Year: 1874

ihC Dp'uOi anu ViaSciOppCI'


One summer afternoon | set out on q
walk Of couple OF miles to visit a man
who was old, sick, and soon to die. The
day was warm and the road billy. Be.
coming warm and tired, | sat dowu on a
large stone beside the road Very soon !
became interested in watching what well.
nigh proved tragic scene in the insect
world. A grasshopper had evidently been
caught in spiders web 10 the grass near
my feet The spider was close by, but
seemed to be Standing still, while the
grasshopper was slowly whirling round
aud round. ! could not understand what
was going on, so determined to wait and
see what would become of it. BY and
by | saw the legs of the unfortunate
grasshoppcr were drawing up closer and
closer to his body. He would seem to
struggle now and then he straIghted them
out, but for some strange reason did not
succeed. He kept on turning round in a
mysterious way.


After watching sharply for some time, l
saw that little threads were wound about
him. 1t was now clear that the spider
was turning him round and winding a
thread about him. So as to hold Kim rill
he could kill an1 eat him. The threads
became more and more visible Tighter
and stronger grew the cord every time the
grasshopper went around, After awhile
he looked as if he had been put into a
closely lifting sack. 1t was of no use now
for him te get away. poor fellow. He
seemed to be in despair, for be- hardly
tried to escape. The spider now drevIback
to rest, and was, no doubt, very happy,
thinking what rich feast he would have
for supper.


"You wicked spider" said, "you will
go hungry yet"


| took out my penknife and went to
work to cut open very carefully the sack,
so as not to hurt Grassy. Soon he was
free, but he did not move. What, dead,
poor thing! | tried to rouse him, as you
sometimes do your sleepy brother in the
morning At last his legs began to move
u little, and, after he got them all arrang.
ed, with one hop away he went in Happy
freedom and safety. Narrow escape. that!
| was happy too, and got up and walked
on, and what do y 4 suppose thought.


l thought that it was just like this that
great many little threads. At first they
are SO small that they eau hardly be seen
thoughts, aud words, and habits thai
are Just little bad There are more and
more Of these until they are many-are
like strong cords-and it is hard to break
away from them. One gets all tied up
in the wrong and sin sometimes, so that
he hardly tries or cares to get away, AMI
cannot alone if he does try. Look out
for those first little threads that evil ones
tie round you.


And here is another thought | had as
finished my walk, and that, | have had
many times since that day. Jesus does
for us just what did for that grasshop
per. If he could have talked, no would
have asked me to save him. Now Jesus
looks on, aud, when He sees US fall into
temptation and evil, He pities US and
wants to save US. He only waits that VIC
may ask Him. He knows all our trouble.
and Is close by. Just as soou as we see
we arc in danger and the cords are get.
ting too strong for US to break, if we will
look up VIC shall see Him watching us with
loving eyes and if we cry to Him fol
help He will at orce break the bands o
sin and save US. Ask uim, and, see II
He will not--the kind and blessed Jesus
-ConyregationaList.