Illustration: A, the Nest shut; B, the Nest open; C, the Spider; D, the Eyes, magnified; E, F, Parts of the Foot and Claw magnified.
A gentleman says, in a book which he wrote about insects, that he once broke one of these doors off, to see what the spider would do."
"And what did she do, Uncle Philip?"
"She made another door; but took very good care not to put any hinge to it, for fear she should be disturbed again. But when she thought all danger was gone, she could then put a hinge to it, you know; and probably she did."
"Well, Uncle Philip, we thank you again for this account of the spiders, and shall always look at them hereafter with more pleasure. Who would have thought that we should ever find doors and hinges among such little creatures, and these too so very well made and fitted!"
"Why, boys, I have noticed the works of God very often; and I will now tell you one thing which I always found. It is this: a piece of the very best work which man can make is really coarse when you compare it with the work of God. The poor spider that we have talked about, when she makes her door, makes it to fit perfectly; because in doing that one thing, God made her to know perfectly how to do it. The knowledge is God's, boys; but the work is the spider's: but in making any thing else, except about her house, the spider knows nothing."
"Uncle Philip, you told us once that you were very fond of watching all sorts of dumb animals, and we think now that we know the reason."
"Well, what is it?"