The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-07-06
The Little Folks.
THE MERMAID'S SECRET.

piS Inv tiS
shouted the herrings, as they chased one
another through the water.
They are comingn cried mackeral.
Coming comingn screamed had
dock.
The sea weeds waved backwards and
orwards, and the anemones spread wide
their arms, eager to hear all that was to be
heard, and sec all that could be seen.
Then there will be no more peace,
sid an cid sole, trying to bury herself
leercr and deeper in the sand.
And Pm glad" sid lively young
r.b. 81 like hearing the stories they
tell"
'Stores nonsense!" said lobster. Il
ike peace and qiet. These fish, they are
always in such hurry; they make such
Stir''-
And at that moment there was indeed
, rush and stir, as the white horses came
plunging through the water two and two,
followed by fishes great and small.
Tell us what you have seen" screamed
the fishes.
Il wish porpoise would swim this way,
said lobster to an old crab.
'lIush-listen!' said the young crab,
they have begun their story
I'VE have RANGED in the golden light, "
aid the white horses, moving backward
md forward as they spoke, for they wer,
never still; eve have seen the mighty blue;
We have splashed the white winged giant
md played with the gray winged beauties
Ne have pranced, we have danced, we
ave jumped, we have laughed. and to
morrow we ride again"
Tell us more, :" screamed the herrings.
More shouted the mackerel
And the white horses, always pleased to
ell their tale, began again
ave have pranced in the golden light"
"Realy. y. said the lobster, ''this is too
badp'
when, oh! when?' began the old crab.
"Ah. now we shall be all right, " she added
quickly, as she saw two porpoises, an old
ue, and a young one, rolling through the
alter toward her
But IA herring had seen the porposes, too
nd the warning cry of 'Porpoise! porpoise,
as passed from one to another. There
vas a wild rush, and second later not a
.sh, great or small, was to he seen.
Only the crabs and lobster were left to
listen to the wonderful story of the golden
light, the mighty blue, the giants, and the
,eauties.
Il wish could ride with the white
Iorses, - sighed the young porpoise
ITO come home no more, said the old
one sharply. They only can ride with the
white horses who know the mermad's Sc
rret. No sensible porpoise wishes to ride
with them, for their stories are nonsense, "
The horses pranced angrily.
"l;.can tell stories, said the old POI
poise.
1--WE don't want to hear your stories,
said the white horses. "We wish to tell
ours" And they galloped away.
Il wish | knew the secret - said the
Young porpoise. 81 wish l could ride
with the white horses ~
"rell us your story said an anemone
>hyly to the old porpose.
about the cruelty of the white winged
giants, y said the porpoise, ''and the black
ocks that
''Here say" broke in the lobster, eve
have had enough stories"
81 want to 90 to sleep" said the old
sole.
Tomorrow, said the young porpoisc,
II will ride with the white horses, and
find out the secret.
"The white horses are out, said the
fisherman as he tossed up and down in his
boat the next morning.
'"Ihat is a white winged giant, said
the young porpoise as he rode past the boat
on white horse "Mother said they were
cruel"
''Your mother thinks she knows every
thing" said white horse.
''She is always chasing the fish away,
and spelling our STORIES" said another
horse.
"You ride very fast, said the porpoise.
eve like to prance in the golden light, "
said white horse.
''In the sunshine, you mean," said the
porpoise. "WhereIare the grey-winged
beauties?"
"Here comes one said white horse.
"Pooh, those are only gulls," said the
porpoise.
The white horses began to get angry.
Gle is just as bad as his mother" said
one.
every bit! .said another.
''Shall we,.?" said the first.
81 think we will, said the second.
And they rode gaily toward the Shore
and threw the porpose on the top of a big
wave.
Il won't have him y said the wave, and
the p,rpoise was left stranded high and
| 4.