SPIDER JANE ON THE MOVE

Three ironic—i.e., not wryly humorous—episodes in the life of cranky Spider Jane and her ever-helpful, all-too-patient, friend Bluebottle Burt. In the first, she's morose about having to move—her web has been destroyed—so, after persuading her to clear away the old web, he leads her around with her eyes closed to the same spot. . . and she almost has to admit that it is. In the second, he persuades her to hold a "web warming"; counters her complaints/worries that no one will come; and, when everything does go well, has the satisfaction—which the reader shares—of hearing her defend the party to cranky Uncle Fred. The third finds Spider Jane put upon by rich old Uncle Ferd and putting him in his place; and the last has her taking Burt's advice that she take a vacation—and then, to save the money of hiring a web-sitter, taking it herself at home. It's all rather forced and harsh (to look at too)—no real harm in it, but not much good either.