XII.

  “I live like a king, and my wife like a queen,
  In meadows where flowers are blooming and green;
  ’Tis sweet on the violet’s bosom to lie,
  And list to the stream that runs merrily by.

XIII.

  “With us you shall mingle in scenes of delight,
  All summer and winter, from morning till night;
  And when ’neath the hills the sun sinks in the west,
  Your head on a pillow of roses shall rest.

XIV.

  “When miserly Bees shall return from their toils,
  We’ll catch them, and tie them, and feast on the spoils;
  I’ll lighten their burdens—­I ought to know how—­
  My pantry is full of such gentlemen now.”

XV.

  The Bee did not wait to be urged any more,
  But nodded his thanks, as he entered the door. 
  “Aha!” said the Spider, “I have you at last.” 
  And he caught the poor urchin, and wound him up fast.

XVI.

  The Bee, when aware of his perilous fate,
  Recovered his wit, though a moment too late. 
  “O treacherous Spider! for shame!” said he,
  “Is it thus you betray a poor, innocent Bee?”

XVII.

  The cunning old Spider then laughed outright;
  “Poor fellow!” he said, “you are in a sad plight! 
  Ha! ha! what a dunce you must be to suppose,
  That the heart of a Spider should pity your woes!

[Illustration:  THE BEE INSIDE THE WEB.]

XVIII.

  “I never could boast of much honor or shame,
  Though a little acquainted with both by name;
  But I think if the Bees can a brother betray,
  We Spiders are quite as good people as they.

XIX.

  “On the whole, you have lived long enough, I opine;
  So now, by your leave, I will hasten to dine;
  You’ll make a good dinner, it must be confess’d,
  And the world, I am thinking, will pardon the rest.”

XX.

This lesson for every one, little and great, Is taught in that vagabond’s tragical fate:  Of him who is scheming your friend to ensnare, Unless you’ve a passion for Heeding, beware!

EMMA LEE AND HER SIXPENCE.

Emma’s aunt had given her a sixpence, and now the question was, what should she buy with it?  “I’ll you what I will do, mother,” she said, changing her mind for the tenth time.

“Well, dear, what have you determined upon now?”

“I’ll save my sixpence until I get a good many more, and then I’ll buy me a handsome wax doll.  Wouldn’t you do that, mother, if you were me?”