The story of King Robert Bruce, who learned never to give up by watching a spider try again and again.

The story begins: Once there lived a brave king named Robert Bruce in Scotland. His country was invaded by a powerful enemy, and Bruce fought hard to save his kingdom.

The Story

King Robert Bruce loved his country dearly. When the enemy attacked, he gathered his soldiers and went to war to drive them out and free his land.

He fought bravely with all his strength. But the enemy was too strong. Bruce was defeated not once but again and again, until at last his army was scattered and destroyed.

Having lost everything, the king fled for his life. Tired and hopeless, he took shelter in a lonely cave in the hills to hide from his enemies.

As he lay in the cave, he thought of his repeated defeats. His heart was filled with despair. He almost made up his mind to give up the struggle for ever.

Just then his eyes fell on a little spider on the roof of the cave. The spider was trying to reach a far corner by climbing up its thin thread to weave its web.

Bruce watched the tiny creature with great interest. Again and again the spider climbed up, and again and again it slipped and fell down. But it did not give up.

The king counted the spider's attempts. It failed six times, one after another, just as he himself had been defeated six times. He wondered whether it would try once more.

For the seventh time the little spider climbed up its thread. This time it did not fall. Slowly and steadily it reached the corner and at last completed its web.

The sight filled the king's heart with fresh hope and courage. "If a little spider can succeed by trying again," he thought, "why should I lose heart? I too must try once more."

Bruce sprang up and gathered his scattered soldiers once again. With new spirit he attacked the enemy, and this time he won a great victory and freed his beloved country.

Moral: Where there is a will, there is a way.