OH, Mamma, I have had such a fright! What do you think it was? As Walter and I were playing in the summer house, a horrid spider crawled over my hand, and Walter laughed at me, and said I was a baby, because I was frightened and ran away.”
Mrs. Hall stroked Millie's curly hair as she answered, "Poor little girl. It was not very polite of Walter to tease his sister; but I quite agree with him that a sensible little girl would not have run away from a spider.”
"Oh, mamma, how can any one like spiders? I am sure they are ugly creatures. Sarah says so, and she always sweeps down their webs when she sees one on the wall or ceiling, And they are so cruel too, they catch and eat the poor little flies.”
“I do not wish you to number tame spiders among your pets, Millie; but I have read a very interesting account of a gentleman who, during a long and weary imprisonment in a gloomy French prison, called the Bastille, made friends with a large spider, which became so tame that at his call it would go to him and eat out of his hand. Still I think a little knowledge about spiders and their ways will help you to overcome your fear of them.
“The spider family is a large one, nearly a hundred different kinds being found in England; but it would take too long to get acquainted with all of them. They are divided into five classes: hunting, wandering, prowling, solitary, and water spiders. These are known from each other by the shape of their webs, and also by the way in which they take their prey. But all spiders have eight long, thin legs, which, as each one has seven joints, can be bent any way without danger of breaking. Eight bright eyes, placed in two rows on the top of its head, enable the spider, even when itself hidden from sight, to see when a fly or small insects get caught in its web. But I have not told you yet of the wonderful way in which this web is made.
“On the under side of the spiders are several very small bags called spinnerets; from these a great number of very fine threads can be sent out by the spider. These are twisted together by the help of a very fine comb with which each leg is furnished, so as to form one thread, in much the same way in which the threads of hemp are twisted into a rope.
“The threads of the web are placed at regular distances, and if any part of it gets broken or injured, the spider will repair it with great care and patience. Never was a soldier more fully armed than the spider, as it has two pairs of strong jaws, in each of which are a number of sharp, saw-like teeth.
“Sometimes a spider will hide itself among the leaves of a bush some distance from its web, out of sight, but still quite ready to pounce upon its prey. If we look closely at the web we shall see two threads, stronger than those of which the web is formed, are fixed firmly down near the spider's hiding-place.
“Of what use do you think they are? You will smile when I tell you that we may call these threads the spider's telegraph, as when a fly gets into the web, of course, it wants to get out again, and in its efforts to free itself shakes the web very much; the movement passing along these threads gives notice to the spider of what is going on.
“The Bible has something to tell us about spiders and their ways. In Proverbs 30:2828The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. (Proverbs 30:28), we read, 'The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in king's palaces.'
“King Solomon, by whom the words were written, must often have watched spiders busy at their work, and I have no doubt that, as he observed their curious ways, he learned fresh lessons of the wisdom and goodness of God in His care that even the poor despised spider should be fitted for the work it has to do, as well as the place in which it lives.
“Do you think of running away from the next spider you see, Millie?”
“No, mamma; I think I shall be brave enough to watch it at its work. I am so glad we have had this nice talk. I did not think there was so much to be learned about spiders.”