrying and quickly passing around them. Finally, they
came into a series of dry, warm halls, and when Tom became accustomed to
the darkness, he perceived thousands of little, light worms that were
stretching their necks and turning their little black heads.
[Illustration]
Workmen were running among them, pushing into their little mouths a
sweet porridge and thus feeding them. Mirmex silently watched the
careful attention of the workers for a moment and then said, "These are
our youth, our pride and hope. They were born from eggs and when they
grow up, will enclose themselves in chrysalises from which they will
come out as ants, our descendants. Our chief concern is that they have a
good living place, neither wet nor cool and that they have enough
porridge, so that they will develop properly."
Tom was greatly touched by the ants' care of their little ones, and was
surprised that they had such experienced and skilful nurses who seemed
to love their wards so tenderly.
They went up one story higher and found, lying on the floor, thousands
of white chrysalises all wrapped up in silken coverings. A number of the
ants were taking these chrysalises in their strong jaws and carrying
them out through a broad corridor at the end of which daylight was
shining. Following them, Tom and Mirmex came out under a thick arch of
pine needles, through which circles had been bitten, to allow the rays
of the sun to strike the ant hill. On these dry places where the sun was
shining, the ants placed the chrysalises side by side, so that they
should be warmed in its rays.
The entire top of the town was covered by stones over which were placed
pine needles to shed the water when it rained. Mirmex and Tom stepped up
on one of these stones and looked about them. They saw roads like white
threads, that lost themselves in the high grass and moss. All over the
town were the thickly crowded workmen, while other groups were hurrying
along the paths.
Mirmex explained to Tom the troubles they had with the chrysalises. In
the mound were corridors of different temperatures so that, according to
the weather, the chrysalises could be taken where the conditions were
favorable, while, on clear, dry days, they were brought out in the sun.
Returning inside into a different hall, Little Tom was given a surprise.
On the floor were lying many chrysalises and on them were ants biting
and tearing their silk coverings. Tom thought that the ants wanted to
eat their young, but soon saw that from the white coverings, little
black heads with shining black bodies were trying to get out and with
what pleasure the nurses were welcoming them, cleaning them, stretching
their cramped legs and their bent-up feelers, bringing them food and
teaching them how to eat.
It was touching to see the little fellows, looking around in surprise,
falling clumsily about and throwing themselves eagerly on the sweet
porridge. From the hall led two other corridors, sloping downward, and,
as Tom was looking into them, Mirmex came to him and said: "These are
safety exits. When danger threatens, through one of these the workers
carry the chrysalises outside, where they crawl on the flowers and the
grass, as our enemies cannot reach these heights. Through the second,
they can go into the depths of the town and there hide the chrysalises
in the secret chambers."
As Mirmex led him through the first exit which opened at the opposite
end of the town, directly into the highgrowing grass, which the ants had
spared, Tom wondered what sort of enemies threatened the ants. As they
walked along Mirmex enlightened him.
"Since unremembered time, the ants have had a great enemy, the Redheads.
They are larger than we, ugly, red fellows and cruel, rough fighters.
From early childhood they do nothing but perfect themselves in fighting
and robbing. They do not understand work and do not even know how to eat
by themselves. The have long jaws sharp as a lance, with which, at one
stroke, they can pierce an enemy's head. Their slaves do all their work,
build their town, care for their children, gather their stock and also
feed them. The slaves are in greater numbers than their masters and
could let them die from hunger, yet they never revolt, having no idea of
the freedom and liberty of the ants in their independent realm. That is
because they have never lived in freedom. The Redheads are not
interested in their grown-up enemies, whom they slay, but they steal the
chrysalises, which they give into the care of the slaves. These the
slaves care for, bringing up the little ants and teaching them how to
work for their masters. The youths know nothing of the life of the
nation from which they came, only knowing how to work for their masters
and their descendants."
"You see how efficiently one works here with us. Everyone knows exactly
his task and does it unceasingly until his last breath, and all work for
the good of the community. The workman gladly performs his task. He is
modest and knows neither pleasure nor idleness. His only consolation is
the proper result of his labors, but he feels himself free, knowing that
he is creating strong and healthy descendants and is insuring the
freedom and liberty of the whole nation."
"Our descendants would prefer to die rather than serve foreign masters.
This the Redheads well know and, therefore, they take the ungrown
children, who know nothing of the world, and train them as their slaves.
Many, many thousands of our people are serving them truly and devotedly,
but are forever lost to us."
"But why do you not instruct them," asked Tom excitedly? "Why do you not
explain how degrading it is to deny one's own people and serve
strangers, altogether abandoning one's own nation?"
"That is all in vain," replied Mirmex. "Who grows up a slave will remain
a slave. They are quite satisfied with their fate and do not understand
why they would be better off with us. If they should leave their
masters, they would not feel happy with us."
"Then why do you not prepare yourselves and not let them capture the
chrysalises? Why do you not perfect yourselves in fighting and kill them
when they come against you?" Little Tom was almost beside himself with
anger and longed to lead an expedition against the Redheads and destroy
them, but Mirmex remained cool and undisturbed.