26 The Catskill Fairies.

ADVENTURES OF A SEA-SHELL.

“Eacu one may tell what he
knows,” said the sea-shell, in a
soft, liquid voice.

“Where did you come from?
I mean, where did you grow?”
asked Job, eagerly.

A sweet little laugh came

gurgling from the depths of the

 

shell as water bubbles out of a
clear spring hidden among the moss of the woods.

“Where did I grow? You speak as if I was plucked from
the branch of a tree like fruit. Do you not know that a little,
soft, defenceless animal—a mollusk—built me for a strong
castle to protect it from foes? Then, being something of an
artist in its own tiny fashion, the mollusk painted and decorated
its house, lining it with pearl, as you see, and adding turrets to
the roof. Yes, and the very best of it was that it had only to
close the door firmly, and no enemy could come in; even the
rough waves might toss the house about with no harm to the
inmate.”

“ Where did you live ?” persisted Job.

“T was only the strong castle remember. The mollusk lived

away off in the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Above