52 The Catskill Fazries.

 

“«That can’t be helped,’ said Mother Carey’s chicken, peck-
ing at the carpet-bag, which the sprite had laid out to dry.
The sprite put it around his neck, and disappeared before the
bird’s round eyes; then appeared again, laughing; until Mother
Carey’s chicken did not know what to make of it all. They
got along well together, however, as the sprite had a cosy way
which won friends.

“What part of the world is this?’ he inquired.

“*World? If you ask such hard questions I must take you
to the mussels. They know all sorts of things, which are
brought them by the tide. I have no time for such nonsense,
as I have my living to get.’

“They went to the mussels on a steep cliff jutting out into
the sea, where the waves were running so high that when the
mussels opened their mouths to answer the sprite they only
seemed to gurgle instead of speak.

“* What do they say?’ asked the sprite.

“« They say that you are a great way from your home,’ re-
plied the bird, as he could understand the mussel language

much better than the sprite could.