Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14
Jean and the Mermaids.

well, Jean, now that you are learning
how to sew at school you can certainly
help me little. I have something for you
to do this afternoon; you can sew but
tons on, your own clothes"
Jean had just returned from school, when
she was confronted with this alarming
proposition, for though the sewing hour
at school was most enjoyable, Jean, like
good many little girls, was much averse
to continuing 1t at home.
Oh, dear! she sighed at first. But I'll
DO 1t, mamma, only please let me rest
little now,' she added presently, as If the
dreadful task needed gathered courage.
You can do it just when you like" an
swered her mother, and Jean, like one con-
demned, happy. to have few hours be-
fore meeting punishment, skipped out into
the garden and jumped into the inviting
hammock.
There she lay perfectly stiH thinking Of
what she had to do thinking until the but
tons seemed to be millions of cart wheels
hoatlng around her. Suddenly they
changed into little white waves, and then
Jean saw to her great surprise that the
grassy lawn was lovely lake, and she
lay there in little silver boat.
Wnen the little girl got over her first as
constituent she looked about, and the first
thing that met her eyes was beautiful
form resting on the water, with long rip
ping fair hair floating about it. The crea-
ture moved, and Jean-seeing it's fish's tail
knew 1t to be a mermaid.
Then the wild notes of song fell on her
ear and she listened to the creature sing
ing:
I'm a mermaid free
And live. In the sea.
How Carelessly
l sing to thee!
l need no boat,
On the water l float.
Soon I'll go
To my home below,
There sea flowers blow
In the evening giow.''
$50 this is a mermaid" said Jean to
hersef. How often l have wondered what
they are really like, and how 1 have longed
to see one!' She was filled with thrill of
Silently the little girl looked on, when
all at once the mermaid, who had kept her
race the other way, looked around and
smiled pleasantly at Jean.
Ihen she swan to the boat and asked
Wouldn't you like to come to my home,
little girl? No one from the land has ever
been there"
Jean was delighted "oh, that would be
lovely! she cried. But remembering that
mermaids live in the sea. added quickly:
How could possibly get there?''
Ihat Is very easy" said the mermaid,
laughing. Then in moment her pretty face
became very thoughtful. "But we can't go
just yet; 1 have been sent here for being
naughty. l was told to sew some buttons
on, and hate that!-we never can do any,
thlng unless we are willing, for it doesn't
last What 1 mean is, that if I were to sew
buttons on .now-being unwiling-they
would come off. And we have, oh, so many
to do, for you see we can't use pins, as the
water rusts them, and the water wears the
thread that holds the buttons So we're
constantly at work" she sighed. -
The everlasting buttons!' exclaimed
Jean. DO you know, was told to do the
same thing, and didn't want to at ALL But
now am perfectly willing and would love
to help YOU" g
THAT would be delightful" said the mer-
maid Nov you just shut your eyes and
don't open them again until 1 tell you to-"
Jean timidly screwed her eyes up tight
and wondered what mother would say If She
knew and what she would do if Jeans
clothes were wet, and
Now, look!' cried the mermaid, and the
little girl opened her eyes and saw such a
funny place! Very wavy and wet looking
air, funny little plants and flowers growing
around beautiful coral palace, and lots Of
fish! But then, she was under the sea, so it
wasn't so surprising, after all.
Then Jean suddenly remembered that she
wasn't bit wet, and wasn't afraid of the
big fish at all.
Well asked the mermaid, "how do you
like my homer"
IT is lovely" said Jean; land do you live
In that pink coral palace?"
Yes, that is our palace; am princess"
Jean silently marveled at princess TAX
ing fancy to ordinary little girl
Come and sit here, while / get the
work.. said the mermaid, and Jean sat down
on a little Towering mound and saw the
mermaid disappearing in the palace. A
few others went by smiling at the little
girl. She noticed that although thew swan
In the water, at the bottom of the sea they
walked, in a way. OF course they had no
feet, but bobbed up and down striking
their tails on the ground. How queer
everything was.
Jean saw funny little bug, CARRYING
button on his back, come from a hole in the
ground, followed by lot more little bugs
carrying buttons, who arranged themselves
in straight lines like regiment of soldiers
the first standing in front as the captain.
Then they crawled straight ahead; but sud
denly the entire army was swallowed up by
big fish!
Just then the mermaid came back and
threw lot of things into Jeans lap. and
as soon as she had stretched herself out at
the little girls feet asked her name, as she
had forgotten to do SO before
my name is JEAN" she answered; land
what is yours?'
Mine is Klythia; do you like it?'
ut is beautiful said Jean, earnestly
and wished she were a mermaid. Then sbo
told Klyta about the little bugs which
were swallowed by the fish,
"They were unwilling to carry the but