interested in the web that Aunt Sarah thought it a good opportunity to tell
‘her something about spiders, so seating herself in an easy chair and drawing
Cora to her knee, she said:

“And would my little girl like to know something about spiders?”

“Yes, indeed, Aunt Sarah,’ said Cora. ‘I should like to know how they
build those funny little things. They look just like lace, don’t they?”

“Yes,” said Aunt Sarah. “‘A spider’s web does look something like lace, and
the threads from which they are spun are as fine as those of any lace you ever
saw.

“But how did the spider make his web in the window?” said Cora.

“The spider,” said Aunt Sarah, “spins his web from material which he car-
ries in his body. The spider picked out this place to weave the web. Crawl-
ing along the window, he fastened a single thread to the wall; then dropped

downward, spinning a singlethread as he dropped. After going some little dis-
tance he began to swing back and forth, farther and farther each time, until
he finally reached the wall. Clinging to this he fastened the thread there, so
you see he then had arope upon which to travel back and forth. Starting from
another point, he wove another thread, and dropped down until he reached this
“rope, or could reach it by swinging. So he worked until he had a large number
of these single threads, which form the framework of his web. These threads
all cross at some point. Using this asa centre, he worked round and round
until he finished the thicker part which you see in the centre. His hope was
that some fly might be caught in the meshes of the web, and be held there
until he could devour it. The spider’s web is a wonderful piece of work.

“Think, Cora, how strong these little threads must be to support the weight
of the spider as he swings back and forth. But get the broom now, and we
will sweep it away.” Cora got the broom, but not with very good grace. She
was much interested in the spider’s web, and it was with sorrow that she saw
Aunt Sarah sweep it to the floor.