The Silkworm and Spider

Twenty yards of silk! That was the order from Princess Lioness, and it had to be the finest in the land. The Silkworm sat down at her loom that very morning and began. In and out went the thread. In and out. In and out.

Soon there came a tap at the door. It was a Spider, who wanted to rent the empty room beside hers. "Of course," said the Silkworm, and she went on working.

The Spider ran up the wall, swung across the corner and shot out line after line, and before the Silkworm had finished one row, the web was done.

"Just look at that!" cried the Spider, dancing on her thread. "So grand! So fine! And it took me no time at all! You must admit I am a far better worker than you."

In and out went the thread. In and out.

"Yes, yes," said the Silkworm, "but please hush. You are putting me off. Your webs are traps, and traps get swept away with a broom. My silk will be kept and loved, and princesses will wear it."