Richland beacon., 1881-07-23

no one, not even his close friend Frank,
knew of the scheme. Ralph reasoned
that he would prove his idea by expert
ment and then burst upon the world
He would send kilograms to the city
newspapers announcing his great dis
cove,y. he would receive oongratula-
tions from the President. He would be
made a "Ph. D." by some university.
"a 'Ph. D. at al" said Ralph, "that's
worth working for"
But his spiders didn't spin. They
slowed themselves away in the corners
and drew themselves up in balls when
ever he approached. Then fights be-
came frequent. Then some Of the
smaller ones began to disappear. Then
Ralph discovered that the creatures were
eating one another. ITO be sure
thought Ralph, blushing, "I'm ninny
not to have thought of 1t; they must
have food, of course" So Ralph bar.
gained with his mother to empty the
Ay-catcher on the kitchen table every
day. When the flies were let into the
spider-room there was immediate change
in the life of the colony. Old brown.
backed pirates crept out from their
hiding places and at once made prepare
tons to sweep the air with their brooms
of silk. They climbed the walls, gave
long leaps, spun line after line, length
ways and crosswise, and with rapidity
constructed their funnel-like retreats.
In less than week the room was cur
tanned and carpeted with webs. and ct
least thousand flies had been devoured.
Ralph's success so filled him with JOY
that one afternoon he took Frank to the
barn and described his work in detail.
Frank said something with his nose that
nnlcd like "hoogh" and ran down to
play ball. Ralph said: "Poor fellow, he
doesn't know" and began to gather his
harvest of webs.
Ralph was disappointed in the har-
vest. He had calculated that there
would be basketful, and what he gath
cred he could hold easily in two fingers.
"But it's value is in its extreme fine
ness" he reflected; "my microscope
shows me that every thread is six times
finer than the finest silk" He went
home and astonished his mother with
the request that she help him "make a
pair of gloves out of spider web."
The good mother and Aunt Mary
worked with him all day, and, by the
last light Of the sun, Ralph saw that the
gloves were neatly stitched together.
His little sister took off her ring, held
out her soft hands and Ralph slipped
the gloves over them, fastening the deli
cate, mouse-colored things with gold
clasps.
I'm satisfied" said Ralph.
"Jim, jes' lock at dem spiders T. said
old Uncle Moses "nebber seed de likes
Dress my soul eff done seed de likes
o dis-fetch dat broom up hy'ar."
Uncle Moses swept every spider that
he could find out at the window, crush
ing dozens at blow. An hour later
Ralph, who had dreamed all night of the
finished fairy gloves. climbed the ladder
into the barn-loft. He looked once at
his spider-room, now filled from floor to
ceiling with closely-packed hay, and
started as if stung by bee. His face
grew pale in anger. He leaned against
the joists. Tears ran along to the end
of his nose. A hard choking thing
went up and down in his throat. Then
queer smile got into the corners of his
' mouth.
"Well," laughed Ralph, cit was nom
sense anyhow. and guess I'll go and
be a gold-miner."
Mr.. SECRETARY Hunt showed himself
| determined to enforce discipline, whom