THE SPIDER IN THE STABLE

Our thanks to Brian Latham who, after reading last week's newsletter,

wrote this fine amusing poem.

The three wise men had travelled far

No map, no compass, just a star,

O'er hill and dale and mountain pass

Through deep crisp snow - see 'Wenceslaus'.

They came upon a stable bare

And found the infant Jesus there,

With Mum and Dad and ox and ass

And lots of straw and bits of grass.

But what they didn't know that day

Within the manger where He lay

Another guest beneath the straw

Had made her nest, which no-one saw.

The twelfth night came and went, and then

The three wise men went home again,

And Father Pat said, 'Goodness me,

I must remove both crib and tree.'

When all three kings had gone back East,

Pat found a tiny little beast,

You'd never see her without glasses

But many times she'd heard his Masses.

This tale must end with a short rider

The extra guest was Mistress Spider

A lovely specimen at that

Which quickly ran to Father Pat.

Now Father Pat (just like his brother)

Says all men should love one another

So 'ere his spider friend could hide,

He gently carried her outside.

The moral here, if you want more

Learn from the spider in the straw,

Stay close to Jesus come what may

And you'll have life and love each day.