The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1873-12-04
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Spiders.

"Ohl here is a spider Nasty thing;
kill it r. said little Tom.
stop |" said papa; what harm has he
done?"'
"well, papa" said Mary, coming to lit
tie Toms aid, docs he not entrap and kill
the flies? He's a cruel, sly, spiteful thingl
| Ugh 1 shudder to loo at 1t |"
Papa, by way of reply, took up a plate
| with a poison fly paper, on which were
several dead flies. Mary understood the
silent r~eProof.
"Oh, papa you know the flies must not
have it all their own way. If We did not
use the fly papers We should be quite over
run with flies" .e-
81 do not blame you, any dear, for using
fy papers; but on the same ground l must
speak a word for the despised spiders, they
are Gods fly papers to check the excessive
abundance of flies. All kinds of animal
and vegetable life also, if left to increase
without check would overrun the earth,
and instead of the harmony and variety
now existing we should lave the earth
monopolized by a few animals and plants"
"Well, papa, but spiders are such ugly
things"
chat is no reason why they should be
killed as a matter of course whenever we
see them; but 1 dent think they are very
ugly, and they have a beauty of their own
ike everything that God has made, and
fulfil a useful purpose in nature. Perhaps
you would like me o7tell you a little
about them?"
eyes, "a please do !"
"Well, my dears, the spider Is IN the
first place very skilfull. What a wonder
full thing is the web How fine how per-
feet When a spider cannot fasten all
parts &C its web to corners or twigs or
posts, he attaches his web to a small bit Of
gravel, which hangs down as a weight to
balance and keep the moss of the web
stretched but. If a bee or a wasp be
caught in the web the spider will help 1t
to get free, for he does not like to attack
such big insects"
How clever p said Mary.
lHBv a microscope l could show you the
spiders ewes. He has six or eight, and
Won would be surprised to find how bright
thev are. His skin too is very beautiful,
often covered with bright spots; and when
this skin gets worn and dull, he sheds or
changes 1t, and comes out IN a new suit OF
clothes"
%Dsar me, how wonderful !" said little
Tom.
Eyes" continued papa, "and he also
has q new set of legs now and then, and
one be pulled off or broken, a new one
grows again, so that he never has to limp
about with a wooden leg. l have heard
the same of the crabs"
ooh. papa and the lobster7" said
Mary.
Eyes, the spider is very much like the
crab. It has claws at the end Of its legs,
and two short fore arms that enable 1t to
grasp its prey tightly. Now you see that
the spider can do many things besides
"Oh. yes !" said Mary; "he can drop
down from his web like a stone Just as far
as he likes, and then run up again as quick
as q monkey up q pole; and he can swing
himself by his wonderful web in all direc-
tions; really, papa, he is very clevsrl But
what else can he dor
she can feel and taste" said little
Tom liiGlt EJai
ayes" said papa, land how exquisite
must be his powers of feeling to be able to
pull his web like a lot of ropes and each
thread of this web though 30 hAe. Is com
posed like a rope, ofseveral smaller n
But the spider can also hear very well, and
is also able to foretel the weather"
"How do you know that?" inquired
AsWhen q storm or frost is coming he
goes away from his web and remains snug
" IN his nest" replied papa.
at wonder that ne has not sense enough
to be taught" remarked Mary.
at really1can be tanned. A poor pris-
oner once had no companion but a poor
spider, and he was SO gentle and patient
with it, thatin time it came and ate out
of this prisoners hand. Now. Mary, do
you think the poor prisoner would have
been pleased had he killed the spider 2"
eOhn nc, papal i don't think l should
ike 20 kill one now.s Poor thing 1t has
as much right to live as 1 have. But is
there no fear of spiders becoming too nu-
merous? 2" ~
II think not" replied papa; ''spiders
/ cannot live without food, and they require
a great deal. A spider will eat six or
eight times It's own weight IN g day, SO
that you see he keeps flies in check by de-
stroying great numbers. If pressed by
hunger, spiders will also destroy one an
other, so that there is no fear Of their be-
coming pests, and no need, 1 think, for
little boys and girls to crush them when
ever they see them NJ