American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-03-13

| they gained the victory, and he had To
| flee for his life with his faithful friend
AboO Bekor. They knew they would
very soon be overtaken by their enemies
and put to death unless they could find
some safe hiding place.
| AT last they came to cave, the en-
| trance to which was very small, and
across this opening spider had drawn
his curtain of gOssamer.
| "AbOO Beker was about to destroy it
that his master might creep in; but Ma
homet said: Destroy not tie web, my
faithful AbOo Beker, for it may serve to
deceive our enemies. We will try TO en-
| ter without breaking it, So they glided
in as gently as they could, not touching
the web, and, hiding in the darkest
| corner of the cavern, listened for the APP
proach of their foes.
"By and by they heard the tramp of
! horses, and knew that the Koreish were
| close at hand. They heard them pause
| at the mouth of the cave. and then the
leaders voice, saying: They can't have
gone in there; there's spiders web
| across it; nobody's been in there for
long while, SO it's no use spending any
| time here; we'll press on.
And they rode away, leaving Mahom-
ct and Aboo Beker unframed.
So you see," continued the spider,
that but for the web Mahomet would
have been taken and put to death, and
there would have been an end of him,
and his religion too. Just think what
difference it would have made in the
worid,'
Eyes" said I 81 see. 1t was very
lucky thing for Mahomet; but can't say
that / think it was so very fortunate for
! the world; for he was false prophet,
you know"
That's very true" said the spider.
{" I'm not standing up for Mahomet,
but 1 thought you would like to hear
that story"
"Thank you, Mr. Spider. 1 am very
glad heard it. Have you spiders ever
done anything else?"
"Oh, yes, indeed" said he. "We're
great deal of good in the world. OF
course we cannot furnish you with
material for fine dresses as the silk-worms
do; but the astronomers could hardly get
along without US. They use the tiny
threads we spin as guiding lines, by the
aid of which they calculate the millions
of miles that separate one star from an
other and by which they tell the time to
the thOusandth part of a second at which
a star arrives at the meridian. And in
this nothing could take their place-not
the finest hair on your head or the tiniest
thread of the silk-worm. Not that Iwish
to say anything against the silk-wOrms,
however, for they belong to our trades
union"
why! what is your trade, Mr..
Spider2" said l.
"Oh, we're.weavers," said he.
"WeaversT l exclaimed.
Yes, spinners and weavers. You may
think we weave nothing but cobwebs,
but those of us that live out of doors
weave balloons, and diving bells, and
curious little houses in the grass"
BALLOONS and diving-bells!" cried I.
YES" said he, "they spin out fine,
silk-like threads, which, being lighter
than the air, raise them tow ard the
clouds; and those that live in the water
make tiny diving bells, of finely-woven
web, which they coat with gluten SO that
they look like glass. They live in them
all their lives, SO we call them water
SPIDERS"
"Oh, dear me! what interesting in
sects you are! But is it true, Mr.. Spider,
that there are in Spain great spiders
called Tarantulas, and it they bite you
you dance, and dance, and cannot stop
yourself, until at last you dance yourself
to deaths"
mo" said he; "that is SANDER.
Men tell great many stories of us that
are not true. We do a great deal more
good than harm. Once there was
Fannie! Fannie! Teas ready; come
down to support
Instead of the spiders tiny piping
that was mammals sweet voice calling
me from the foot of the garnet stairs. l
sat up, and, rubbing my eyes, looked for
my spider. He wasn't there on the nail,
but right between the rafters over my
lounge was stretched shining network,
and thought that, away up in the crack
above it, where the beam touched the
roof, l could see my little friend,
in dark corner waiting for
lies.
So l shook off my sleepiness, and ran
yayly down stairs to supper, singing:
Will you walk into my parlor?'
Said the spider to the fly;
'''Tis the prettiest little parlor
That ever you did spy"
"Why so merry, little girl?" said man.
ma, as | danced into the dining room.
so at the tea-table l told her all that l
lad dreamed-leaving out about the
Idly, of course-for you know that was
secret.
But like Robert Bruce, did try again,
md my tidy was finished for mammals
birthday. When gave it to he7 told
Ter what lesson the spider had taught
ne: and mamma said, if she were l. she
would let that spiders web stay as long
Is it would last. So it is there yet, but
getting rather dusty.
If have another dream about him you
hall hear it; and l hope 1 will, for l
would like ever SO much to know what
lie was going to say about that French
nan.-Chrastian Union.
little Maud's Journey to Aunt Susie's.
SHE was little girl, only three years