EIGHT-LEGGED FBIENDS. 



A SINGULAR opportunity was afforded me last summer 

 for making myself thoroughly at home with the habits 

 and manners of the common English geometrical spider. 

 By the pure chance of circumstance, two ladies of that 

 intelligent and interesting species were kind enough to 

 select for their temporary residence a large pane of glass 

 just outside my drawing-room window. Now, it so 

 happened that this particular pane was constructed not 

 to open, being, in fact, part of a big bow-window, the 

 alternate sashes of which were alone intended for 

 ventilation. Hence it came to pass that by diligent 

 care I was enabled to preserve my two eight-legged 

 acquaintances from the devouring broom of the 

 British housemaid, and to keep them constantly 

 under observation at all times and seasons during a 

 whole summer. Of course this result was only obtained 

 by a distinct exercise of despotic authority, for I know 

 those poor spiders were a constant eyesore in Ellen's 

 sight the housemaid of the moment bore the name of 

 Ellen but I persisted in my prohibition of any forcible 

 ejectment, and I carried my point in the end in the 



