The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-08-17
THE SPIDERS VARS

narrow prison cell, = wan cDf i.l
gurd inmate, gloom and damp.
A single window only. barely f-7t
square, heavily barred and SIX feet r
least, from the ground.
Frustrated upon a wretched hear ~
straw in n corner was the prisoner, noe
asleep, but watching intently; and yVatcs-
ing what? One might guess DOZEN
times ard yet not hit upon the truth.
And the prisoner, lying upon his side
uDon mis- heap of straw, his chin resting
upon his hand. and his elbow fixed upou
the floor. watched a large spiders web
spun in the corner
A curious place for n spider 20 rear HE
airB castle-G corner of that dari- cell,
where the sunlight never came, aud he
fat flies were few and far between.
But the spider, perhaps, was Of n social
nature, and maybe he Bitied the r1or
prisoner who Tined within the loaths1me
dungeon, and so came 10 cheer him.
For no crime had the Frenchman ruf-
fered--for Dis Jonv8l was n Frank, born
and bred. he had siuiry talked e Liberty
and equal rights 10 man, within the douil-
ion Of the potent stadthCldeT of Holland.
Theu thcy called him n firehrsnd, d,
aftar scaut trial, had shut him up with
in Ut-echt's dark walls.
After years and years Of miserable Saw
cry Jacques" had burst his bonds, sll,
dog-iisc, had rended the hand that lsshrd
him. ---------=..-,
France was mad with liberty, and. -a-
turally, the timid ruler OF "the country
OF frogs and flowers" became aZreatly
alarmed when a son OF the tricolor prat.I
of liberty, equality and fratern. -
within his dominions.
The rise OF the Goodies or Req SOM he
feared, and 20 straightway he shut Mon
sieur Dis Jonval up II an extremely IN
comfortable dungeon.
At first the Frenchman rejoiced that
the martyrs fate was his, aud Z. hen ha
discovered the spider in the corner OF tas
dungeon he talked TO him OF liberty and
brotherhood. But even the spider # j
from the sanguine Republican. And 80
weeks grew into months Dis Jonval grew
weary of his confinement and pined for
the free air of Heaven.
The stakeholder was iron; tears and
prayers moved him not a lot
Then, too, the 'tricolor' ueU0ocd IToIs
land, and the French general. IicLeCrll.
with a large force, was lowering ON tho
frontier, Ike some hinge bird Of prey pre-
pairing for a swoop upon his quarry. o.
The spider, too. was a constant source
Of consolation; and from long observation
of the habits OF his black friend tho
Frenchulau became quite wise.
The spider never appeared during bad
weather, and Dis Jonval WAS able 10 rre-
dict frost at least q week ureyisus 10 -ts
coming, simply by watching the SPIDERS
movements and noting his own FEELINGS.
for he had observed that, WI the sri -
kept securely housed he, the TraueiG9g1s
was usually troubled with bad head
ache.
And while Dis Jonval v,as amusing
himself with these Interesting 5bsorva-
tons, trouhlous time came 60 H0Ilaud. q
PicaeEru, with an overwhelming force,
advanced Suddenly acroz- tie border.
The sr2dtholder simply retired, and when
the French army was well IN tiaocutre Of
the land the word vvas given, rad the
dikcs We're cut. The Freucaman could
not advance; could hardly retreat
He had waited until winter sf- IN before
be had given he command lorGlc forward
movement, but the weather hsd suddenly
shifted around, and an almost summer
mildness reigued over the Land. And ar
fairs were thus on the morning when the
prisoner OF Utrecht lay at full length
upon his pallet.
You do not eat, mynheer," said the
iailer, who leaned by the door, swung Lis
keys unsteadily and watched the prisoner.
Il have little appetite"
THAT is bad the jailar remarked
thoughtfully. "Mynheer should eat and
50 keep his strength.
"BaLl such food as this Is enough to
take away tho appetite os q wall m4n. let
alone a sick one, ," the Freuchman e-tT
THAT is true, myuheer,'' the jai!a- -
piled; the food l. coarse, bUI 7 sTII lee
that you have "a better dinner, oIt4oueh 1
20 against nay instructions ara weL.d
suffer ll the governor should find r. ors -
The matter Is betU cen MS two" Dis
5onval rcjOined. Il shall sly nothing,
and 1 judge that you VIII nc. care 70
speak OF it.'
Il feel the more inclined 20 do ~o0 q
kiuducas, myuhecr, because two day- alo
thought il might be PROBABLE that 40
should change places-you become the
jailer and The prisoner"
How so:' asked the prisoner IN a. son
ishmcut.
The iailer then told o. P.ch-gri IS adj
vance, how the French general had
threatened the capture Of Cts-c,.. aad
had only hCen prevented tro.l ,...s.,..- rhes
| town by tie cutting Of the dyke ,.nl ,Ie
| flooding of The country with s.s.-r q.
''Gou see. uynhoer,' said he. ia con-
clusion, "your couutryuru Gar.uded
upon hard weather. ITa.sIo~t IIaG come.
hc surely wgula have taken Utrecht lus
| as IS hc must soon retreat 10 Bel I-.a4a. -
"HarSye. Berrolf' said Dis Jouvai '-iF
could set "a note 10 Picherru De- wss Il
| be sure u procure my release ny int r-a5-
sion with the stakeholder. I-os~llly oy
| exchanging q prisoner for me. Cov. VIII
! you DO me good turn; give mc pen. nix
ana paper, ana afte-ward Snug, e the
! note through the lines 10 the French
| general -
II could do that easily enough. ' tf,
jailor said, thoughtfuliy "1dy brother
turning pretty penny now by supply
! ing Piche~ru with fresh provisions,
| but" aud he hesitated
do not fear; whatpossibl information
can /, a poor, helpless prisoner convey 70
Pichecrut''
That is true, - the jailor said. cit is a
bargain"
Great was the astonishment OF the
French general TO receive "a note dated
from the prison of Utrecht. And vi
did the note contain?
A simple explanation about the snider
who hsd not appeared for three DAYS, and
the writer's headache. Withina week hs
predicted hard frost and ippiorel
pichcrru rot 10 fail hack.
The general resolved toyvait n week ana
then there came tLe hardest FROST -bsr
Holland had known for hundred wears
The French advanced, Utrecht fen an,
Dis Jouval WAS released
To the spiders warning the prisoner q
Utrecht owed his release.
The Joker Jol1ed.
The paragrapher was ruminatinr IN hi
sanctun when the iceman entered.
why rs II that you are ALWAYS maxim,
Jokes about our business ?" the iccmal
1 asked.