The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-11-21
WHAT A SPIDER CAN no.

ahu someInlng, cDHoren, we may well Initiate
too. When We examine u spider through O
| microscope We fnd there are some rare things
for Us to see. We find, for instance the greater
part of him covered with rich soft hair. He
has eight eyes, brilliant and shining as diamonds
Lake all other insects, his eyes sre immovable,
and for this reason they in different portions
OF his body, that he may see the better. he
has 10 all eight legs, joined like those Of q
lobster AT the end Of each leg arc three
crooked, movable claws, forming sort of hand
with two fingers and thumb. Fer this reason
Solomon speaks of the spider as taking hold
with his "hands." About the middle of his
body is very curious spinning machine. No
human mechanic ever invented anything to
compare with it, Connected with this machine
are four little bags of threaa-such little bags!
In every bag there are more than 1000 holes
such tiny holes From each hole runs one
thread; and there being in the four bags 1000
holes, we have in all the same number of threads
from this curious spinning machine. All these
threads the spider spins together In one thread,
which, after all, is so small that the finest silk
thread that man ever made is 500 times larger
than it. Wonderful things then are these
spiders, There is more skill displayed, children,
in making them, than ia the finest watch or
sewing machine you ever saw, '-- r'-s'1
admire. But there is also something about the
spider we may well initiate. = 5tt q ssas-.5-t.
The spider is hard working little creature.
He is very industrious. The spider, as soon as
he begins to live, begibz to work. s81 s@G- aea
Every spider is weaver and rigger; aud
the young spiders and the old spiders are hard
workers. Children, you never saw spider that
was reared in idfeness. Then again he never
does his work hurriedly or carelessly M many
children do Look at his web. See how regu-
larly the threads are drawn, how neatly the cross
pieces ara fastened TO them, and how securely it
is held to the bush. The strongest wind may
sweep by it, but it staads there still As an
example of industry, then, the spider is worthy
of imitation: Industry is most honorable
quality. It is becoming in all--those who oc-
cupy the lowest, as well as those who occupy
the highest, station in life When God made
Adam and Eve, he put them in the Garden of
Eden, that they might have ar opportunity of
dressing and keeping it; he never intended that
they should lead an idle lfs. For the same
reason the angels have constant employment in
heaven. -as.. 81. ~ sr str~ g..s,sa4.,.4 sf.s
The greatest men on earth have generally
been the most industrious. Abraham and Moses,
and Joshua and Paul, we're hard working men.
Peter the Great, the Emperor Of Russia, was
remarkably industrious man. Henry Kirke
White, our sweet poet, began life at stocking
frame. Benz. johnson, the learned EDglishman,
worked for his bread as bricklayer.r Milner,
the Church historian, was aweayer. Scott, the
great commentator, wogked on his fathers farm.
Richard Watson kept bis fathers shop. Henry
Clay was mill-boy, aud Daniel Webster used
to help his father dig bitches. Sir Isaac New
ton sold the produce Of his mothers garden
DR.. Adam Clarke, it is said, found, while labor
ing in his mothers garden, the guines which
purchased the books that laid the foundstieH Of
his classical education. Gen. Putnam followed
the pillow, and the immortal Carey, who unsealed
the fountain of saving mercy to millions of Hin
docs, was cobbler. ~, -r ii
S Our own Washington was remarkable for his
industry. During the Revolutionary War, he
was one day visiting forti6cation. which he was
having erected; and as he passed along, he saw
some of his soldiers lifting heavy piece Of tim
ber, while the Corporal of their regiment, with
disdainful pride, stood by, bawling out, "Heave
ahoy, there! heave ahoyw When General
Washington saw this, he at once got off his
horse, and said TO him: "What is the, use OF.
your calling out iu that way? Why do you not
yourself take part in the work and help the
menw nPerhaps, sir," said the Corporal, quite
indignant, "you are not aware to whom you are
speaking; Tam a Corporal! "Oh indeed
I beg your pardon, Mr. Corporal" said General
Washington; and taking off his own coat and
vest, he went TO work and helped to raise the
piece of timber to build the fortifcation. AGd
when he had finished, he turned, and said TO the
Corporal: "Mr Corporal, am sorry insulted
you; but when you have any more timber to be
lifted, and the men require help, please sond for
George Washington, and be win not be ashamed
to come and give assistance" When the proud
Corporal learned that this willing lsborer was no
less person than the Commander -in- Chief, he
was very much ashamed of himself. And well
may you, children, be ashamed of yourselves if
you are too proud or too lazy to work, when all
the great and good before you have set you the
example
Perseverance is another thing in the spider
we would do well to initiate BY perseverance,,
mean determination to accomplish what We
undertake. Some people viii try to do thing
once or twice, and if they don't succeed, they
will give it up. They are easily discouraged.
They never accomplish much because they can't
do it easily. 1t is just SO with many boys-l
There is one who has a sum to work. He tries
better success; and because be fails the first and
second time, he begins TO fret, rubs out the sum,
knocks his book about, throws down his slate,
and gives it up with, ~ can't do it" Now, no
one viii ever get to be either great or good in
that way. We must expect difficulties and dis
appointments in everything we attempt to do
And five fail again and again, we must keep
on trying until we succeed This is just what
the spider does. There is one 10 the rose bush
working away. You may 60 mp to il and you
win fud a large web near by, which it has beea
two days weaving. Now run stick through
his web and break it; then the spiders little
eyes will peep out at you, as much as to say,