THE SPIDER.
A little boy saw a spider; its legs were all packed close to its body; the boy thought it was a bit of dirt, and was going to pick it up.
His father stopped him, lest he should chance to hurt the spider; he told him that the poor creature had rolled himself up from fear; that if he stood still he would soon see the spider move.
The little boy kept close and quiet some time, watching the spider; he saw it unfold one leg, then another, till at last they were all loose, and away it ran. Then the little boy ran after his father, and heard the history of spiders.
He told him a great deal about them. Then he talked to him of other insects, which disguise themselves to escape the dangers which they meet with.
He picked up a wood-louse, and laid it gently in his little hand. There, said he, you see the wood-louse roll itself into a little ball, like a pea: let it lie awhile and when it thinks that you do not observe it—
Boy.Ah! it unrolls.—O! it will run away: shall I not hold it?
Father.No, my dear, you would hurt it.
Boy.I would not hurt any creature.
Father.No! surely—He who made you, made all creatures to be happy.