Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-02-18
A SPIDERS PREDICTION.
HOW IT CONTRIBUTED TO THE
DOWNFALL or UTRECHT.

Observations Gave Him Liberty.
A narrow prison cell. wan and haggard
inmate, gloom and damp.
A single window only, barely foot
square. heavily barred and six feet, at
least, from the ground.
PROSTATE upon . wretched heap ofstraw
In a corner was the prisoner; not asleep,
but watching iutently; and watching
WHAT sOne might guess a dozen times
and yet not hit upon the truth.
And the prisoner, upon his side upon his
heap OF straw, his chin resting upon his
hand and his elbow fixed upon the floor,
watched a large spiders web spun in the
corner.
A curious place for a spider to rear his
airy castle-a corner Of that dark cell
where the sunlight never came aud ans
fat flies were few and far between.
For no crime had the Frsnchman suf-
fered, for Dis Jonvai was a Frank, born
and bred. He had simply talked Of liberty
and equal rights to man within the do
minion of the potent stakeholder OF Hol-
land
At first the Frenchman rejoiced that the
martyrs fate was his, and when he dis
covered the spider In the corner OF the
dungeon he talked to him of liberty and
brotherhood. But even the spider fed
from the sanguine republican. And as
weeks grew into months Dis Jonvai grew
weary Of his confinement and pinned for the
free air of heaven. The stakeholder was
iron. tears and prayers moved him not a
jot. Then, too. the 'tricolor" menaced
Holland, and the French general, Piche-
gru. with large force. was lowering on
the frontier like some huge bird of prey
preparing for a swoop upon his quarry.
The spider, too, was n constant source of
consolation. and from long observations OF
the habits of his black friend the French
man became wise The spider never APP
peared during bad weather. and Dis Jonyal
was able to predict frost at least a week
previous to It's coming simply by watching
the spiders movements and noting his own
feelings, for he had observed that when the
spider kept securely housed he (the French
mani was usually troubled with bad
headache.
And while Dis Jonvai was amusing him
self with these interesting observations
troublous times came to Holssnd.
Pichegru, with an overwhelming force,
advanced suddenly across the border. The
stakeholder did not attempt to dispute the
march of the Frenchman. He simply re-
| tired, and when the French army was we'll
| In the center OF the land he adopted
against the invaders the old time tactics
that years before had baffied Spanish Alva.
and had cost a French kings brother. the
Duke OF Aniou, a splendid army. The
word was given and the dykes were cut;
fat country, the greater part OF it below
| the level of the sen, Pichegru found In tho
Holland seas a far greater foe than was
the Holland armies. The Dutchland was
ii al
adyance-could hardly retreat; the fate OF
Anjou and his gallant army seemed in
store for him. He had waited until winter
set In before he had given the command
for the forward movement, for the willy
Gaui had anticipated the tactics of the
Holland commander. But the weather
had suddenly shifted around, and an al
most summer mildness reigned over the
land. And affairs were thus on the morn
Ing when the prisoner of Utrecht lay at
full length upon his pallet and watched
Tor hts friend the spider.
The iailer brought the prisoner his break
fast, a sorry repast enough, for the prudent
Dutchman knew that there was nothing
like simple food TO reduce hot blood and
curb impetuous wills.
"You do not eat, mynheer," said this
jailer. who leaned by the door. swung his
keys musically and watched the prisoner
Il have little appetite"
''That Ii bad" the jailer remarked
thoughtfuliy. 'mynheer should eat and
keep his strength"
Dis Jonval made a wry face.
BAH such food as this is enough 10 take
away the appetite Of well man, let alone
a sick man. the Frenchman said.
That Is true, mynheer," the jailer re
piled; "the food Is coarse, but | will SEA
that you have a better dinner, although
. 20 against my instructions and would suf
fer II the government should find IL out"
1.-THE matter is between US two,r Di,
Jonval reioined. "fshall say nothing, and
| judge that you will not care to speak o.
Il feel more inclined TO do you kind
ness, mynheer. because two days ago
thought II might be probable that WI
should change places--you become tn,
iailer and the prisoner"
'.How soi" asked the Frenchman In as
Constituent
The iailer then related TO Dis Jonva
what had transpired during the past week
He told OF Pichegru's advance, how th,
French general had threatened the captur
OF Utrecht and had only been preyente,
! from taking the town by the cutting of thi
. aghSn anu hht hoohhhk vi Inc eouHhF9 viii
water.
lyon see. mynheer," said the jaler Ii
, conclusion. your eonntrymen depende.
. upon hard weather. II a frost had com
| be certainly would have taken the city, bu
|. - IL ls he will soon have 20 retreat TO Bel
gum"
'Hark ye, Botolf," said Dis Jonyal, "if
. could get a note to Pichegru he would b
: sure to procure my release by intercessiol
!, with the stakeholder, possibly by exchang
!, ing prisoner for me. Now will you d
me a good turn-give nae pen, ink and pa
per, and afterward smuggle tho not
: through the line TO the French generalf''
II could do that easily enough" th
iailer said. thoughtfuiiy. MY brother
turning PREF y penny now by snpplyin
: Pichegru with fresh provisions, butn-an
he he&itated
do not fear; what possible informatio
|. can |. poor. helpless prisoner. convey :
J pichegruf'
THAT Is true" the jailer said 1T IL
I bargain"
Great was the establishment Of th
French general 10 receive a note date
from the prison Of Utrecht. And what di
she note containf
' A simple explanation about the spldei
q who had not a1peared for three days, an
= ths writer's headache. Within q week
predicted hard frost and prayed Piehegr
4 not 10 fall back.
The general knew Dis Jonval; he resolve
. 20 wait q wesi, and then, true prophet.
: spider there came the hardest frost tia
: Holland bad known for 100 years. II
y waters were bound with an icy chain. Tk