The King and the Spider – Robert Bruce

Short Version

Once there was a brave king. His enemy drove him away from his palace. The king fought many times, but he could not win. At last, he became very sad and went to a cave.

While he was sitting there, he saw a small spider. The spider was trying to make a web on the roof of the cave. It tried to climb up, but it fell down again and again. Still, the spider did not stop trying.

At last, the spider climbed up and made its web. The king watched it and thought, “If this small spider can try again, I can try again too.”

The king became hopeful. He left the cave and gathered his soldiers. He fought his enemy again. This time, he won the battle and got his kingdom back.

Moral: Try again until you succeed.

Expanded Version

Once there was a brave king who lost his kingdom to his enemies. He gathered his soldiers and fought to win it back, but he was defeated. He tried again and again, yet each time he failed.

At last, the king became tired and hopeless. He left the battlefield and hid in a lonely cave. Sitting there, he thought about his failures. He began to believe that he would never get his kingdom back.

While he was resting in the cave, he noticed a small spider. The spider was trying to climb up the wall to make a web near the roof. It climbed a little way and then fell down.

The spider tried again. Once more, it fell. It tried several times, but it did not stop. The king watched it carefully.

At last, after many attempts, the spider reached the top and began to make its web.

The king was deeply encouraged. He said to himself, “This tiny spider did not give up after failing many times. Why should I give up?”

He left the cave and went back to his people. He gathered his soldiers again and prepared carefully for another battle. This time, he fought with new courage and determination.

At last, the king defeated his enemies and got his kingdom back.

He never forgot the lesson he had learned from the small spider.

Moral: Try again until you succeed.