224 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



" Do you believe that any of these incidents really 

 occurred ?" asked Abby. 



"There may have been in some one case a basis of 

 fact for the tradition. It is certainly not improbable. 

 But for the most part I count the stories mere fictions, 

 or perhaps fables, intended to teach a lesson of respect 

 for the most despised creatures of God ; or perhaps to 

 illustrate tlie Divine Providence. Be that as it may, it 

 would hardly do for fugitives in our day to rely upon 

 any such interposition, for men have now learned 

 pretty well how rapidly a spider can spin her snare, 

 and he would be a dull fellow who could be balked of 

 his victim by a mistake on this point." 



" Wal now, Mars' Mayfiel'," remarked Dan, " I doan 

 tink so poreley uv de spiders as uv mos' oder insec's. 

 De fac' is, dey's mighty peert critters, and dey eats up 

 de bugs powerful. Dey doan do no harm at all, dat I 

 eber seed, 'ceptin' a bite wunst in a Av'ile. Some 

 folk 's awful feard to have one git on 'em ; but I often 

 heerd in ole Marylau' dat you mustn't nebber kill a 

 spider dat lights on your close ; kaze ef yo' do yo' 

 destroys de presents dey's a-weavin' fur you. But I'm 

 not so shore 'bout dat ; I've had a heap o' spiders light 

 on me, and de presents es a-been skeerce as duck teeth 

 fur all dat. Mebbe it'll be all right' dough nex' Christ- 

 mas. De luck mus' change some time, I reckon." 



The old fellow bent himself over ui)on his folded arms, 

 rolled his white eyes in a knowing and comical way 

 toward the Mistress, rocked his body to and fro, and 

 broke into one of his soft, unctuous laughs. 



