The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-10-23
scene. ON the Ocean Floor.


Besides the countless varieties Of
the fucus, the bottom OF tho sea is
overgrown with tho curled, deop pur.
plc leaves Of the sea lettus, with
largo porous lichens, and many
branchcd hollow algac, full of life
and motion in their rosylittlo blad
ders, thickly set with ever moving
tiny arms.
These plants form submarine for
ests, growing one into another, in
lawless order: here inter.
lacing their branches. there forming
bowers and long avenues; at one
time thriving abundantly, till the
thickcst seem impenetrablc, then
again leaving large openings be.
tween woId aud void. where smaller
plants form a beautiful pink turf
There u thousand hues and tingcs
shine and glitter in each changing
light. In the indulgence Of their
luxurious growth, the fuel especially,
seems to gratify every within aud
freak. Creaping close to the ground
or sending long-streched arms,
crowned with waving plumes, up to
the blessed light of heaven, they form
pale green sea-groves, where there
Is neither moon nor star, or rise up
nearer to the surface, to be transcend
antly rich and gorgeous in brightest
green. gold and purple.
And, through this drcam.likc
scene, playing in all colors of tho
rain bow, and deep under the hollow
, briny ocean, there sail and chase
, each other merrily, gay-painted
, mollusks, and bright shining fishes
Snails of every shape creep slowly
T along the stems, while iuge, grey
haired seals hang with their enor
nous tusks on large, tall trees -
There is the gigantic DLgonS, th'
siren OF the ancients, the side-lon.
, shark with his leaden eyes, the thicl
, haired sea leopard. and the sluggish
turtle. Look how these strange. i'll
slapen forms, which ever keep thcil
drcnmless sleep far down in the glo,
my deep, stir themselves from tim'
, to time! See how they drive eacl
, other from their rich pastures, how
, they seem to awaken in storms, ris
ing like islands from beneath, and
+ snorting through the angry spray
Perhaps they gaze peacefully in the
unbrokcn cool OF the oceans deep
bed. when 10! an angry shark comes
slyly. silently around that grove, its
CLASSY eyes shine ghost-like with a
yellow sheen. and seek their prey.
The sea dog first becomes aware of
his dreadful enemy, and seeks re-
iuge in tho thickest rccesscs of the
fungus forest. In an instant the
whole scene changes. The oyster
closes its shell with q clap, and
throws itself into the deep below;
the turtle conccals head and feet TN
der her ilnpenetrable armor, and
sinks slowly downward; the playful
fish disappears in the branches OF
the morocystls, Holsters hide nndcr
the thick, clunsily shaped roots, and
the young walrus alone turns boldly
round, AMI faces the intruder witt,
his sharp pointed teeth. The shark
seeks to gain his unprotected side.
The battle commences; both seek
the forest; their fins become entangl
cd in the closely interviewer branch
es; at last the more agile shark sue
ceeds in wounding his adversary
side. DespairinS ol life, the bleed
ing walrus tries to conseal his las,
agony in the woods, but, bin led b,
pain and blood, he isstens hi,nsel
among the branches, and soon fall
an easy prey to the shark, who greed
Y lily dcvours hlm.-Tnts. Magazine