The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-20
THE SHELL OCEAN.

The ride ended in another small rrot-
TO-. beyond which was soft greenish
light that seemed TO come from every-
where and have no particular source
II = the sunshine outside,' explained
the Mermaid. Come on and don't
bump into that jellyfish; he's SIRE 10
hurt you Doris left her snail steed
with regret; but It didn't seem to mind
and the last she saw Of J. K was Ro,ne
right straight up the wall, feeding on a
lew pieces of weed. like a horse at din
tentlon- 1t seemed 70 Doris Ike a large
Rarior table with three curved legs
ne table cloth was there. a long fringe
mat hung down all round the edge
4 ne casters were little knobs on the
rect SO the table was complete Doris
poh so with piece Of sea shell. which
mace II swim all the faster.
Us just like everything else, for II
s s., head first and all crooked. the
SHY creat1re.'' laughed she: but who
ever saw parlor table wrap itself
around a poor little fish, The si1ni ISSttA
sure sure enough, was shining down through
the water when they came from the
Why, Mermaid. we must Ia ouita
near the top Of the water-and whatever
Is that over there?' exclaimed Doris
~ the skel eton OF one Of those huge
animals that floats on the waves They
drown under water"
Why, nonsense; it's an old wrecked
idea OF f taxing E9oSle boat er fea Dosis
The Mermaid looked hurt and sur
prtsed, but she swan toward the boat
wreck II was only small boas and
Every particle OF the wood was covered
by shells, barnacles, and weeds The in
terror was full Of rubbish, shells, skeie-
tons of fishes. crab legs, and other
things, while one end was quite filIed
with a large sponge.
There's some animal lives in there"
said Doris timidly; and she had hardly
said It before a great wolf fish rushed
out and swan swiftly OF He WIS quite
as long as Doris and a mcuJhfui Of sharp
teeth showed as he passed, just Ike
real wolf snarling. He was brown,
striped with black
Doris was badly frightened Wasn't
But the Mermaid began unconcernedly
TO arrange her rose colored hair, as
usual, so Doris sat down. too.
-Oh. there she is now." suddenly ex-
claimed voice near by Dear. dear.
where have you been? We ali thought a
Triton had carried you Off-1ns. my
dear, fms" And Doris, startled out OF
her senses. saw a whole troupe Of mer-
maids. each more beautiful than the
others in some way. app-oaching.
And so you've been showing this Gu
nous creature around? Well. wellr
The whole flock Of merma aids began a
whirlfng dance in circles that made
Doris feel dizzy to watch. They all sang.
too. in dfScOrdant way that reminded
Doris OF sea lions barking. ~Oh. scat
ter. scatter" cried the Mermaid. i'm
patiently. II am busy at present, so go
play elsewhere
And I'm not q curious creature
either. cried Doris. as the r1ermaids
stopped their dance to stare at her She
picked up shell and threw it at the
mermaids. 1t hit one of them on the
nose. whereupOn they all laughingly
swan away In a whirling sort OF way
very hard TO follow
Doris
Merc.5 sakes. no, Ny sister, have
only one-wOGld never be so giCdy as
that; they are only acuuaintauces
Neither would my sisters have acted
So, said Doris. who really had none
at all. They are too polite"
And now. said the Mermaid. @-let us
go down into the deep abysses where
there are the strangest monsters of all
And she swan away before Doris could
stop her.
w S WALLACE.
CTo Be Continued)