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The Christmas Spider

author unknown

Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year.

Not a speck of dust was left.  Even the spiders had vanished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife’s busy cleaning.  They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic.

‘Twas Christmas Eve at last.  The tree was decorated and waiting for the children to see it.  the poor spicers were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ Child’s visit.

The oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the threshold.  suddenly the door opened a wee bit and quickly the spiders scurried into the room.  They must see the tree closely, since their eyes weren’t accustomed to the brightness of the room.

They all crept over to the tree, up and down, over every branch and twig and saw every one of the pretty things.  At last they satisfied themselves completely of the Christmas tree’s beauty.

But, Alas!  Everywhere they went they had left their webs.  When the Christ child came to bless the house, He was dismayed.  He loved the spiders for they were God’s creatures too, but He knew the mother, who trimmed the tree, wouldn’t feel the same.  So He touched the webs and they all turned to sparkling, shimmering silver and gold.

Since that time, we have hung tinsel on the Christmas trees, and according to the legend, it has become a cusom to include a spider amonth the decorations on the tree.

All creatures great and small
Enjoy this season best of all.
 
Please put me where you can see
Me hanging on your Christmas tree,
 
And tell me the greatest story on earth —
The one about the Christ Child’s birth.