The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-04
ROBERT BRUCE and
the SPIDER

Hundreds and hundreds Of years
ago Robert Bruce was king over Scot
/ land. But the strong English hordes
came up from the south and pushed
the Bruce from scotland's throne.
King though he was. Robert wan
dered disc3i sriately over the heather
crowned hills Of mis- country.
HA had done everything IN his
oower for the best good of his peo-
Pile, and IL saddened him to think
that he had failed. For he had failed
not once, but many times. Plan as
many plans. az he would, they all
seemed TO come 10 nausht.
Small wonder was IT. therefore. that
at length he grew discouraged and
throwing himself into e. chair, CARED
unseeingiy into space. shaking hi'
head. he thought aloud,
II am weary Of the struggle" he
said; at in useless I Will never try
again
Now. Just at this moment there
dropped from the ceiling velvety
spider. On its siIken cobweb rope II
swung and swayed with every air cur
rent that blew
The spider hung al the very end
a long distance indeed from his home
far up in the roof
Robert Bruce felt very sorTy for
the spider; he could sympathtze with
IL. Poor insect" thought he. you
are fearfully long way from the
place where you wish 10 he, Perchance
az far as myself. And Wa both have
about an equal chance of gaining our
end."
In moment the spider set out TO
Climb I'D the delicate thread that led
to its home In the dome. brave
little spider 1t was for II went up
boldly, disdaining fear,
The Bruce smiled. so was brave
at first" thought he.
Halfway up the spider came sprawl
ing slipping down to the point from
which he had started, Eagerly the
king bent forward to see what II would
do.
Not at ali daunted. tho brave little
fellow started UP the fine swinging
thread that led to its home. When 1t
had attained the place from which II
had fallen before. lot 1t came sprawl
ing down lower than ever.
Poor little spider." said the king,
"you, too, are sick at heart. faint and
stunned and OBSCURE ged. Your plans,
like mine. have failed again, and Yet
asaini" st5..s.>.4 .-,......... ..,. s....,
But even while he was yet speaking
the spider began again Its journey.
only TO fail as before
"You have failed for the fourth
time" cried the king and surely you
mean not to try AGAIN."
Nine distinct times tho astonish ed
king saw the spider try and fall.
Faint and weary and discoura ged =
marveied he, you will never get
where you wish, little spider. Give up
the fight"
But for the tenth time the spider
climbed the gossamer thread care
fully. painstakingly reached the high
est point from which il had fallen,
and passed on,
Tho king Of Scotland rose and
watched II breathiessly. 4 half dozen
nches~~-three--one remained.
You have conquered" cried the
Eruee. "You are the victor, Bravo!
bravo! Why should not | conquer
as Well? I will not give up the strug-
gle.-1 will fight on and on Per
chance I, too, may win"
And then the Bruce stood up with
renewed courage and the strength TO
go back and fight brayely and faith
fully And at length came the day
when the freedom Of Scotland was
assured was won.
lit was the spider who taught me
how 10 wln." cried Robert the Bruce.
THE spider who taught me how to
try and try and try again There Is
always honor and victory for those
who try"