Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-12-06

The inhabitants of the Shetland Is
lands believe tina, mermen and mermaids
possess seal-skins which constitute the
charm or talisman enabling them TO dwell
in the depths Of the ocean, and without
which they lose their amphibous quail
fications. A story is told of an inhab.
liant OF INST, who in walking on the
sandy margin of the sea, saw number
of these beings dancing by moonlight
and several seal.skins strewed beside
them OH the ground AT his approach
they Immediately fled to secure their
garbs, and taking themselves the form of
seals, plunged Immediately into the sea.
But as the Shetlander perceived that one
skin lay close 10 his feet, he snatched il
up, bore it swiftly away, and placed il in
concealment. On returning to the shore,
he met the fairest damsel that was ever
gazed upon by mortal eyes, larneniing
the robbery, by which she should be-
come an exile from her submarine friends,
and a tenant of the upper world. Vain
ly she implored the restitution Of her
property. The man had drunk deeply
Of love, and was memorable, but offered
her protection, beneath his roof as his
betrothed spouse. The mer-lady. per-
ceiving that she must become an inhab-
liant OF the earth, found she could not
do better than accept of the offer. This
strange connubial attachment subsisted
for many years, and several children
were the fruits of il, who retained no
farther marks Of their origin, than the
resemblance which sort of web be-
tween their fingers, and peculiar bend
Of their hand, bore to the fore feet of a
seal-this peculiarly being possessed by
the descendant Of the family Of the pres
ent day. The Shetlander's love for his
mer- wife was unbot nded; but his affec-
tor was coldly received. The lady
would often wander alone to a desert
strand, and on the signal being given,
large seal would make its appearance,
with whom she would hold, in an un-
known tongue, an anxious conference.
Years had thus glided away, when it
happened that one of the children, in the
course Of his play, found concealed be-
meath stack Of corn seals skin, and
delighted with the prize, ran with it to
his mother. Her eyes glistened with
rapture-she gazed upon it as her own
las the means by which she could pass
through the ocean that led to her native
home. She burst forth into an ecstacy
of joy, which was only moderated when
she beheld her children, whom she was
now about to leave-and, after hastily
embracing them fled with all speed to the
sea-shore. The husband soon returned
learned the discovery that had la
ken place-ran to overtake his wife, but
only arrived in time TO see her transfer
nation of shape completed--to see her,
in the form of seal, bound from the
edge Of rock into the sea. The large
animal OF the same kind with whom she
had held secret converse soon appeared,
and evidently congratulated her, in the
most tender manner, on her escape.
But, before she dived to unknown parts,
she cast a parting glance at tile wreiched
Shetlander, whose despairing looks excl
ted in her breast few transient feelings
Of commiseration. Farewell said
she to him, "may all good attend you. -
| loved you very well when / resided on
earth, but ! always loved my first hus-
band much BETTER"