The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-11-15

, Tho Spider and the Wasp.
The spider WAS black, ugly fellow. Not q
large SPIDER but he had great many legs
He was brave and honest enough in his way
His way was II catch and eat all the flies he
could, and he had just spun strong, new
web for that purpose On the outside Of the
window, and made Ho secret of his intentions
Like others Of his kind lac had met With re-
verses Many good web had been blown
down or swept away 20, soon as II was finish.
ed, but spiders must no, be discouraged, 50
now he had made another The wasp was
three times larger than the spider, and hand
some fellow, neatly finished off in ring, Of
black and yellow lie had a slender waist,
but he looked like "a villain, and had an IN
pleasant way @! turning his head from side
10 side, and Of rubbing first one ear and then
the other, il they are cars, and of crashing
those nippcrs--it that j. what he calls them
ON the side of his head.
No doubt the spider was the better of the
! two.
The wasp could sting very ticrccly, and
would at any time it had mind to. On this
particular day the spider had, perhaps. eaten
| like-and IVES hungry, Is one might imagine
he would oc. and had stationed himself in
his den for his dinner.
VIVA, the wasp wanted there II is difficult
TO tell. Perhaps be did not believe in spiders
webs, or was Lot afraid of them, but he came
tumblinG and laundering along, and the next
minute he W., Caugh; in the web hy one leg
The spider rushed cut and wound thread
around the leg hG: The wasp struggled SO
violently and shook the web so that the spi.
der was Immediately Obliged TO 20 aloit and
look TO his ia>ieninGs. lie seemed to do this
Icooly and deliberately. Is though he had
nothing else 90 think OF, When he was per
icCtly satisfied h- returned TO the combat as
If sure 10 win
Meanwhile tho wasp continued to struggle
and gna,h his niVpcrS evidently in q rage
that he should have been 80 stupid or 80 IN.
lucky. The spider pyudcntly kept on, oil
reach o. The angry nippcrs, and watched his
opportunity 10 wind fresh thread around %
leg, whenever it WIS possible 10 do 50 safely.
Blu; the wasp also had many legs, and, as soon
As one WAS mad" fast, another seemed To kick
iiSc.: loose, and the la>jgnilgS Of the web had
to be attended 10 every other moment. So ,hc'
spider had his hands full and il was difficult,
20 imagine how It would end
One Of the spectators was on the spiders
side She said she was afraid of wasus. and
hoped this one would not get away, and she
admired the GOODNESS and skill If the spider
Another one said her syMpl,hies weree0,!rc-
j. with the wasp and il made hgr blood ran
cold 90 see the SPIDERS very deliberate pro
ccCdinG> b.. AL agreed not 90 interfere On ,
either side
The spider had another difficulty 70 con.
,cud with. While these active legs were be. F.
ing fastened al one moment and freeing them +.
selves al another, the wasp'S four wings were .
WL.rling like the wings II q wind mill-sO
fast that al that could be seen was a sort oil
cloud or mist where the wings would be- Al. ,
ter failing many times, the spider presently |
succeeded IN flashing the wings together. and /
gradually winding them tight, until they
looked more like small dry twic than a
pair OF wings Then he took a secure posi-
,ion upon these disabled wings, and from
these coRuiyed 10 throw q line around the
other wings, which we're still whirling madly.
and soon he had them firmly bound to ore of
the legs 80 tia. they could not move. This ap-
pe1rcd 70 much Gishcaricn the wasp, as well
Il might;
Hi, efforts grew fcebler and feebler, till,
finally the spider cautiously approached him
and seemed To whisper in lis ear. or he NAV
have stuH- him, but the wasp became IN
.tAally mO,Unlc>s His struggles were over.
Now, that il was too late the spiders admrer
-e!cated, and SAID she Was sorry for the wasp
and wished She had helped him
Then the spider fastened on one side Of the
Fasp- head. and stayed there until the spec
4tO., were tired OF watching him When '
hey looked 1t him again, some time after, /
&c had changed his position to the other side J
f the head. The wasp looked shrivcled and |
Try, more like mummy than the stout bur 1
Y fellow he had been a
The next time IN observation was taken. '
n hour or 50 after, the wasp had disappeared '
n'ircly The spider was reposing in his den, Q
be web apparently in perfect repair, and no t
race left Of the fierce batile.-N,7M and
foac