Be Nice to Spiders

By Margaret Bloy Graham

Copyright 1967

 

No matter how small – no matter how unpopular – every one of us has a unique and important contribution to make.

In Be Nice to Spiders, the head zookeeper learns this lesson the hard way.  When Billy leaves Helen, his pet spider, at the zoo because he can no longer care for her, all the animals soon become much more comfortable.  Pesky flies loved to bother the animals, and fortunately Helen loves to eat flies.  As Helen moves from one animal house to another, setting up her intricate webs, life becomes easier for the zoo’s residents. 

Unfortunately, when the mayor is coming for a zoo inspection, the zookeeper orders all of the messy spider webs swept away.  He wants the mayor to see a clean zoo with happy animals.

Much to his dismay, once the mayor leaves, flies return to the animal homes.   After realizing that Helen with her webs was the key to keeping the flies away, he orders all his keepers, from now on, “Be nice to Spiders!”  From then on, not only is Helen happy, but the whole zoo works much more smoothly. 

This lesson applies to the animal world and the delicate relationship each living thing has with the others, but I think it applies just as readily to people.  Each person’s worth may not be obvious to us at first glance but that doesn’t mean they are worthless.  Be nice to people!  The whole world will work more smoothly if we are!