“CARROTS.”

they? One day I tied a shawl of mother’s.
on,—it was a red and gold shawl,—and I
sweeped it about just like a peacock, — that
would be pretty.”

“T don’t think mermaids’ tails are like that,”
said Carrots doubtfully; “but they ave pretty
ladies, aren’t they, Floss?”

“ Beautiful,” said Floss; “but they’re very
sad. They come up to the shore at night and
comb their hair, and cry dreadfully.”

“What do they cry for?” asked Sybil and
Carrots, pressing up to Floss, and forgetting
all about the lovely sand-house.

«Because they—no, you couldn’t wunder-
stand,” she broke off; “it is no good telling

“Oh do tell!” said the children.

“Well,” said Floss, “I read in a book of
Cecil’s, they cry because they haven’t got any
souls. When they die they can’t go to heaven,
you see.”

Sybil and Carrots looked very solemn at
this; then a sudden thought struck Carrots.