My Spider is Missing

I can't find him anywhere, and it is most distressing. I'm hoping he just went out to mate, and will be back. My hopes are quite sinful, perhaps. It is getting cold- I hope he's okay out there!

You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that.
--Charlotte, "Charlotte's Web" E.B. White

Sob!