The Washington times., 1913-07-25
For The Times, Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
WHY OYSTERS HAVE PEARLS.

| ~ NCE upon a time in q cave in
the bottom OF the sea in the
~ Pacific ocean lived village Of
mermaids.
The cavern was of emerald crystal,
In the shape of twisted pillars, and
when the light shone down through the
water 1t shimmered with a million
flashes of every hue. Just outside of
the mermaid village was a settlement
of oysters-humble little fellows who
lived quietly in their shells all day,
never bothered anyone, and were the
best Of friends with everybody.
All about in the great ocean depth
swan all kinds of huge fish. darting
about the coral reefs. and when at
sunset they fioated before the emerald
cave where the red light dipped down
through the waves above II made a
lovely picture. But one Of the big fish
was a strong. rude thing, for 1t would
talk impertinently to the mermaids and
threaten to do all kinds of dreadful
things.
One day the mermaids went on a
holiday to the beach, where they al
ways combed their hair twice year.
But while they were gone this big
fish, who was known as a Bobo then.
came dartng into the emerald cave and
stole the queens baby, Ray. OF course
baby mermaid is Just the cutest, dear
est thing in the world, 30 that when
the mother came home In the evening
with her hair all curled she was in
awful GRIEF to find her darling gone.
OH who took my baby?" walled the
Queen.
1T was the Bobo." cried all the timid
little oysters together.
And he will lock her up in his dun
geon," moaned the mother. 1T is built
Of coral and SO hard I cannot bite 1t
away. If mother were only here she
could get Ray. for she is a water witch
and full OF magic spells. But mother
is off on a thousand-mile trip to ia
pan"
I'VE will help you all we can" chirp-
ed the oysters. Our shells are hard,
and tonight we will all rub them against
the coral dungeon, and perhaps we can
break a hole in 1t and let Ray out"
So that night, when the moonlight
fiickered down through the green water,
the little oysters all waddled down the
sandy bottom to the home OF the big
BObofish. He lay sound asleep, his
shining purple tail slowly tapping with
the tides. In the back of his bed was
pillow was the key.
So the oysters went to work Slowly
but steadily they rubbed and rubbed till
their heads seemed to ache all over
their shells.
The work wearied their little brains,
but they did not stop a minute. Inside
the dungeon they could hear the baby
mermaid crying for its mother, so they
rubbed away harder than ever.
Twice the wicked Bobo-fish woke UP
and listened, for he had heard the sound
of something hard hitting against the
coral, but when he raised his head the
oysters kept quiet and the bad thing
went back to snoring again.
At last, just at dawn. there came a
break in the coral walls, a big crack,
and in a moment out flashed the baby
mermaid. Another second and il was
darting home to its anxious mother
While slowly on behind waddled back
the ugly but kind oysters happy to
have been of service to the Queen
As soon as the oysters cleaned their
shells they all went to sleep and slept
till the sun shOne down straight over
head through the water. which meant It
was noon. And when they opened their
eyes what did they see before them
but the big BobO-hsh with a heavy
chain around its neck and the Queens |
mother holding on to the chain.
II had to come home unexpectedly"
exclaimed the water-witch. when l !
got there ! found that Bobo-fish had |
stolen my only grandchIld, little Ray"
The big fish jumped and tugged, but |
he could not get free.
You need not hop about like that. |
you old rascal" cried the Queen. You |
tried to keep my baby in a dungeon
when you thought mother was away. |
Now she has got you. I knew she will |
punish you WE'LL
Indeed l WILL" snapped the water