. Little Tom . ll into the he did not mind this at all. He waded through the grass until he came upona path, full of hard, shining little stones. He felt easy in his heart and shouted with delight, drinking the dew drops on the blades of grass and saying over and over to himself. »I am in Paradise, the place of eternal life and eternal pleasure.« He wanted to cross the path to the other side, where he saw great trees growing with broad crowns -- his Godmothers rose bushes - and he was curious to learn what other charming things he might discover. But it was not easy for him to cross
. Little Tom . ll into the he did not mind this at all. He waded through the grass until he came upona path, full of hard, shining little stones. He felt easy in his heart and shouted with delight, drinking the dew drops on the blades of grass and saying over and over to himself. »I am in Paradise, the place of eternal life and eternal pleasure.« He wanted to cross the path to the other side, where he saw great trees growing with broad crowns -- his Godmothers rose bushes - and he was curious to learn what other charming things he might discover. But it was not easy for him to cross the path. He fell into little holes and stumb-led over the sand grains which seemed to him like high stones. When he stood inthe middle of the path, he saw a great black creature, with six legs and two horns,about to run by him. He stopped, instinctively placing his hand on the hilt of hisdagger, but at the same time the creature stopped also and gazed at him with bulgingeyes, raising its horns in the air. 52. Little Tom went on bravely and at once recognized an ant. At first, it retreated,then ran towards him and said, »Prince, it pleases me very much that I have foundyou again. I was once at your fathers court, with a message from our people tothank him for his hospitality and for the shelter he gave us when our town wasattacked. I am Mirmex and I knew your father very well. All of us were deeplygrieved when we learned that your town was flooded and destroyed.* Tom was heartily glad to meet some one with whom he could speak on a basisof equality and began at once to tell the ant about his adventures; but Mirmex ex-cused himself, saying that he was too busy to stop long; so he asked Tom to accom-pany him. Tom was surprised to learn that Mirmex had work in his GodmothersParadise, but Mirmex was already running ahead and Tom could hardly catch upwith him. They crossed the path and waded through the grass to the trunk of the rose-bush, up which Mirmex climbed quickly. Tom saw
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidlittletom00t, bookyear1922
