Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-26
Hans Peter and His Pearl
BY FRAxcEs pENsxoaE.

1t all happened this way: Hans Peters
sissippi river, and he invited Hans Peter
to spend the summer with him, living in
his houseboat and helping him to catch
the mussels or CLAIMS IN which the pearls
are found.
Hans Peter was delighted with the invi-
tation. He had heard about the pearl
fishers and knew that every summer his
uncle took all the family. including the
dog and chickens. to stay at their camp.
He knew. too. that pearls worth several
hundred dollars are often found in the
CLAIMS.
AS soon as he received the invitation he
began to plan what he would do with the
money II he found pearl worth hundred
dollars. It seemed like fairy story to
think that a funny little clam should have
anything so valuable hidden inside Of himi
Perhaps the clam was once prince who
lived TN a marble castle, but who had been
into this ugly shape. His prison was nned
with mother Of pearl, to remind him Of
his lost castle. and he was allowed to
carry all his wealth in the form Of q
beautiful pearl. so that when he was re-
stored to his proper form he might still win
the princess.
Hans Peter made up this little story and
told It to his cousins as they sat on the
front porch of the houseboat in the even
ing. There were heaps Of sflvery clam
shells on the shore. row of ''clamboats"
was meofed nearby and the children could
see the cooker" and the sorting table"
Little Mamie looked very thoughtful
when the story was finished. Then she
said: 'If knew which clam was prince
cooker and boil him. would get him right
out of the shell and marry him myself"
I'm tell you something nicer yet" said
Hans as..' Peter. .rn get the PEARL and then
You would not do at ALL sighed Nam
ME. "A prince doesn't wear a red sweater.
Besides. princes are polite. and some little
boys are not
All day Hans Peter went up and down
the river with his uncle In the clamboat.
This was broad boat with fiat bottom
and rack on either side to hold the hooks
WHEN they were not in use. The hooks were
blunt and were. hung In a row from pole
fastened to the boat by long ropes and
dragged along the bottom of the river: The
boat was rowed up the river and allowed
to drift broadside down stream. its progress
being helped by board in the water, which
caught the force of the current.
The CLAIMS live in the soft mud OF the
river bed. They do not work for a living
nor run around chasing other animals. They
simply keep quiet and everything comes
their way. The current of the river brings
them all they want to eat: and their shefis
are always open to take It In.
When the clam fishers hook comes bod
bling along. hitting the stones and catching
in the tangled weeds, 1t strikes the clam
together, holding the hook SO tightly that
he Is jerked out of the bosom Of his fam-
lily and dragged down to the camp. He
does not let go when the hooks are lifted
The clam fisher has to fairly pull him OF.
throwing him into a box with long handles.
1t takes several days to catch enough clans
for a "cook out"
in a long box called the cooker" and
when the steam has opened the shells and
partially cooked the clans they are placed
on the sorting table," where the search
To 10 fhn oft I'M q ri
of the work, and Hans Peter watched very
closely as his uncle and cousins pulled the
halves of the shell apart and pinched the
clam, to find the pearl. The shells were
thrown aside, to be sold to button fac-
tory.
How much Hans Peter wished he could
open clam shells! There were several other
clam fishers In the camp: Each had his
own cooker and steamed his own clans.
None of, them seemed to want little boys
help for the pearls.
,onezday it. CHANGED that the other grown
up cousins had gone to town. Hans
when a buyer came in bright new launch
to buy pearls Hans Peters uncle had
beautiful pink pearl for which he hoped to
secure a high price. The buyer was in
great hurry, and said that he would buy
the pink pearl. as well as some of the
silvery white ones which Hans Peters
uncle CARRIED In his vest pocket.
When his uncle laid his cob pipe on top
of the cooker and prepared to talk with the
buyer Hans Peter piped up loud and clear:
Uncle. may I hunt for pearls while you
are busy?
His uncle laughed and said. Sure, boy"
And may I have any that find?''
His uncle hesitated, but the buyer laugh
ed. Give the boy chance: Ill buy from
him quickly as from anybody II he finds
q good one"
There were only a few CLAIMS left on the
table and his uncle promised that whatever
he found should belong to him. so Hans
He opened one after another in feverish
haste as he heard his uncle and the buyer
agreeing on terms much more rapidly than
he wished. The buyer was saying, Il will
close the bargain. If I wait minute
longer 1 shall miss my train Hans Peter
remembered that the mucket clans often
contain pearls and snatched one Of that
variety.
Now the buyer was saying good-by! Hans
Peter pulled the shell apart and felt some
thing hard in the touch fbers Of the clam.
A knife lay near him: he cut the clam
carefully; there lay g. pure white pearl,
round as a drop Of dew!
Uncle, this one was q prince!" he ex-
claimed, but his uncle had followed the
him.
Hans Peter took the pearl in his hand
and turned 1t slowly to catch the light.
Perhaps it was worth 500! He wanted to
run down and call the buyer. but something
held him back. He was standing still,
looking at his pearl in a dazed way, when
his uncle returned.
At glance the old pearl fisher knew
its wonderful value. When he burst out
with: "Sardines and sassafrasr' Hans
Peter knew there was something remark
able in his mind, for he but rarely used
that expression. Hans Peter raised his
expectations to $500.
When the grownup cousins came home
and looked at 1t carefully Hans Peter
thought perhaps he could get $500 for 1t.
His uncle let him carry it in his pocket
and show it to one buyer after another.
They hesitated about trading with ten
year-old boy, but his uncle assured them
it was all right How much do you think
he finally sold it for? Twelve hundred
dollars. And did he and little Mamie
spend 1t in getting married? No, indeed.
His uncle bought him a nice farm with the
money. 1t has a house on it, and a barn,