times a day, he will mend it over and over again.

4. The common spider may be called a weaver, but some spiders may be called builders. There is one called the trap-door spider, which makes his nest in a dry spot. He makes a long hole in a bank, and inside of this he forms his nest.

5. This nest has a trap-door with a hinge, which allows the door to open when the spider comes out, or when pulled, to let the spider in, but always shuts again of its own accord, the same as some doors which have a spring-box behind them.

6. There is another kind of spider called the water spider, which spins a web like a cup, and which descends deep into the water, like a diving bell. The spider sits in this quite safe, and catches the little water insects that live around him. He works hard to build his diving bell and net.

7. Thus it is that all things live by work, and GOD has willed for our good that we should also love work if we would be happy.

66 WILL you walk into my parlour?"
Said the spider to the fly;

"'Tis the prettiest little parlour
That ever you did spy:
The way into my parlour
Is up a winding stair,

And I've got many curious things
To shew you when you are there."
"Oh, no, no," said the little fly,
"To ask me is in vain ;

For who goes up your winding stair
Can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear,
With soaring up so high;-
Will you rest upon my little bed?"
Said the spider to the fly:
"There are pretty curtains drawn around
The sheets so fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile,
I'll snugly tuck you in!"
"Oh, no, no," said the little fly,
"For I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again,
Who sleep upon your bed!"

Said the cunning spider to the fly,
"Dear friend, what can I do

To prove the warm affection

I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry

Good store of all that's nice;

I'm sure you're very welcomeWill you please to take a slice ?" "Oh, no, no," said the little fly, "Kind sir, that cannot be ; I've heard what's in your pantry, And I don't wish to see.'

“Sweet creature!" said the spider,
"You're witty and you're wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings!
How brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass
Upon my parlour shelf;

If you'll step in one moment, dear,
You shall behold yourself."

"I thank you, gentle sir," she said,
"For what you've pleased to say;
And bidding you good morning now,
I'll call another day."

The spider turned him round about,
And went into his den,

For well he knew the silly fly

Would soon come back again.

So he wove a subtle thread

In a little corner sly,

And set his table ready,

To dine upon the fly.

Then he came out to his door-again, And merrily did sing, “Come hither, hither, pretty fly,

With the pearl and silver wing; Your robes of green and purple— There's a crest upon your head; Your eyes are like the diamond bright, But mine are dull as lead."

Alas! alas! how very soon
This silly little fly,

Hearing these wily flattering words,
Came slowly flitting by:

With buzzing wings she hung aloft,
Then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes,
And her green and purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head—
Poor foolish thing! at last
Up jumped the cunning spider,
And fiercely held her fast.

He dragged her up his winding stair
Into his dismal den,

Within his little parlour

But she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children,
Who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words,

I

pray you ne'er give heed:

Unto an evil counsellor,

Close heart, and ear, and eye;
And take a lesson from this tale

Of the spider and the fly.

LESSON 28.-ADROITNESS OF A SPIDER.

Adroitness gentleman studying

insects

stretching

straight

habits presently

returned

different

carefully

escape

thread

enough

float

breeze

sliding

scampered

1. A GENTLEMAN, who was fond of studying the habits of insects, one day found a large spider near a pond of water. He took a long stick and put the spider on one end of it.

2. Then he went to the side of the pond; and stretching out as far as he could, he fixed the other end in the bottom of the pond, and left the stick standing straight up out of the water, with the spider upon it. He then sat down on the bank to watch what the spider would do.

3. Presently the spider began to move. First, he went down the stick till he came to the water. Finding that there was no hope of getting off there, he returned to the top.

4. Then he went up and down the different sides of the stick, feeling and looking carefully till he found there was no way of escape at any part. And then he went once more to the top, and remained quiet for a while.

5. It seemed to the gentleman as though the spider were now saying to himself—" Well, I am in a nice fix; what in the world am I to do?" But the spider was not long in making up his mind.

6. After a short pause, he set his spinningmachine to work, and soon wove out a long coil of thread-long enough to reach from his prison to the shore.

7. When he had done this, he fastened one end of the thread to the top of the stick, and let the rest of it float in the breeze. He waited till the thread stretched away on the breeze towards the side of the pond; and then he went