True Stories of Wonderful Deeds (Version 2)

<h2 class="space"><SPAN name="bruce" id="bruce"></SPAN><b>Bruce and the Spider</b></h2><span class="totoc"><SPAN href="#toc">Contents</SPAN></span> <p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</SPAN></span></p> <p>Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, sad and weary, lay upon the floor of a lonely cave among the hills. His mind was full of anxious thoughts, for he was hiding from the English soldiers, who sought to take him&mdash;alive or dead&mdash;to their king. The brave Scots had lost many battles, and Bruce began to fear that he would never make his dear country free.</p> <p>"I will give up trying," said he.</p> <p>Just then a spider, hanging from the roof of the cave, by a long thread, swung before the king's eyes, and he left his gloomy thoughts to see what the little creature would do.</p> <p>The spider began to climb its thread slowly, pulling itself up little by little; but it had gone only a short way, when it slipped and fell to the end once more.</p> <p>Again and again it started to climb, and again and again it slipped back, until it had fallen six times.</p> <p>"Surely the silly little creature will now give up trying to climb so fine a thread," thought Bruce. But the spider did no such thing. It started on its upward journey yet a seventh time, and this time it did not fall. Up it went, inch by inch, higher and higher, until at last it reached the roof, and was safely at home.</p> <p>"Bravo!" cried the king. "The spider has taught me a lesson. I too will try until I win."</p> <p>Bruce kept his word. He led his brave men to battle, again and again, until at last the English were driven back to their own land, and Scotland was free.</p> <hr /> <p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</SPAN></span></p> <p><span class="toill"><SPAN href="#ill">Illustrations</SPAN></span></p> <p class="center"><SPAN name="image-30" id="image-30"><!-- Image 30--></SPAN> <ANTIMG src="images/il054s.jpg" class="png" height-obs="400" width-obs="275" alt="BRUCE WATCHING THE SPIDER" title="BRUCE WATCHING THE SPIDER" /></p> <p class="image"><SPAN href="images/il054x.jpg" class="image">View larger image</SPAN></p> <p class="caption">BRUCE WATCHING THE SPIDER</p> <hr /> <p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</SPAN></span></p> <p><span class="toill"><SPAN href="#ill">Illustrations</SPAN></span></p> <p class="center"><SPAN name="image-31" id="image-31"><!-- Image 31--></SPAN> <ANTIMG src="images/il055s.jpg" class="png" height-obs="300" width-obs="500" alt="RICHARD LION HEART FIGHTING IN THE HOLY LAND" title="RICHARD LION HEART FIGHTING IN THE HOLY LAND" /></p> <p class="image"><SPAN href="images/il055x.jpg" class="image">View larger image</SPAN></p> <p class="caption">RICHARD LION HEART FIGHTING IN THE HOLY LAND</p> <hr /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />