THE EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS OF A SPIDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 75

THE EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS OF A SPIDER.

Dear Dot,— l am but a. little Spdier. Bom in my mother's nest, up in the roof of Lhe stable m Inveicargill, I liave lived to be throe years of age. I am by nature an inquisitive fellow for a spider. My mother isays it is ii hen ted tvom my father's side of the family, but dad say* that that is all rot, for mother

ones had one of her legs broken through overmquisitiveness. Bo that as it may, 1 ha.c learnt much through being inquisitive, anci will tell you of some of my experiences. 1 have a master, you must know. He is a goad, kmd fellow and generally takes mo with him wheiever he goes. iJowevcr, it chanced that he went out without me last Wednesday evening, and I bsing anxious for a run sneaked out thiough the keyhole. I ve.y shortly found myself in front of the Oddfellows' Hall. I "thought I saw light in one room, so I lan up the down pipe, and, crepplrg under the window, made myself secure in a comfortable corner. I loked round me, and the first thin? I saw was one Homa sitting at a table, reading. Presently there entered a tall young fellow with dark hair, who was greeted with the words, "How are you, Willow Brook?" By observation I found out this one was called the President, whatever that may be After the oae who was called President there entered mav.y others. Queer and curious were their l amos There was Dado, T'k.i, M-Uiceiil, rtcwa, Pakcha, Regina, and mainethers whom I cannot remember. The cne railed President now staitcd to speak, ?nd there soon followed much talking and gre>il deliberating. Sorns used mighty words, ziich. as "incapacitated." while others ehowed from viiat country they hailed by i:sing such words as "degree," and so or. But most surprised of all was I at one who, on beiug asked by the Presidential one to read a paper, completely, to usp a s-pider phrase, "crept down." Did you scs mo in the corner, my friends? If you did you need not be alarmed, for I am a harmless little fellow who does not believe in biting people, but who exists on flies a-ad insects The subjects of these great and mighty deliberations were certain great persons by name Wordsworth, Burns Tennyson, Moore, and oihers It appeared to me from what I could t.ndorstand that these people hsd left behind them certain marks on paper, which thoao debating people had lead arid were holdin« forth on. I listened a long while, and he<Tcl a groat deal, but at they finished, aaid the Uie named President declared ths club closed. 1 hen was heard much talking. I watched and hsfene'l I jaw cue Zealia giving out things called boaks-npsty Things, those books- I was nearly squeezed up m one once, — while abeve the noise of talking I cair?M a whisr^r I of "notis," and hc-trd a word that sounded i like "pntatc,' but which turned out lo lie "photo, ' meniioned. It was tiw golfing late, so I slid down ihe doivimpe, and made my way home. The next oay T usked my mastf ■• who 'hose people ware, and he tokl me it was the Invercargill D.I. F. Debating Cab. T leam't much at that in..eting of the D-d-d — ba-ba— — (Oh, how can a small spider be exosstcd to pronounce it?) — I believe I have it- Debating Club: there now, I I have managed it. However. lam going vp that do'.vnuipc fig lin next Wednesday, ctid next week I shall tell j'ou all about what I tee and hear. Mother is saying it is time I went un to my rafter, so I" must isay good-night. With love fiom your lcng-legere:! friend THE SPIDER. ,