Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-10-16
The Spider and the Wasp.

The spider was a black, ugly fellow.
Not large spider, but he had a great
many legs He was brave and honest
enough in his way. His way was "a
catch and eat all the flies he could, and
he had just spun a strong, new web for
that purpose on the outside of the win
dow, and made no secret of his inten-
tions. Like others of his kind he had
met with reverses. Many good web
had been blown down or swept away as
soon as it was finished but spiders
must not allow themselves to be discOur-
aged, so now he had made another.
The wasp was three times larger than
the spider, and handsome fellow, neat
ly finished off IN rings of black and yell
low. He had a slender waist, but he
looked like villain, and had an unpleas-
ant way of turning his head from side
to side, and of rubbing first one ear and
then the other, if they are ears, and of
gnashing those nippers-if that is what
he calls them-on the sides of his head
No doubt the spider was the better of
the two.
The wasp could sting very fiercely,
and would at any time it had mind to.
On this particular day, the spider had,
perhaps, eaten light breakfasts small
moth or the like-and was hungry, as
one might imagine he would be, and
had stationed himself in his den to wait
for his dinner.
What the wasp wanted there it is diff
ficult to tell. Perhaps he did not believe
in spiders' webs, or was not afraid of
them, but he came tumbling and blum
dcring along, and the next minute was
L. 81 u,
spider rushed out and wound a thread
around the leg, but the wasp struggled
so violently and shookSthe web so that
the spider was Immediately obliged to
go aloft and look to his fastenings. He
seemed to do this coolly and deliberately,
as though he had nothing else to think
of. When he was satisfied he returned
to the combat as if sure to win.
Meanwhile the wasp continued TO
struggle and gnash his nippers, evidently
in rage that he should have been so
stupid or so unlucky. The spider pru-
IDENTIFY kept out of reach of the angry
nippers, and watched his opportunity to
wind fresh thread round leg, when
ever it was possible to do so safely. But
the wasp, also, had many legs, and, as
soon as one was made fast, another
seemed to kick itself loose, and the fas-
Jennings of the w9b had TO be attended To
every other moment, so the spider had
his hands full, and it was difficult to i'm
agine how it would end.
One of the spectators was on the spid-
er's side. She said she was afraid of
wasps, and hoped this one would not
get away, and she admired the GOODNESS
and skill of the spider. Another one
said her sympathies were entirely with
the wasp, and it made her blood run
cold tosee the spiders deliberate proceed
ings. But all agreed not TO interfere on
either side.
The spider had another difficulty TO
contend with. While these active legs
were being fastened at one moment and
freeing themselves at another. the
wasp's four wings were .whirlinglike the
wings of wind-mill-so fast that all
that could be seen was a sort of
cloud or mist where the wings should
be. After failing many times, the spid-
er presently succeeded in flashing two of
these wings together, and gradually
winding them tight, until they looked
more like small, dry twig than a pair
OF wings. Then he took a secure posi-
ton upon these disabled wings, and from
these contrived to throw line around
the other wings, which were still whirl-
ing madly, and soon he had them firmly
bound to one of the legs, so that they
could not move. This appeared 10 dis
hearten the wasp, as well it might. His
efforts grew feebler and feebler, till,
finally, the spider cautiously approached
him and seemed to whisper in his ear,
or he may have stung him, but the wasp
became instantly mOtionless. Ills strug-
giles were oyer. Now, that it was too late.
the spiders admirer relented, and said
she was sorry for the wasp. and wished
she bad helped him.
Then the spider fastened on one side
of the wasp's head, and stayed there till
the spectators were tired of watching
hin. When they looked at him again.
some time after, he had changed his po-
sition to the other side of the head. The
wasp looked shriveled and dry, more like
a mummy than the stout, burly fellow
he had been. ......--(: 49,
The next time an observation was
taken, an hour or SO later, the wasp had
entirely. The spider was
reposing in his den, the web apparently
in perfect repair, and no trace left of |
The fierce tle.-HearM and Home.