THE BIG SPIDER'S DIAMONDS
by Rodolph Mrs. Stawell · from Fairies I Have Met
Adapted Version
Once there was a Spider. He had a big, beautiful web. It had many shiny drops!
The Spider had a big web. It was very pretty. Many shiny drops were on it. These drops sparkled. The Dew-Fairies put them there. The Spider looked at his web. He liked the shiny drops very much.
The Spider felt very proud. He thought, "My web is best! These drops are mine." He did not see other webs. Other webs had drops too.
Up high, Sun-Fairies watched him. They saw the proud Spider. They thought he was funny. One Sun-Fairy had an idea. He said, "Let's take the drops! What fun!"
The Sun-Fairies waited. They watched him closely. The Spider was busy then. They flew down very fast. They took all the shiny drops from the web.
The Spider looked at his web. Oh no! The drops were gone. He was very, very upset. He stomped all his feet. He wanted to find the thief.
The Sun-Fairies flew up high. They went to a big, dark cloud. They threw the shiny drops onto the cloud. Rain-Fairies were hiding in the cloud.
The Rain-Fairies saw the drops. They liked to tease others. They said, "Give them back! For the Spider!"
The fairies started to quarrel. Sun-Fairies and Rain-Fairies pushed. They pulled for the shiny drops. It was a big tussle.
The Rain-Fairies won the tussle. They took the shiny drops. They wanted to throw them down. They threw them to the Spider.
The Rain-Fairies threw drops hard. Crash! The drops hit the web. The web broke into many parts. The web was ruined. The Spider fell down, down, down. He fell to the green ground below.
The shiny drops fell to the grass. The Dew-Fairies took them back. They put them on new webs. The Spider had no web now. He had no shiny drops. He was all alone there on the ground.
The Spider was very sad. He felt lonely. He learned a lesson then. Being too proud is not good. He must build a new web now. A humble new web.
Original Story
THE BIG SPIDER'S DIAMONDS
THE sun-fairies were hiding behind a black cloud; but in the middle of the cloud there was a hole, and through this hole the sun-fairies peeped.
In this way they were able to see everything that went on in the garden where the Big Spider lived. If the Big Spider had looked up at the sky he could have seen the sun-fairies peeping through the hole in the black cloud; but he did not look up, because he was thinking of other things. He was in an excited state of mind.
Quite lately the Big Spider had spun a most beautiful web for himself, and had slung it between two tall blades of grass. He was very proud of it, for it was the nicest web in all the garden, being of a lovely and difficult pattern, and made with great skill. And now something had happened in the night to make it still more beautiful. While the Big Spider was asleep the dew-fairies had crept up from the grass, and had hung hundreds of sparkling diamonds on the strings of his web. He knew it must have been done by the dew-fairies, because they only keep the very best diamonds.
"Dear me, this is most kind of them," he said to himself. "They must have noticed that my web was the best in the garden; otherwise they would not have done it so much honour."
As a matter of fact, the dew-fairies had been hanging diamonds that night on the webs of all the spiders in the garden; but the Big Spider was so much occupied in admiring his own web that he had no attention to spare for the others.
"Good morning," he said pleasantly to a fly who was passing. "Have you seen my diamonds? They look very well there, don't they? They show off the pattern of the web. Won't you come a little closer? You can hardly see them properly at that distance. One really sees them best when one is inside the web. Can't you come in this morning?"
"No, thank you," said the fly firmly; for his mother had told him that the Big Spider was not a nice friend for little flies.
Then he flew away, and the Spider went on admiring his diamonds. He looked at them first from the right, and then from the left, and then he stepped backwards and looked at them again. If you have ever seen a person who paints pictures you will know exactly how he behaved.
All this time the sun-fairies had been peeping through the hole in the black cloud and watching the Big Spider. They could not help laughing at him.
"Ridiculous creature!" cried one. "Look at him admiring his web, as if it were the only one that had ever been hung with diamonds!"
"If he would look about him a little bit," said another, "he would see that the whole garden is blazing with diamonds this morning."
"The very grass is all twinkly and shiny with them," said a third, "but the grass-fairies are not behaving in that absurd way."
"No fairy would be so silly," said a fourth.
Suddenly a little sun-fairy began to clap his hands.
"I've got an idea," he cried.
As his ideas were generally full of mischief and very interesting, all the other fairies stopped talking.
"It's a lovely idea," he went on, chuckling. "This is what we'll do. We'll wait till that silly old Spider goes to sleep or is busy, and then we'll rush down—quick as quick—and steal his diamonds!"
Then all the sun-fairies laughed and clapped their hands so loudly that the hole in the black cloud grew a good deal larger. They thought it was a grand idea.
They had not long to wait. Presently the Spider became rather tired of admiring his diamonds all by himself, so he set to work to send out invitations for a fly-party. He asked all the flies in the neighbourhood to come and see how nice his web looked when it was hung with diamonds. As soon as the sun-fairies saw that he was busy they took each other's hands, and with a little run and a big jump they all burst through the hole in the black cloud. Then they flew softly down to the garden where the Big Spider lived.
"How nice and warm it is getting!" thought the Spider.
Presently he said to himself—
"My diamonds must be sparkling beautifully in this sunshine. I'll just take a look at them."
He turned round, expecting to see the pattern of his web delicately outlined in sparks of light. You will not be surprised to hear that he saw nothing of the kind. He saw his web, it is true, looking like filmy lace against the green of the grass; but there was not one single diamond hanging upon it!
Then the rage of the Big Spider was terrible to see.
He stamped with all his legs, and he rolled himself round and round, and he used all the most dreadful threats in spider-language.
"I don't care who the thief is," he said; "I shall think no more of eating him than if he were a fly!"
At that moment he heard the sweetest little laugh just behind him. This made him so angry that he spent a long time in looking for the person who laughed. While he was still searching the sun-fairies flew up again to the black clouds, carrying the diamonds with them.
"There," they said, as they threw the diamonds down on the cloud, "he won't find them there!"
They had forgotten for the moment that, hidden in the black cloud, there were a great number of rain-fairies. Now the rain-fairies never enjoy themselves so much as when they are annoying the sun-fairies: and in the same way there is nothing that pleases the sun-fairies so much as a good quarrel with the rain-fairies. This does not prevent them from being very friendly when they are not quarrelling.
The rain-fairies had seen all that had happened. They pretended to think that the sun-fairies had behaved very unkindly to the Big Spider.
"It's too bad," they said, "to steal the poor thing's diamonds. It's not fair. Let's throw them down to him."
Then a great fight began between the sun-fairies and the rain-fairies for the diamonds, and the fight lasted a long time, and all the time that it lasted the Big Spider was in a rage.
THE WEB AND THE DIAMONDS AND THE BIG SPIDER HIMSELF ALL FELL TO THE GROUND
At last the rain-fairies won the fight, and went off with the diamonds in their arms.
"Now we'll throw them to the Big Spider," they said, "and we'll see how glad he is when his web is hung with diamonds as it was before."
They forgot that the dew-fairies, when they had trimmed the web with the diamonds, had crept up softly and touched the strings with gentle fingers. But the rain-fairies are rather rough.
They flung out their little arms and threw the diamonds down out of the black cloud. Down dropped the diamonds, and down, and down, till they reached the garden where the Big Spider lived, and the web that the Big Spider had made. But instead of hanging on the web in rows, like little lighted lamps, they dropped into the middle of it with a crash and a dash and a splash, and broke it into a great many pieces, so that the web and the diamonds and the Big Spider himself all fell to the ground.
And by the time the Big Spider was standing on all his legs again the diamonds had disappeared into the grass.
The truth is that the dew-fairies had found them and had taken them home. I expect they will keep them till the Big Spider has made a new web.
Story DNA
Moral
Excessive pride and self-absorption can lead to misfortune and the loss of what one values.
Plot Summary
The Big Spider is excessively proud of his beautiful web, which has been adorned with sparkling dew-diamonds, believing it to be a special honor. Observing his vanity, mischievous sun-fairies decide to steal the diamonds, enraging the Spider. As the sun-fairies return to the clouds, they are intercepted by rain-fairies, who instigate a fight over the diamonds. The rain-fairies win and carelessly fling the diamonds back down, destroying the Spider's web and leaving him with nothing, as the dew-fairies reclaim their treasures.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to rage to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects a common moralistic tone found in children's literature of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often using nature as a backdrop for human-like foibles.
Plot Beats (12)
- Sun-fairies observe the Big Spider admiring his web, which has been decorated with dew-diamonds by the dew-fairies.
- The Big Spider believes the diamonds are a special honor for his superior web and ignores other diamond-covered webs.
- He tries to lure a fly closer to admire his web, but the fly refuses.
- The sun-fairies mock the Spider's vanity and a mischievous sun-fairy proposes stealing his diamonds.
- The sun-fairies wait for the Spider to be busy sending out invitations for a fly-party, then fly down and take the diamonds.
- The Spider discovers his diamonds are gone and reacts with terrible rage, vowing to eat the thief.
- The sun-fairies fly back to the black cloud, throwing the diamonds onto it, where rain-fairies are hidden.
- The rain-fairies, enjoying annoying the sun-fairies, pretend to be upset about the theft and demand the diamonds to return to the Spider.
- A long and fierce fight ensues between the sun-fairies and rain-fairies over the diamonds.
- The rain-fairies win the fight and decide to throw the diamonds back down to the Big Spider.
- The rain-fairies carelessly fling the diamonds, which crash into the web, breaking it and causing the web and the Spider to fall to the ground.
- The diamonds disappear into the grass, taken by the dew-fairies, leaving the Spider with nothing.
Characters
The Big Spider ★ protagonist
A large, dark-bodied spider with eight long, jointed legs. His body is likely segmented and covered in fine, dark hairs, giving him a somewhat imposing but also self-important appearance. He moves with a deliberate, often theatrical, manner.
Attire: None, as he is a spider. His 'attire' is his own body and the intricate web he spins.
Wants: To be admired, to have the most beautiful web, and to host grand parties. He seeks validation and attention for his creations.
Flaw: Extreme vanity and self-absorption. He is so focused on himself that he fails to notice the wider world or the intentions of others, making him easily fooled and prone to dramatic overreactions.
He starts as a proud and vain creature, basking in the perceived uniqueness of his web. He experiences extreme rage and humiliation when his diamonds are 'stolen' and his web destroyed. He ends up humbled, having lost his web and diamonds, and will need to start anew.
Vain, proud, self-absorbed, easily enraged, somewhat naive. He believes his web is superior and that special things happen only to him.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, dark-bodied spider with eight long, jointed legs, covered in fine, dark hairs. He has multiple dark, glinting eyes. He stands proudly on a delicate, intricate spiderweb, which is adorned with hundreds of sparkling, clear dewdrop 'diamonds'. His posture is upright and slightly puffed out, with a self-satisfied expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Mischievous Sun-Fairy ⚔ antagonist
A tiny, ethereal being, glowing with a soft, warm light. He is nimble and quick, with delicate, translucent wings that shimmer like sunlight. He is small enough to hide behind a cloud and fly down to a garden unnoticed by a spider.
Attire: Simple, light, and flowing garments, possibly made of shimmering fabric that catches the light, in shades of gold, yellow, or orange, reflecting his connection to the sun.
Wants: To entertain himself and his fellow sun-fairies by playing tricks, particularly on those he deems 'silly' or vain.
Flaw: His love for mischief can lead to unforeseen consequences and conflicts with others.
He initiates the prank of stealing the diamonds, causing chaos and a fight with the rain-fairies, ultimately leading to the destruction of the spider's web. He remains unchanged in his mischievous nature.
Mischievous, clever, playful, a leader among his peers, enjoys pranks and causing a stir.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tiny, ethereal male fairy, glowing with a soft golden light. He has delicate, translucent, shimmering wings. His face is impish with bright, sparkling eyes and light golden hair. He wears simple, flowing garments in shades of yellow and gold. He is clapping his hands together with an excited, mischievous grin. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Rain-Fairies ◆ supporting
A group of small, ethereal beings, likely with a cooler, more subdued glow than the sun-fairies, perhaps in shades of blue or grey. They are described as 'rather rough' in their actions.
Attire: Simple, flowing garments in cool tones like blue, grey, or silver, perhaps resembling mist or rain clouds.
Wants: To annoy the sun-fairies and to 'correct' perceived injustices, in this case, returning the diamonds to the spider.
Flaw: Their 'roughness' and lack of gentleness, which leads to unintended destruction.
They intervene in the sun-fairies' prank, win the diamonds, and attempt to return them, inadvertently causing the spider's downfall. They remain consistent in their nature.
Prone to annoyance, argumentative, somewhat rough, but also capable of a sense of 'fairness' (even if misguided). They enjoy quarreling with the sun-fairies.
Image Prompt & Upload
A group of three small, ethereal fairies with cool blue and grey glowing bodies. They have indistinct faces and dark, wispy hair. They wear simple, flowing garments in shades of blue and silver, resembling mist. They are in mid-air, with their little arms flung out, throwing sparkling, clear diamonds downwards. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Dew-Fairies ○ minor
Tiny, delicate, and gentle beings, almost imperceptible as they creep up from the grass. They are associated with the coolness and sparkle of dew.
Attire: Ethereal, shimmering garments in soft, translucent colors, perhaps like morning mist or the inside of a dewdrop.
Wants: To adorn the garden with beauty, specifically by hanging diamonds on webs.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but perhaps their gentleness makes them less assertive in reclaiming their diamonds.
They initiate the story's central event by decorating the webs. They later reclaim the diamonds, suggesting a cyclical nature to their work. They remain consistent.
Generous, gentle, meticulous, and kind. They bestow beauty without seeking recognition.
Image Prompt & Upload
A group of three tiny, ethereal fairies with soft, translucent bodies and shimmering, silvery wings. They have gentle, indistinct faces. They wear flowing, translucent garments in soft, pearlescent colors. They are delicately placing sparkling, clear dewdrop diamonds onto the fine threads of a spiderweb with their tiny, gentle fingers. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Fly ○ minor
A small, buzzing insect with large compound eyes and delicate, iridescent wings. He is quick and agile in flight.
Attire: None, as he is an insect.
Wants: To avoid danger and heed warnings from his mother.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but perhaps a general timidity.
Appears briefly to demonstrate the Big Spider's vanity and the fly's prudence. He remains unchanged.
Cautious, obedient (to his mother's advice), sensible.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, dark-bodied fly with large, prominent compound eyes and delicate, iridescent wings. He is in mid-flight, buzzing away from the viewer, with a cautious expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Garden
A vibrant, miniature garden seen from the perspective of small creatures, filled with tall blades of grass, and other spider webs, all sparkling with dew in the morning light. The ground is covered in grass, which also twinkles with dew.
Mood: Initially serene and sparkling, then becoming a scene of frantic activity and later, destruction.
The Big Spider admires his diamond-laden web, the sun-fairies steal the diamonds, and later, the rain-fairies' rough return of the diamonds destroys the web.
Image Prompt & Upload
A macro view of a lush, dewy garden at dawn, focusing on individual blades of grass and delicate spiderwebs strung between them. Hundreds of tiny, glistening dewdrops catch the first golden rays of sunlight, making the entire scene sparkle like a field of diamonds. The ground is a rich tapestry of green moss and small, broad leaves, with a sense of immense depth. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Inside the Black Cloud
A dark, swirling cloud with a central hole through which light and the garden below can be seen. It serves as a hidden vantage point for the sun-fairies and later becomes a battleground for the sun-fairies and rain-fairies.
Mood: Mischievous and playful, then escalating to chaotic and quarrelsome.
The sun-fairies plot and execute the theft of the diamonds, and later, the rain-fairies and sun-fairies fight over the diamonds, leading to their chaotic return to the garden.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dramatic, swirling black cloud formation seen from within, with a single, intensely bright circular opening revealing a sun-drenched, miniature garden far below. Wisps of dark vapor curl around the edges of the opening, contrasting sharply with the golden light pouring through. Tiny, ethereal sun-fairies with glowing wings flit playfully around the opening, their forms semi-transparent against the dark cloud. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
