The representative., 1899-08-10

: like great sapphire, as it sparkled in
| the sunlight.
On this morning of which am going
| to tell you, was lying ON the rocks,
! listening to lullaby which a mother
wave was singing to her babies. It was
so soothing that I had almost fallen
asleep, when suddenly queer little,
sharp voice said, "Oh, mother, the wave
has washed me away up here!"
looked all around, expecting to see a
little girl or boy, but not a soul was in
sight. Then, as l turned my head, I
discovered, quite close to me, something
very strange indeed. It looked exactly
like chestnut burr.
"Can I take you back?" said l, polite
| ly. Then there was terrible commo-
| ton. All the little spikes on the burr
stuck out feelers, which quivered in a
most agitated manner, and it tried very
hard to roll itself away; but it could
only move a short distance l lay quite
| still, hoping it would get over it's fright
After a few minutes it calmed down,
| and presently the little voice said, II
thought you were log"
ooh no." answered, RI am not a log,
but l am as safe as one. Can't l take
you homer
II don't believe you can. live away
| out by that rock where the waves are
| breaking now, and l think you're the
| animal called man, that doesn't live in
! the water; perhaps you might, though,
when the tide goes further out, and
in the meantime, If you will be kind
| enough to set me in that puddle, I will
! be much obliged. l find the heat of the
sun very weakening"
The poor little things voice was very
| faint so l made haste to get fat shell
which was near, and to put him in the
| puddle. The water soon revived him,
| and he became quite animated. Seeing
that he felt better 1 asked him his
name.
Il have several" he answered, "but
you will know me best by my name of
Sea- -Urchin."
"How did you get so far from your
home, Sea-Urchin?'
Il was looking out of the window to
see my cousin, Star-Fish, go by, and a
big wave swept me up here and left me.
Mother always told me to keep away
from the window, but l wanted so to
look out that I forgot. If I ever get
home again, l will remember"
AS he said this, he made a queer sort
In the water and it disappeared. THAT
looks as II he might have eaten it,"
said to myself. So l took stick and
gently turned him over to find his
mouth.
Here, stop that. Don't you suppose
l have feelings?" he said, sharply.
Il wanted to see your mouth l ans
wered. Il won't hurt you"
What funny little mouth it was!
in the center, hundreds of little tenta-
cles waved to and fro in the water, and
i've sharp teeth led the way into hole
which looked as if it might swallow
anything. I took the liberty of looking
at it closely, and saw the bit of fish
which l thought it had eaten disap-
pearing rapidly.
If you don't stop poking in my
stomach" he said, suddenly, "Tll have
to sting you, and you won't like it."
"Oh, that's your stomach, is it?
thought it was your mouth"
Hump! You did! Well, it is and it
isn't. I think you may carry me home
now; the tide Is about OUT
l looked around; sure enough, the
great brown rock was out of water. l
took the sea-urchin up on his shell. and
when we arrived at the rock l looked
about for his home
Its on the other side" he said, "and
hurry, please, don't feel very WE'LL
On the other side Invent. and there
In cleft OF the rocks was the home of
the little sea-urchin.
Thousands Of years the sea had been
making this home. and how beautiful
1t was. First of all little by little, the
water had cut a basin in the rock, round
and deep. Then its sides had been COL
ored beautiful, soft tint or red. and
finally, different kinds OF seaweeds had
grown up, and now waved to and fro in
the clear green water. A ray OF sun
lipht to,,chod tho cir7oo tno,, e,,,,1~Yoa