The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-11-26
Young Folks.
THE DOVE MAIDEN.
A CATsK1LL FAIRY TALE
(Continued.)

:
Snowdrop to her mother "Ihen we can
travel to the beautiful country you have told
me about.
So the mother kissed Snowdrop and the
little girl, wearing the silver cap and the
ring. started forth in search of the dove
chain. She trpped along, humming gay
song to herself. She had left her Gear mann
ma and Aunt Katrne looking sadly after
her, yet she would soon return.
A little robin flew on twig, and sang,
"Don't get in the boat"
"What did you say ?" asked the child,puz-
zied.
Then a toad hoped across the path, and
croaked, "Dsn't get in the boat"
81 do not know what you are talking
about, laughed Snowdrop, and found her
self on the brink of the canal. Directly be-
fore her was boat, with glded bows, the
inside a soft pink and cream color, like the
lining of conch shell, and the sail was like
fine white silk. OF course the little girl for
got the words croaked by the toad and sung
10y the robin as a warning, and stepped into
the boat.
"I will not move the anchor; can just
pretend to be sailing on the canal-that is
all, she said.
4 large, white hand glided along under
the boat and slipped the Chain which held
it fastened to the shore. Snowdrop was de-
lighted the boat slid along, without the sail
being hoisted Had she but known it, two
large white hands were pushing it steadily
from the bank.
Sac enjoyed the sail, and she was also n
:rife frightened, the current of the river
seemed to be so very strong. A hawk came
skimming close to the boat, holding crys-
tai bubble in its beak, which the bird drop
ped on :Snowdrop's head. Crack went the
bubble, scattering fine fragments all about,
like diamond splinters, and fragrant liquid
flowed over the little girls face. This bath
made the young voyager feel exceedingly
queer she rubbed her eyelids wearily, her
arms dropped, and she sank down into the
bottom of the boat asleep.
The hawk had famous trick of putting
people to sleep, as we have seen.
The motion of the boat rocked her gently,
like the softest cradle, as she glided along
more rapidly than ever. The two strong
white hands pushed her past towns and ham
lets straight onward; and if Snowdrop had
been awake to peep over the side she would
have seen not only the hands, but two fair
arms, and head covered with long, floating
hair, like tangles of sea-weed.
81 have caught pretty mouse-a new
toy" gurgled soft voice down under the
waves.
When the little girl awoke and raised her
head to gaze about her, there was wide,
rolling sea extending from one side of the
sky quite around to the other. The frail
cockle-shell of boat was tossed high in the
air by the rough billows, and Snowdrop
shreked with terror every time she mounted
crest to plunge down the other side. Oh,
how silly it was to get into the boat and go
to sleep! How she wished she was safe at
home with her dear mamma and Aunt Kat
rine! She never once thought of her fairy
ring, although it was on her finger all the
time.
A large wave lowered high before the
frightened child; the boat was upset, and
she was caught in the white arms waiting to
receive her, then borne swiftly and safely
through the rushing waters.
Before the bewildered traveller knew what
she was about, she stood at the gates of a
city. What surprised her most was the fact
that her starry dress and silver cap were per-
iectly dry although she had been in the wa
ter all the while. This would not have been
the case had not her fairy ring been on her
finger.
At first the city seemed to be precisely
similar to cities on land there were shops,
squares, and palaces and the wall was
thickly crusted with oysters and barnacles,
like a ship which has been in the water
long while. On closer inspection Snowdrop
discovered the difference: the avenues were
sand, the rows of buildings large shells. 1t
would be easy to find the residence of
friend here if one was stranger. There was
a street composed wholly of cowries, another
of clam shells, another of scallops, fourth
of periwinkles, and so on, through all the
kingdom of shells. Snowdrop was not sur
prised, therefore, to read on sign-boards,
"Clam Shell Terrace" "Cowry Place." or
"Periwinkle Avenue" She walked dry
shod through the streets, but she noticed that
the inhabitants darted about swiftly and
noiselessly, for they all had fish-tails. The
city was very bright, almost as if illuminated
with gas, and Snowdrop discovered that this
light was shed from sunfish hung on a pole
in large park of seaweeds. The sunfsh
was phosphorescent, and at night the watch
man was obliged to draw blind over it in
order that the people should sleep wink.
In the center of this sea-weed park was
building made of the bell of a jelly-fsh,
which was like the most beautiful crystal, or
blown glass, with pink and blue tints on the
walls. Snowdrop could see people moving
about inside this palace, and she approached
it. Two sword-fsh policemen hovered about
the entrance.
"This is prison" they said, very fiercely.
Snowdrop ran up the steps and entered
the first hall, where group of mermaids
were playing on coral harps with draped sea
lettuce. One of these took Snowdrop's hand:
81 caught you, little maid, and | shall keep
you for pet" The second hall was spa
cious and beautiful at the farther end was
a throne of rock, upon which sat woman
who was turned to stone, all except her
head, and bound with iron chains to her
seat.
Before her were open Golfers and curious
relics of all sorts, with piles of silk fabrics,
jewels, bars of gold, and coins, such as are
lost in shipwrecks.
A number of young men and maidens, rob
ed in dazzling white, who were evidently her
Il tho int oh L..