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Robert Bruce was a famouse Scotch patriot and general. In the early fourteenth century he tried to drive the English out of Scotland. But he was unsuccessful, because the English were too powerful. Finally, Bruce was forced to run away and to hide in a cave.
One day he lay on a cot in this cave, thinking of the sad state of Scotland. A spider began to weave a web above his head. To amuse himself. Bruce reached up and broke the web. Immediately the spider began to weave a new one. Then six times in succession Bruce broke the web, and six times the spider immediately made a new one. Bruce marveled at such perseverance. He said to himself that he would break the web the seventh time. If the spider made a new one, it would be a good lesson to him, for, like the spider, he had been defeated six times in battle.
Bruce then broke the web, and again the spider made a new one.
From this simple incient, Bruce took heart. He again gathered an army, and this time he was succesful in driving out the English.
