King Bruce and the Spider

Many years ago, in the rugged hills and green valleys of Scotland, there lived a noble and brave king named Robert the Bruce. He loved his country more than anything and wanted to see it free from the rule of foreign enemies. King Bruce believed in independence and had a deep desire to protect the people of Scotland. But his journey was not easy.

At that time, England was trying to control Scotland. King Bruce led his soldiers into battle many times, determined to win freedom for his land. But luck was not on his side. He fought six battles, and each time, he was defeated. His army grew weaker. Many of his supporters were captured or killed. His spirit, once so strong, began to break.

After his sixth defeat, King Bruce found himself alone and on the run. His enemies were hunting him, and he had no choice but to hide in a dark cave deep in the mountains. The wind howled outside, and rain poured down like the sky itself was crying. Inside the cave, the king sat alone, cold, wet, and filled with sorrow.

He began to wonder if he had made a mistake trying to fight for Scotland’s freedom. “Perhaps it is not meant to be,” he thought. “Maybe I should give up. I have tried and failed too many times.”

As he sat quietly in the shadows of the cave, thinking of all he had lost, something caught his eye. Up in a dark corner of the cave, a tiny spider was at work. It was trying to spin its web across the wall of the cave.

The spider carefully climbed up the wall, but just as it neared the top, the thread broke, and the spider fell. But it did not give up. The spider started again, slowly spinning its web and climbing back up. King Bruce watched with mild curiosity.

Again the spider fell. And again it climbed. Six times the spider tried, and six times it failed. Each time, the king leaned forward, quietly hoping the spider would make it.

On the seventh try, the spider began its climb once more. It moved slowly and cautiously. Its thread held strong. Inch by inch, it inched upward. King Bruce held his breath.

Finally, the spider reached the top. It had done it! After six failures, the spider had succeeded on the seventh attempt.

King Bruce’s eyes lit up. A warmth spread through his heart, one he hadn’t felt in a long time. He straightened up and whispered to himself, “If this tiny creature has the courage to keep trying after so many failures, then so must I. I will not give up. I will fight again—for Scotland and for freedom.”

With new determination, King Bruce left the cave. He began gathering the few soldiers he still had. Slowly, he rebuilt his army. He traveled from village to village, speaking to the people, reminding them of their love for Scotland and the dream of living free. Inspired by their king’s courage, more and more people joined his cause.

This time, King Bruce prepared more carefully. He studied his enemy’s weaknesses. He trained his soldiers well. And when the time came for battle again, he was ready.

At the Battle of Bannockburn, King Bruce and his army faced the English once more. The battle was fierce and long, but this time, King Bruce did not fail. His soldiers fought with courage and heart, and at last, they won.

Scotland was free.

The people rejoiced. They celebrated their brave king who had never given up, even in the darkest times. And King Bruce, now a hero and a symbol of strength, never forgot the lesson he had learned in that lonely cave.

All because of a small, determined spider.

Moral of the Story:

Even when life seems dark and full of defeat, never lose hope. Just like the spider, if you keep trying, you may succeed on your next attempt. Failure is not the end—sometimes, it’s the step just before success.