The Squirrel and the Spider

An industrious squirrel had labored hard to plant a crop on his farm. The farm was at last in fine condition. As the squirrel was a skillful climber of trees, he did not need to make a roadway to his farm. He used to reach it by the trees, jumping from one to the other.

One day, when the grain was very nearly ripe, it happened that the spider went out hunting nearby. While going along the spider arrived at the squirrel’s farm.

The Spider

The spider was very much pleased at the appearance of the fields, and he tried to find the road to it. As he could not find any, he came back home and told his family all about the farm.

The very next day they all started for this fine place, and began at once to make a road to it. When they had made the road the spider, a very cunning fellow, built his web across it and threw pieces of earthenware along the pathway to make believe that his children had dropped them while working on the farm.

Then he and his family began to cut down and carry away such of the grain as was ripe. The squirrel saw that his fields were being robbed, but could not at first find out who was doing it. He said to himself, “I will watch for the thief,” and he hid himself in a tall tree nearby.

The Squirrel

Sure enough the spider soon came again to take more of the grain. The squirrel asked the spider what right he had on his farm. The spider at once asked him the same question.

“They are my fields,” said the squirrel.

“Oh, no! They are mine,” replied the spider.

“I dug them and sowed them and planted them,” said the poor squirrel.

“Then where is your roadway to them?” asked the crafty spider.

“I need no roadway. I come by the trees,” replied the squirrel.

It is needless to say that the spider laughed at such an answer and continued to use the farm as his own.

The Spider’s web across the road

The squirrel went to law and asked the judge to say whose farm it was; but the judge decided that no one had ever had a farm without a road leading to it; therefore the land must be the spider’s. In much joy the spider and his family made ready to gather all the grain that remained. When it was cut they tied it in large bundles and started for the nearest market place to sell it. When they were about halfway there, a fearful storm came up. They had to put their burdens down by the roadside and run for shelter. When the storm was over they returned to pick up their grain.

The Crow covering the grain in the road

As they were approaching the spot they saw a large, black crow there, with his broad wings stretched over the bundles to keep them dry. The spider and his family went up to the crow and thanked him for so kindly taking care of his property, and tried to take up the bundles.

“Your property!” replied the crow. “Who ever heard of any one leaving bundles of grain by the roadside? Nonsense! This property is mine.”

So saying this, he picked up the bundles and went off with them, and left the spider and his children to return home sad and empty-handed. Their thieving had done them no good. Some one had taken from them what they had taken from another.

Character

Wherever a man goes to dwell his character goes with him.

 

Every man’s character is good in his own eyes.

 

Covetousness is the father of unsatisfied desires.

 

Disobedience is the father of insolence.

 

You condemn on hearsay evidence alone, your sins increase.

 

A man’s disposition is like a mark in a stone, no one can efface it.

 

Gossip is unbecoming.

 

Charity is the father of sacrifice.

 

Borrowing is easy but the day of payment is hard.

 

He who waits for a chance may wait for a year.

 

You cannot kill game by looking at it.