The Flight of the Golden Bird by Duncan Williamson Read Free Book Online Page A

Scotland. If you were there with me today I could lead you to the same place, to the ruins of the farmhouse; I’ve passed it many times on my travels through the West Coast.

Spider and the Fly
    It was a beautiful sunny morning a long time ago. Old Grandfather Spider with his eight big hairy legs crawled up the wall of someone’s house till he came to the window ledge. Oh, the sun was shining, the birds were whistling. It was a beautiful day! And then he took a long silver thread and very carefully he stretched it along the ledge, from end to end of the window. Then he curled up and went off to sleep in the sunshine. It was the most beautiful thread you ever saw in all your life.
    Of course, high up on the window ledge was old Daddy Long-legs. He was buzzing around the window up there with his long legs, buzzing around. And he watched old Mr Spider put that long silver thread along the ledge. But Daddy Long-legs knew better – he would not touch that thread! He would not come near it. Because he knew there was danger around.
    Of course, out in the garden Mr Bumblebee was buzzing around from flower to flower gathering pollen to make his honey. And you know bees have many eyes! Out of the corner of one he watched old Mr Spider put that silver thread along the window ledge. But Mr Bumblebee, he would not touch that thread! He knew better.
    Then who should come flying along but nosy little Mrs Fly herself! And you know how nosy flies are; if you have one in your home, one in your house or one in your school, they like to fly around, alight on your light bulbs and go on your food and in your dishes. They like to investigate. Flies are very nosy little creatures!
    She came flying along and landed on the window ledge. Withher six little legs she crawled up very carefully across the ledge. Then she saw the thread.
    She said, “Oh, oh! What a beautiful thread! I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. It’s glittering in the sunlight!” And then very carefully she reached out leg number one... she touched the thread. But to her surprise, leg number one stuck to the thread. Oh, she tugged and she cried, “Help me, someone, please help me!” But no one heard her cry. And then very carefully she took leg number two. She reached over to try and release leg number one, and leg number two got stuck to the thread! Oh, she tugged and she cried, “Help me, someone, please help me! My legs are stuck to this thread.” But she could not get free.
    Then she took leg number three to try and release leg number two. And leg number three got stuck to the thread! The same with number four, number five and number six. Soon her six little legs were stuck to the silver thread. Meanwhile old Grandfather Spider was still asleep. He knew nothing of this. She cried and she tugged and she pulled, but she could not get free.
    And then down from the window comes old Daddy Long-legs with his big long legs.
    “Oh, Daddy Long-legs,” she said, “I’m so pleased to see you. You must help me!” said Mrs Fly. “My legs are stuck to this thread.”
    And Daddy Long-legs said, “Well, Mrs Fly, don’t you know better to leave well alone? Now you’re in trouble, and I have no time to help you.” And away flew Daddy Long-legs.
    Oh, she tugged and she cried and she pulled. But she could not get free. Then in from the garden came Mr Bumblebee. And he buzzed around the window ledge.
    “Oh, Mr Bumblebee, I am so pleased to see you. You see, you must help me!”
    “What’s your trouble?” said old Mr Bumblebee.
    “It’s my legs are stuck to this thread and I cannot get free.”
    “Then, Mrs Fly,” said old Mr Bumblebee, “it’s your own fault. You see, you are too nosy. You won’t leave well alone! Now you’re in big trouble. And I am a busy bee; I have no time to help you.” And away flew Mr Bumblebee.
    Poor little Mrs Fly she’s still stuck to this thread. Oh, she tugged and she cried and she pulled. But she could not get free.