Wreaths of Friendship Part 7

"To serve you would give me great pleasure," said he; "Come into my palace, and tarry with me; The Spider knows nothing of labor and care.

Come, you shall be welcome our bounty to share.

XII.

"I live like a king, and my wife like a queen, In meadows where flowers are blooming and green; 'Tis sweet on the violet's bosom to lie, And list to the stream that runs merrily by.

XIII.

"With us you shall mingle in scenes of delight, All summer and winter, from morning till night; And when 'neath the hills the sun sinks in the west, Your head on a pillow of roses shall rest.

XIV.

"When miserly Bees shall return from their toils, We'll catch them, and tie them, and feast on the spoils; I'll lighten their burdens--I ought to know how-- My pantry is full of such gentlemen now."

XV.

The Bee did not wait to be urged any more, But nodded his thanks, as he entered the door.

"Aha!" said the Spider, "I have you at last."

And he caught the poor urchin, and wound him up fast.

XVI.

The Bee, when aware of his perilous fate, Recovered his wit, though a moment too late.

"O treacherous Spider! for shame!" said he, "Is it thus you betray a poor, innocent Bee?"

XVII.

The cunning old Spider then laughed outright; "Poor fellow!" he said, "you are in a sad plight!

Ha! ha! what a dunce you must be to suppose, That the heart of a Spider should pity your woes!

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BEE INSIDE THE WEB.]

XVIII.

"I never could boast of much honor or shame, Though a little acquainted with both by name; But I think if the Bees can a brother betray, We Spiders are quite as good people as they.

XIX.

"On the whole, you have lived long enough, I opine; So now, by your leave, I will hasten to dine; You'll make a good dinner, it must be confess'd, And the world, I am thinking, will pardon the rest."

XX.

This lesson for every one, little and great, Is taught in that vagabond's tragical fate: _Of him who is scheming your friend to ensnare_, _Unless you've a pa.s.sion for Heeding, beware!_

EMMA LEE AND HER SIXPENCE.

Emma's aunt had given her a sixpence, and now the question was, what should she buy with it? "I'll you what I will do, mother," she said, changing her mind for the tenth time.

"Well, dear, what have you determined upon now?"

"I'll save my sixpence until I get a good many more, and then I'll buy me a handsome wax doll. Wouldn't you do that, mother, if you were me?"

"If I were you, I suppose I would do just as you will," replied Emma's mother, smiling.

"But, mother, don't you think that would be a nice way to do? I get a good many pennies and sixpences, you know, and could soon save enough to buy me a beautiful wax doll."

"I think it would be better," said Mrs Lee, "for you to save up your money and buy something worth having."

"Isn't a large wax doll worth having?"

"Oh, yes! for a little girl like you."

"Then I'll save up my money, until I get enough to buy me a doll as big as Sarah Johnson's."

In about an hour afterward, Emma came to her mother, and said--

"I've just thought what I will do with my sixpence. I saw such a beautiful book at a store, yesterday! It was full of pictures, and the price was just sixpence. I'll buy that book."

"But didn't you say, a little while ago, that you were going to save your money until you had enough to buy a doll?"

"I know I did, mother; but I didn't think about the book then. And it will take so long before I can save up money enough to get a new doll. I think I will buy the book."

"Very well, dear," replied Mrs Lee.

Not long after, Emma changed her mind again.

On the next day, her mother said to her--

"Your Aunt Mary is quite sick, and I am going to see her. Do you wish to go with me?"

"Yes, mother, I should like to go. I am so sorry that Aunt Mary is sick.

What ails her?"

"She is never very well, and the least cold makes her sick. The last time she was here she took cold."

As they were about leaving the house, Emma said--

"I'll take my sixpence along, and spend it, mother."

"What are you going to buy?" asked Mrs Lee.

"I don't know," replied Emma. "Sometimes I think I will buy some cakes; and then I think I will get a whole sixpence worth of cream candy, I like it so."